The Cardinals didn’t reach October, and they finished with a losing record for the second year in a row. Even so, this season gave St. Louis something far more valuable than a short playoff run: proof that the rebuild is already producing real pieces.
That matters because the Cardinals weren’t supposed to be this competitive. They went into a full-scale reset, moved off plenty of established veterans and stars, and still spent much of the year hanging around the playoff picture. The reason was simple: the young core took off.
JJ Wetherholt made a loud first impression, establishing himself as one of the league’s best defensive second basemen and a strong National League Rookie of the Year candidate. Masyn Winn continued to look like a steady presence after winning a Gold Glove Award last season, and together with Wetherholt he gave St. Louis a promising middle-infield pairing.
The lineup had even more punch behind them. Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker both turned into legitimate middle-of-the-order bats, with each clearing 20 home runs and 100 RBI.
Walker also picked up an All-Star selection. Add in Iván Herrera’s first All-Star nod, and the Cardinals suddenly have the look of a club with a real offensive foundation.
That point came through clearly in Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter’s assessment on Thursday, when he wrote: "The Cardinals exceeded expectations for several months, but 2026 still ultimately served as a rebuilding year," Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter wrote on Thursday. "The biggest positive takeaway has been the formation of a legitimate offensive core.
Jordan Walker (127 OPS+, 28 HR, 100 RBI, 3.5 WAR) and Alec Burleson (130 OPS+, 23 HR, 111 RBI) have been a dynamic one-two punch in the middle of the lineup. The middle infield tandem of JJ Wetherholt (4.6 WAR) and Masyn Winn (2.8 WAR) has been rock solid, while Iván Herrera (3.0 WAR) earned his first All-Star selection."
The numbers back up the eye test, too. St. Louis’ young offensive group combined for a 17.2 WAR this season, which is exactly the kind of production that can change the direction of an organization in a hurry.
The pitching side of the roster is still a different story. The offense looks set for the near future, but the staff is not nearly as settled.
After the progress made by Wetherholt, Winn, Burleson and Walker, the next step for St. Louis looks obvious: strengthen the bullpen and consider adding a front-line starter to speed up the rebuild.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Third Base Battle Worth Watching
Third base has quietly become one of the Cardinals more interesting long-term questions, and it has put Jesus Baez on the radar in a real way. The 21-year-old infielder spent 2026 showing the kind of power that forces a front office to pay attention, finishing with 41 homers across 118 games and giving St. Louis a potential answer in the farm system if the position keeps trending the wrong way.
Baez still has some climbing to do, since he has not played above Double-A yet, but the path is starting to look easier to imagine than it did a year ago. With the current options at third base underperforming, the Cardinals could have a legitimate opening for competition in 2027, and Baez is now one of the names worth watching as that job begins to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Put Their Rotation Future Under Spotlight Against Baseballs Best
The Cardinals head into their final regular-season series carrying the weight of an 82-loss year, a mark that guarantees back-to-back losing seasons and leaves them under .500 in three of the last four. Next up is a three-game set against the Brewers, who have already clinched the best record in Major League Baseball, a reminder of just how far St. Louis has to go before it can think about contending again.
What makes this weekend especially revealing is the group the Cardinals are lining up on the mound: Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews and Andre Pallante. With the season winding down and the opponent at the top of the sport, the rotation turn comes with a little extra meaning, since these are the kinds of innings that can hint at what the Cardinals want their pitching picture to look like going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Prospect Mason Molina Is Raising A Bigger Rotation Question
Mason Molinas first full run in the Cardinals system has done more than justify the trade with Texas. The left-hander has settled in as a starter across Double-A and Triple-A, putting together a 3.57 ERA overall and showing the kind of strikeout stuff that tends to get attention quickly in this organization. His recent stretch at Triple-A Memphis has been even more eye-opening, as he has overpowered hitters and kept the ball out of danger over six starts.
For St. Louis, the interesting part is no longer simply that Molina looks like a useful prospect. It is where he fits next. A pitcher who is already flashing enough polish to look viable in a big-league rotation can also become a valuable piece in a different way, and the Cardinals now have a decision to keep in mind as his stock keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]