Central STL News

The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing for their first offseason with Chaim Bloom as the new president of baseball operations, following his succession of John Mozeliak. The team is expected to be more active this winter, a shift attributed to limited moves in 2025 rather than solely Bloom’s arrival.

Last year, the Cardinals did not make significant trades or signings until late in spring training. This offseason, Bloom is anticipated to receive resources to make moderate improvements to the roster. However, fans are advised not to expect high-profile acquisitions such as Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso; instead, the club may focus on adding a fifth starter or an outfielder with power.

Miles Mikolas stands as the team’s only free agent. A Cardinal since 2018 and previously an All-Star, Mikolas has struggled in recent seasons but has remained reliable in terms of appearances. If the team cannot secure a younger pitcher, they might consider bringing him back on a one-year contract.

The Cardinals do not have players with contractual options requiring attention this offseason but face several arbitration cases that could impact payroll and limit free-agent spending. Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson are expected to receive notable raises after standout performances in 2025. JoJo Romero is also set for an increase following his transition into a part-time closer role.

Other arbitration-eligible players include Andre Pallante, Lars Nootbaar, Matthew Liberatore—who earned Super 2 status—and Nolan Gorman entering arbitration for the first time.

The deadline for non-tender decisions is November 21. Candidates include left-handed reliever John King, whose performance declined in 2025; Jorge Alcala after struggles in relief appearances; Zack Thompson who missed all season due to injury; and Yohel Pozo because of depth at catcher.

By November 18 at 5 p.m. CT, decisions must be made about protecting prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. Notable candidates for protection include Leonardo Bernal (No. 4 prospect), Joshua Baez (No. 11), Brycen Mautz (No. 21), Pete Hansen, Max Rajcic despite struggles at Triple-A Memphis, and Blaze Jordan acquired from Boston last season.

Tough choices remain regarding injured pitchers Tekoah Roby (No. 8), Tink Hence (No. 12), and Cooper Hjerpe (No. 13). Both Roby and Hjerpe dealt with significant arm injuries in 2025 while Hence was limited by shoulder trouble.

With uncertainties surrounding Mikolas’ return and other pitchers coming off difficult seasons or injuries, pitching will be a priority for St. Louis during free agency—though major signings appear unlikely given payroll constraints.

The club has acknowledged its need to address a surplus of left-handed hitters by potentially trading players like Nolan Gorman or Lars Nootbaar—or possibly Brendan Donovan—to create opportunities for top prospect JJ Wetherholt or acquire pitching depth by dealing from their group of catchers.

Fans can expect ongoing updates about player moves and organizational changes as the Cardinals navigate these offseason questions under new leadership.