The Cardinals are getting closer, but they’re not there yet. St.
Louis has already taken a real step forward, and the roster is still built around youth, but the next jump will require more than just waiting on internal development. The organization needs its young core to keep climbing, while also adding a few pieces that can stabilize the big league club right away.
That’s especially true with the Cardinals carrying the second-youngest roster in baseball in 2026, with an average age of 26.2 years old. That youth movement is expected to continue into 2027, with the club having moved on from most of its veterans to give the younger players room to grow.
For St. Louis, the path forward is pretty clear: Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt need to keep progressing, top prospects like Rainiel Rodriguez and Liam Doyle need to reach the majors, and the front office still has to supplement the group with outside help.
Third base stands out as the only real positional question mark. Everywhere else, the Cardinals are in a strong spot.
Alec Bohm would fit neatly as a short-term answer if the team doesn’t see Thomas Saggese or Blaze Jordan as the long-term solution. Bohm, a one-time All-Star who is 30 years old, hit 15 home runs and drove in 88 runs in 155 games in 2026.
From Aug. 1 through Sep. 27, he slashed .305/.383/.424 with an .807 OPS, two home runs and 29 RBIs in 50 games played.
He’d give St. Louis a reliable bat now, and he could also be the kind of player who turns into an attractive trade deadline piece down the line. Jesus Baez could become an option in 2027, but Bohm would be the clean stopgap before that happens.
The rotation could use a boost too, and Shane Bieber might be the best buy-low arm on the market. He’s 31, owns a Cy Young Award, and would be looking to rebuild his value if he wants to land a big multi-year contract.
The Cardinals have already shown they know how to handle starting pitchers, and Bieber would bring the veteran presence they need on the mound. He could also become a useful trade chip if things break that way.
If St. Louis landed Bohm and Bieber, the conversation changes quickly. Add both of them, and the Cardinals could legitimately be in playoff territory.
The bullpen, though, was the biggest problem in 2026. That’s where Luke Loaisiga comes in.
He posted a 2.42 ERA in 67 appearances last season and owns a 3.30 ERA across nine big league seasons. If the Cardinals could get that kind of production out of the bullpen, along with Bohm and Bieber, this starts looking like at least a wild-card team.
In Other News...
Cardinals Face A Tough Michael McGreevy Decision This Winter
The Cardinals are heading into the winter with a familiar kind of roster puzzle: too many arms, not enough clarity. Michael McGreevy has put together a solid 2026 season, and with St. Louis still carrying a deep group of pitching prospects, his name has started to surface as the kind of pitcher who could draw real interest if the club decides to turn surplus depth into something more useful.
For a team trying to balance present needs with future planning, that puts McGreevy in an awkward but potentially valuable spot. He has done enough to build his case, but the Cardinals also have to weigh whether keeping him is the best use of an already crowded pitching pipeline or whether moving him now could bring back assets that fit the next stage of the roster more cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Just Got New Fuel In The DeWitt Spending Debate
The debate over how much Major League Baseball teams can and should spend picked up new life this week, and Cardinals fans had reason to notice. Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein said owning a franchise is profitable, a direct contrast to Bill DeWitt Jr.'s earlier argument that the business is not very profitable. The exchange lands at an interesting moment, with owners preparing for collective bargaining talks and pushing for a salary cap.
For St. Louis, the discussion goes beyond one owners public comments. It touches the larger question of what separates teams that keep winning from those that merely trim payroll, and the answer has not always been simple spending. Some smaller-market clubs have stayed competitive by investing in player development and scouting, a reminder that smart organization can matter as much as the size of the checkbook. [Read more 🡒]
Reid Detmers Could Spark A Cardinals Trade Debate Fans Hate
The Cardinals spent the 2026 season leaning into the long view, finishing with 77 wins while trying to build around a young core and a deeper farm system. That makes any talk of chasing a veteran starter like Reid Detmers a tricky fit, even if the appeal is obvious for a rotation that could use help. Detmers 2026 season was strong enough to get attention, and in a market where proven pitching is hard to find, he would naturally draw interest from a club that wants to move faster without abandoning its future.
Still, the question for St. Louis is whether the price would make sense at this stage. Detmers has also had inconsistency in earlier seasons, which adds another layer of risk if the Cardinals are asked to part with multiple elite prospects to get him. For a front office focused on development and depth, that kind of move could spark the kind of trade debate fans dread: a short-term upgrade against a long-term plan that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]