Alec Burleson isn’t hiding what he wants.
As the Cardinals keep building toward a future that still feels a little out ahead of them, the 27-year-old made it plain that he wants to be part of it in St. Louis for the long haul.
While joining Cardinal Territory, Burleson said, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love St. Louis,” Burleson said.
“I love what’s going on here. The group of guys that we have that will be here for a while.
Obviously, with where I’m at in my career, it may not line up with when this team is ready to do big things [but] I want to be here for it. I felt like I’ve been a small part of this whole process and I want to be on the infield with [JJ Wetherholt] and [Masyn Winn].
Like those guys are a lot of fun to be around. ... I want to be here for a long time.”
That kind of message fits where the Cardinals are right now. They may not be a World Series contender on paper yet, but the organization has clearly taken a step forward and is assembling something that could be dangerous down the road. The farm system has become a strength, and the path to contention is going to depend on how quickly that wave of young talent turns into real production in the majors.
In 2026, JJ Wetherholt, Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal were among the prospects who reached the big leagues and found success. Alec Burleson was right there in the mix too, even though he’s already being talked about like one of the veterans in the room. Jordan Walker also broke out, giving the Cardinals even more reason to believe the foundation is forming.
Burleson’s rise makes his stance especially notable. He came through the system as a former top prospect and second-round pick, then worked through an uneven early stretch in the majors before settling in and improving year after year. That track record has turned him into one of the more important pieces on the roster.
He backed that up in 2025 with a Silver Slugger Award, then took another step in 2026. In 160 games, Burleson hit .279/.343/.473 with an .816 OPS, 26 home runs, 37 doubles and a league-leading 116 RBIs. He should have been an All-Star, and he’s still only 27.
For the Cardinals, the case for keeping him is pretty straightforward. They have plenty of young talent, but teams still need players with proven production to help set the tone for the next wave. Burleson has become that kind of presence, even if he’s still young enough to fit the timeline himself.
He also has two seasons of team control left, but the Cardinals should be thinking extension. Burleson wants to stay, he’s embraced his role, and he’s already become a valuable clubhouse piece.
In a system full of promise, he looks like exactly the sort of player St. Louis ought to keep around.
In Other News...
Victor Scott II Suddenly Faces A Real Cardinals Roster Crossroads
Victor Scott II spent part of the offseason trying to reset in the Dominican Professional Baseball League, but the bat never really caught up. He managed only a .129/.289/.161 line in 12 games, and the struggles followed him back into a difficult MLB debut before he was sent down to Triple-A, where the offensive progress has remained limited.
Now the Cardinals have moved Nathan Church into the starting center field job, which only sharpens the pressure on Scotts path forward. For a player whose speed and defense still give him a chance to matter, the bigger question is whether there will be enough offensive growth to keep him in the clubs plans as 2027 gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Alec Burleson Just Validated A Cardinals Gamble At First Base
Alec Burlesons move into the first base job for St. Louis looked like a calculated bet when the Cardinals shifted him there after trading Willson Contreras to Boston, and now it has the kind of validation teams love to see. Burleson is a finalist for the 2026 National League Silver Slugger award at first base, a recognition that reflects a season in which he led Major League Baseball in RBIs and set career highs across several offensive categories.
For the Cardinals, the appeal goes beyond the trophy race. Burlesons production held up whether he was hitting at home or on the road, and that kind of consistency is exactly what makes a lineup piece feel dependable rather than merely hot. With the finalists now in the mix, St. Louis has a clearer sense that the first base gamble did more than fill a vacancy - it may have uncovered a long-term answer. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Still Have One Lineup Question That Could Define 2027
The Cardinals head into 2027 with one of those roster questions that can shape an entire season before it even starts: who handles third base. The organization has several paths to choose from, with Nolan Gorman, Blaze Jordan, Thomas Saggese and Jesus Baez all in the mix, along with the possibility of looking outside the system if the fit is right.
Baez may be the best long-term answer, but his current minor league level makes him an unlikely Opening Day solution. Jordan, coming off a promising rookie season in 2026, looks like the most natural candidate to step in, while Gormans recent dip has made a return to third less appealing. However it plays out, this is one of the clearer decisions on paper that could still end up defining how the Cardinals build around the position next spring. [Read more 🡒]