In spite of missing the playoffs, the Cardinals had a vociferous bounce-back season last year, but are looking to make it back to the playoffs this season in spite of not many off-season additions.
After finishing with a record of 71-91 in 2023, the Cardinals’ first season with a losing record since 2007 and worst season since 1995, St. Louis was able to pull-off superb improvements in 2024.
Shortstop Masyn Winn, after becoming the youngest Cardinals player to make his MLB debut as a starting shortstop since Gary Templeton in 1976, in 2023, showed terrific improvements and success all around with the team. Winn went from having a .172 batting average in 37 games played in 2023, to a .267 batting average in 150 games played in 2024. Same with a 2024 OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .730 compared to a 2023 OPS of .467. Alongside those, Winn won the 2024 Fielding Bible Award at shortstop. The Fielding Bible Awards are annual MLB awards, voted on by a panel of baseball analysts, recognizing the best defensive players at each position. Winn is a highly promising young Cardinals player, looking to do even better in 2025.
The Cardinals also had significantly better stability in 2024 compared to 2023, including a team 4.79 ERA and 16th in the MLB compared to their 4.04 ERA the previous year and 24th in the MLB. Relief pitcher Ryan Helsley’s comeback season in 2024, after being injured through much of 2023, especially helped. Helsley led all of the MLB in saves, was able to win National League Reliever of the Year, and made All-MLB first team. His success was a major contributing factor to the Cardinals’ improved season last year, and Helsley and the Cardinals look to do even stronger this year. In spite of all those things, the pitching line-up is still an area amongst the team, in need of upgrading. The Cardinals were only able to bring in one new free agent this off-season, free agent Phil Maton, who looks to help improve the Cardinals’ pitching game.
A major loss for the Cardinals this off-season was 2022 NL MVP first baseman Paul Goldschmidt who signed with the New York Yankees on Monday, Dec. 30th. In spite of a down season for Goldschmidt compared to previous years, he still led the team in home runs in 2024. But at 37 years old, Goldschmidt was not the long-term solution for the Cardinals. The Cardinals’ 2024 starting catcher Wilson Contreras will be taking Goldschmidt’s place at first base this season, as Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages will compete to take over as the team’s starting catcher. Contreras has only played first baseman 11 times in his career, but this move comes after Contreras only played in 84 games last season due to injuries.
The Cardinals had been looking to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado all off-season, due to his hefty contract. The team attempted to trade Arenado to the Houston Astros last December, but due to Arenado’s no-trade clause, Arenado chose to block that trade. But if Arenado does not get traded, that means the eight-time all-star and 10-time gold glove winner will be returning as St. Louis’s first baseman. The Cardinals were not able to make many trades or free agency signings during the offseason, but have felt strongly confident in many of the organization’s minor league players, including ones who will likely be playing a good number of games for the Cardinals this year. They are also thrilled to have returning players lead the team, including right fielder Alec Burleson who approximately led the Cardinals in batting statistics last season; Sonny Gray who led the team in pitching; Winn in infield stats; left fielder Brendan Donovan in outfield stats; and center fielder Michael Siani in stolen bases.
While allowing the team’s returning players to continue their success for St. Louis, if the minor leaguers and newer players can continue to develop, and if the Cardinals can find players to fill the gaps through the season by trades or free agency, the St. louis Cardinals could certainly land themselves a spot in the playoffs this year. Same with for seasons to come; as the team hopes to eventually return to their previous World Series days.
