Top stars time leading the St. Louis Cardinals became needlessly messy because of how poorly he handled the final stretch of his role in baseball operations. However, his legacy in the city could have taken an even bigger hit had he stubbornly clung to the belief they could contend in his final season.
By choosing to concede and step back, he is making the smartest move for this Cardinals team.
Speaking to reporters at Coors Field ahead of their series opener against the Colorado Rockies, he said that the Cardinals’ recent sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks has influenced their approach to the trade deadline. With more teams inquiring about their upcoming free agents, he emphasized that the organization is now focused on planning for the future.
Contending teams across the league are showing interest in Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz as potential additions for the playoff push. While there had been uncertainty about whether the Cardinals would actually move any of them to gain future assets, it now appears that trading them is indeed part of the plan.
What’s more surprising is how much that list of potential trade candidates could expand. Mozeliak told reporters he intends to speak with players who hold no-trade clauses to gauge whether they’d be open to leaving St. Louis. That group includes established veterans like Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Miles Mikolas, and Nolan Arenado. Despite prior reports suggesting Gray and Contreras were off the table, it now seems both could be dealt if the right offers come along.
What once looked like a dull or potentially misguided deadline — either standing pat or pushing to contend prematurely — is now shaping up to be one of the most compelling sell-offs in recent Cardinals history, even more dramatic than in 2023. If the no-trade players choose to stay, things could cool down, but if any of them agree to a move, it would inject a whole new level of intrigue into the coming days.
Mozeliak has consistently stated that Chaim Bloom will be involved in decisions impacting the team beyond 2026, so it’s likely Bloom will play a significant role in shaping this deadline strategy, particularly when it comes to targeting specific prospects or young talent in return.