Tony Vitello didn’t have to spend much time around the Cardinals to come away with a clear view of what’s building in St. Louis.
The Giants manager, a hometown kid who has already dealt with plenty of his own growing pains in his first year in the Bay, spoke warmly about the Cardinals’ direction even after San Francisco took the season series from St. Louis. The Giants have been a bottom-five team this year, but Vitello still saw enough in the Cardinals clubhouse to believe the organization is headed somewhere better.
He pointed to the work Chaim Bloom has done in assembling one of the youngest big league rosters and one of the best farm systems in the game, and he made a direct plea for fans to stay patient through the rebuild. With attendance down, Vitello’s message was basically to trust the process and wait for the ballpark energy to come back.
He also had praise for Oliver Marmol, saying the Cardinals manager has handled a tough job well by balancing opportunity and competition while dealing with roster constraints. Vitello didn’t just stop at the front office and dugout, either.
He singled out Alec Burleson as a leader in the room and a solid big leaguer who keeps adding to a career that’s already trending in the right direction. At 27, Burleson is one of the oldest players on the roster, and Vitello’s comments reflected the value he sees in what Burleson has become.
That matters because the Cardinals still have obvious holes, especially in the bullpen. But that’s also the kind of area a team can patch more quickly, whether through spending or smaller trades.
With what looks like the top five spots in the lineup settled for the next few seasons, Bloom’s next challenge is filling out the rest of the roster without giving away too much of the future. Money is one route, and dealing from areas of depth is another.
Either way, the path forward is there.
In Other News...
Cardinals Linked To A Yankees Infielder Fans May Not Want
The Cardinals infield uncertainty is already one of the quieter issues hanging over the offseason, and MLB insider Robert Murray just added another name to the mix by linking St. Louis to Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe. On paper, it is the sort of rumor that makes sense for a club trying to sort out its long-term alignment, especially with questions still lingering around the current group.
But Volpe is also the kind of trade target that could leave Cardinals fans underwhelmed if the fit is judged strictly by impact. His offense and defense have both been modest, which is why the argument for St. Louis is not exactly overwhelming, and it is part of the reason the safer path may be to keep leaning on internal options like Masyn Winn while the front office sorts out the rest of the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Make A Late Season Masyn Winn Decision Fans Will Notice
The Cardinals are using their final home game of 2026 to give Quinn Mathews the start against the Washington Nationals, a nod to where the season has gone as the club closes out a 75-80 campaign. St. Louis has already locked in a losing record at Busch Stadium, and the lineup reflects a team in evaluation mode rather than one trying to squeeze out a late push.
Masyn Winn, the Gold Glove shortstop, is not in the starting lineup, with Thomas Saggese getting the start at shortstop instead. For a player who has been one of the more recognizable pieces of the Cardinals infield, it is the kind of late-season decision fans will notice right away, especially with one game left at home and plenty of questions still hanging over how the club wants to finish the year. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Season Ended Because One Problem Never Got Fixed
The Cardinals had enough from the offense and starting rotation to stay in the race for a while, but the back end of games kept pulling them under. A poor second half helped sink St. Louis to a 75-80 finish and out of playoff contention, and the bullpen was a major reason why the season never really found steady ground.
It was a familiar kind of frustration for a club that could score and could start games well enough, only to watch leads slip away late. With the bullpen finishing 24th in ERA and tied for third in blown saves, the Cardinals spent too many nights needing one more clean inning and not getting it. [Read more 🡒]