The St. Louis Cardinals are off to a disappointing start in what’s shaping up to be another frustrating season, with little clarity about how things will improve. Following promises of a rebuild—later reframed as a “transition”—the team appears stuck, showing little progress at either the major or minor league levels.
The bullpen has been a major weakness, leading manager Oli Marmol to make comments that essentially called out the front office for not equipping the team to compete. New hitting coach Brant Brown initially looked like a smart hire when the offense started strong, but that momentum has since faded. The starting rotation lacks punch, consisting of contact-oriented veterans, a reliever-turned-starter, and a once-promising prospect being used to justify a poorly handled trade. The sixth starter, rather than being a young arm, is a 33-year-old on an expiring deal.
Compounding the issues was a mismanaged offseason, including confusion around the future of their Hall of Fame-caliber third baseman and misleading claims about giving certain players a real opportunity. The 2025 Cardinals have been exceptional at home while struggling mightily on the road, offering little hope for fans. One silver lining for some is that this marks the final year of John Mozeliak’s leadership before he passes the baton to Chaim Bloom, known for revitalizing the Red Sox farm system.
If the Cardinals are somehow in playoff contention by the trade deadline, Mozeliak might attempt one last aggressive move to bolster the roster—partly to preserve his legacy. This idea was echoed by beat writer Katie Woo on a recent episode of Foul Territory, where she surprised fans by suggesting Mozeliak might look to add rather than sell at the deadline, despite having tradeable assets.
Given their rocky start, it’s hard to see the Cardinals climbing into contention in the increasingly competitive NL Central. They’re currently on pace for fewer than 75 wins, which would mark their second sub-.500 season in three years and a third straight playoff miss. Even if they did get close to a postseason spot, they lack the MLB-ready talent to make meaningful additions and are unlikely to trade away top prospects for a short-term boost.
Moreover, any big roster decisions would probably require input from Bloom, especially moves that could affect the franchise’s long-term direction. While Mozeliak may want one last shot at glory, Bloom is likely looking to begin reshaping the roster sooner rather than later. If the team chooses not to make any big moves, it could delay the timeline for a true return to competitiveness.
Fan frustration is becoming increasingly visible, with more and more empty seats at usually packed Busch Stadium. A playoff run could reenergize the fanbase, but if the team misses again—as they did when trading Tommy Edman for Erick Fedde—the situation could get even more dire for the incoming front office leadership.