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Jesse Rogers
When the rain finally raised after a 90 -minute delay and Louis Cardinals They opened their season 47,395 reddish -brown fans at the Busch stadium, two long -known monuments were a bit surprised for anyone who watched offseason reputation: Nolan Arenado coming out of a domestic excavation to call curtain after home run and Sonny Gray Off the opposition in the uniform of cardinals.
There was a feeling that the cardinals could be the main story when offseason began and that both players could wear new uniforms to open. One of the underlying franchises MLB embarked on the reset because it passes from the long -time manager John Mozeliak to the former Rays Tampa Bay and Boston Red Sox Executive Chaim Bloom, who is waiting in wings to take over in 2026. It seemed that winter veteran players seemed.
Cardinals rarely rarely go through these decreases when they focus on the rumors instead of gaining them. In fact, it wasn’t so long ago that the Cardinals charged the former first bass Paul Goldschmidt from Arizona Diamondbacks (in December 2018) and then the third Baseman Nolan Arenado of Colorado Rockies (before the season 2021) to help maintain a 15 -year -old lane over 0.500 alive.
However, this ended in 2023, when St. Louis below, went 71-91 before he returned in 2024 with the 83 winning season. Their record was not good enough to make Postseason and with decreasing television income and participation, the franchise decided to change. Although the twins sweep on the opening weekend, the participation dropped after the first play with record low numbers that participated in the Busch Stadium Los Angeles Angels.
“The word” resetting “can be interpreted by many different ways,” Mozeliak said. We are in the lead in the lead. We are also in the transition to what this team will look like. ”
“Our business model has changed. There is less revenue on the television side, we have less revenue on the side of the sale. We are trying to make adjustments as best we can. The only lever to pull out is wage when you deal with it.”
This is where this winter was supposed to help accelerate the direction of franchise for the coming years. The list of cardinals is full of veterans who could help other teams. Their movement would also lead to another space for a word that they often hear this spring: track. Louis wants to give his young players room for a real chance to show who they are during this transition. It is necessary for the plan.
But on the way to trading with Arenado, gray, starter became a funny thing Miles mycolas or the catcher turned the first baseman WILLSON Contraras: They did not want to leave (at least not for teams that match in the discussions with St. Louis). The provision without trade in its contracts ended with a great impact on the winter of cardinals.
“The reason they are listed is that we felt as if they were under market offers that come to St. Louis,” Mozeliak said. “The market is getting more competitive. It’s as if the coast teams have an advantage. For us, when you remember the last 30 years, it was our competitive advantage.”
“There were a lot of shivers about us that moved one of our veterans.
However, the lack of activity was surprising for some of this industry.
“I thought they would do more,” said one opponent who had no business discussion with cardinals. “I am interested in seeing things playing. No clause is complex.”
So the plan has changed a bit for 2025. The development of young players and still trying to win games with an older core has become the goal.
“We go by two parallel paths,” Mozelak said. “We have a younger club that has some uncertainty about how they play, but if they click, it could be quite good. But on the other parallel track we try to build for the future.”
The team also held closer to all-star Ryan Helsley and the starter Erick Fedde (Although she doesn’t even have a clause without a shop) and the season began near the middle of MLB at an average age.
The Cardinals also did not have a qualified newcomer in the opening day list for the first time since 2007. Jordan Walker, Nolan gorman and Alec Burleson. While for older players in the list, their task for the next three months is to leave the Front Office with a heavy election to be made in the store.
“If I have my way, cardinals have been playing a great baseball before and instead of getting rid of them, we add people,” Mikolas said. St. Louis got to the quick start to this goal and swept the twins last weekend before he finally lost the first Angels game on Tuesday.
“He talks about the reset, but the energy in the clubhouse is even better this year, because we see a lot of comments around us that are a little crazy – a good way,” Contraras said. “We’re here to be able to do what we can do.”
Even if the team plays with fire, it is possible that by July some of those in the clubhouse could change their views on its provision on without shops. Perhaps the hardest decision that the team could make will be what to do with Helsley, if St. Louis is still competing in NL Central or Wild-Card. Teams in the transition are usually closed because they are so valuable for candidates looking for the last pieces.
After entering offseason as a constant name in business speculation, the 102 MPH throwing All-Star Closer said he was surprised that the season even started with a team that originally developed in 2015.
“I will be the first to admit, I thought I was definitely gone,” Helsley said. “I think it’s resetting, and this is my year walk. I thought I should go first. I was a little surprised to bring me back.”
Helsley got a lot of questions about his future from friends and family, but attention was nothing compared to Arenado. After last year’s season-Potom, he refused to go to Houston in winter-Arenado that he would return to the form of all-star after a consecutive seasons. On the day of start-up, by calling the eighth Inning curtain, he asked if he thought he would eventually accept the business during the winter months.
“It was 50/50, and then I probably liked 70/30 at one point, I wasn’t (returning), but at the end of the day I always knew there was a chance that I could come back, so I was always ready for it,” said Arenado.
The winner of the golden gold gloves used Muay Thai to get away from the noise and train his body to be better prepared for the strictness of the season. He says he moves better than ever at the age of 33 and wants to prove that he is still a valuable player after hit only 16 home runs with 0.719 OPS last year.
“I read some things or saw things on TV what people said about me, so of course it motivates you,” said Arenado. “I feel that my first step in defense is good again, so it’s nice. Not that it would be bad last year, but it wasn’t the way I would like it.”
Now that the new season has arrived, Marmol will be under the microscope, trying to find the right mix in a unique time for franchise. Will his decisions lean more to the future than to the present?
“When these opportunities are introduced, do not hesitate to ask,” Marmol told reporters. “And we’ll have the conversation. It will pop up. It’s not a clear task.
“You choose places to do things and choose places to allow the track. You can do it efficiently. You don’t have to choose the track button for 162. There is an opportunity to do both.”
