St. Louis Cardinals Plan Major Roster Rebuild

The St. Louis Cardinals face a pivotal offseason as they plan a significant rebuild after missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Key decisions include potentially not offering Paul Goldschmidt a $21 million qualifying offer, likely ending his tenure with the team. The pitching staff will see changes, with ace Sonny Gray and closer Ryan Helsley possibly being traded to cut payroll, while veterans Lance Lynn and Keynan Middleton are not expected to have their options renewed. Nolan Arenado might also be on the trading block as the team looks to get younger and reduce payroll. Despite these changes, the Cardinals aim to maintain some flexibility in their lineup with players like Brendan Donovan, who offers versatility across multiple positions. The team ended the 2024 season with a slight improvement but still missed postseason play, prompting the need for this strategic roster overhaul.