The Cardinals don’t need a massive winter splash to get better, but they do need to fix the part of the roster that kept wrecking their chances in 2026.
St. Louis finished 77-85, only one game worse than it did in 2025.
The difference between those two seasons was the cast around the club. In 2025, the Cardinals had Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.
This year, they leaned into letting the kids play, and there were signs it could work. They were in the mix for much of the season, but the lack of a reliable bullpen kept showing up at the worst possible times.
That issue became impossible to ignore when the Cardinals somehow finished with both the National League saves leader in Riley O'Brien, who had 38, and a share of the third-most blown saves in baseball at 30.
That kind of split tells the story. St.
Louis ended the regular season 11 games back in the National League Wild Card race, and if it had been even average at closing out games, the final picture would have looked a lot better. The Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies were tied for 14th in the league with 23 blown saves each.
If the Cardinals had matched that group, their 77-85 record would have become 84-78. That still wouldn’t have punched a playoff ticket, but it would have kept them in the race to the end.
If they had been closer to elite in that category, the math changes completely. The Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros tied for the league lead with just 14 blown saves apiece, and that level of bullpen performance would have put St. Louis in the postseason.
That’s why the offseason priority is obvious: the bullpen has to be addressed. The Cardinals may not be ready to chase the top of the market for a headline-grabbing name, but they don’t need that kind of move to take a step forward.
With a better relief corps, they can keep relying on the kids and still be a more dangerous team. The bullpen was that damaging in 2026.
St. Louis finished tied for the most blown saves and ranked 20th in bullpen ERA at 4.40.
Fix that area, and the rest of the roster suddenly looks a lot more workable.
In Other News...
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Cardinals May Need A Tough Rotation Call As Top Prospect Nears
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His progress matters because the Cardinals are looking ahead to 2027 with more than one pitching prospect potentially pressing for a spot, and the front office may have to make some uncomfortable decisions to sort through the group. Cijntje is expected to be part of that conversation as he gets closer to his MLB debut, which could put St. Louis in the position of choosing how to fit a young arm with upside into a crowded future rotation picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals May Have Found A Cheaper Rotation Fix In Free Agency
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Griffins appeal is pretty straightforward for a club trying to improve without overspending: he gave Cleveland a combined 3.60 ERA in 31 starts and helped the Guardians get to the postseason. For a Cardinals team looking for a more affordable path to rotation depth, that profile makes him the kind of fit who could make sense on a one- or two-year deal, even if the broader market still has to shake out. [Read more 🡒]