The St. Louis Cardinals are changing their front office executive spot, with Chaim Bloom taking over as president of baseball operations from John Mozeliak.
This change is sparking more change in St. Louis, to the point where a rebuild is likely. But, this rebuild isn't just going to be a small one either; there will likely be plenty of changes on the horizon for St. Louis.
According to Cardinals reporter Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals in 2026 aren't expected to be a competitive team. The 2025 season isn't over yet, but the 2026 season doesn't look much better.
Cardinals Entering Full Rebuild Mode
When a team begins a rebuild, there are bound to be moves that leave the team in a competitive hole. For the Cardinals, Nolan Arenado is likely on his way out, as are a few other expensive veterans like Sonny Gray and potentially Willson Contreras.
They all have no-trade clauses, but the Cardinals might still try to move on from those players in some capacity. But, they aren't the only ones who could be gone, as other players, with more years of control, could also be on their way out of St. Louis.
Whether it's moving on from expensive veterans or reshaping the roster, "The Cardinals aren't expecting to be competitive next year." Woo writes.
Aside from the veterans, the Cardinals could also look to move on from fan favorites like Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, and Jordan Walker. Alex Burleson and Ivan Herrera are likely safe, but there are few guarantees for Cardinals players in 2026.
Entering a rebuild, like the Cardinals plan to do once Bloom takes over, would unsurprisingly lead to the team being uncompetitive in 2026. With ownership on board with a rebuild, the Cardinals are going to reshape their roster.
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Freeing up money and moving on from players on the cusp of being free agents will be a theme for the Cardinals this offseason. The team needs to free up some roster spots in the Majors, especially with their crowded outfield and left-handed hitters.
Prospects like JJ Wetherholt are ready to make a difference in the Majors, and moving on from some of the MLB talent in the offseason could help pave the way for a youth movement in St. Louis.
Between the veterans likely to be moved in the offseason, along with the Cardinals' plans to rebuild over the next few years, it's hardly a surprise that the Cardinals won't be competitive in 2026.
But, for Woo to outright say that the Cardinals aren't expecting to be competitive in 2026 is noteworthy. Some teams might play coy with their fanbase over their plans amid their rebuilds, but St. Louis is, through Woo, being candid about their chances to make a postseason run in 2026.
While a frustrating outcome for the fanbase, the clear direction of a rebuild is, at the very least, setting a timeline for the Cardinals fans. There's no ambiguity; the Cardinals are going to rebuild, even if it leads to an uncompetitive team in the short term.
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