The St. Louis Cardinals: A Rollercoaster Season of Hope
The 2025 season has been a wild ride for fans of the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite initial expectations of a “transition” year, the team has continued to give us hope with their performance on the field. And while they may be hanging just above the .500 mark, the Cardinals have been teasing both fans and the national media with their impressive wins over top teams like the Dodgers and Cubs.
ill be moved, the Cardinals are still in a good position to build around their young core.
The St. Louis Cardinals: A Rollercoaster Season Continues, But Hope Remains for 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals have been keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the 2025 season continues to be a wild ride. Despite expectations of a “transition” year, the Cardinals have managed to stay above .500, thanks to impressive wins against top teams like the Dodgers and Cubs. However, they have also disappointed by failing to take advantage of weaker opponents like the Rockies.
The Best and Worst of the Cardinals’ Season So Far
Last week, we took a look at the highs and lows of the Cardinals’ season, but it’s important to note that this team is capable of both good and bad stretches. Just when it seemed like they were on a positive run towards a Wild Card spot, they stumbled against the Rockies, causing their playoff chances to drop to just 5.5% according to FanGraphs. It’s becoming increasingly likely that the Cardinals will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row, leaving new general manager Chaim Bloom to make his mark on the franchise in 2026 and beyond.
Trades and the Cardinals’ Competitive Outlook
The trades made at the deadline did not seem like moves a team on the cusp of competing would make. The Cardinals received two prospects who have yet to play above high-A ball, making them more like lottery tickets than immediate impact players. However, these trades were necessary given the team’s outlook for this season and the expiring contracts. Interestingly, the Cardinals chose not to trade any of their controllable players, despite rumors of a potential 40-man roster crunch next year. This suggests that the team may be closer to their competitive window than originally thought, as general manager John Mozeliak had previously stated that the team was building for the future.
Chaim Bloom’s Impact on the Cardinals
There are many unknowns when it comes to new general manager Chaim Bloom and his plans to bring the Cardinals back to the top of the baseball world. Bloom has a track record of building successful farm systems with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, but his biggest challenge with the Red Sox was trading away star player Mookie Betts to cut payroll and focus on drafting and developing young talent. With the Cardinals, Bloom may not have to make such a drastic move, but he will still have to navigate uncharted territory as he works to improve the team.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With no major moves made at the deadline, the Cardinals’ position player group will likely remain the same in 2026. However, trade talks may heat up around players like Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Nolan Gorman as the team looks to improve. Even if some of these players are traded, the Cardinals have a strong young core to build around for the future.
