I don’t remember approaching a St. Louis Cardinals season with so many different expectations than what the team faces in 2026. I’m going to ask a question that doesn’t have just one right answer and that’s what would make the upcoming St. Louis Cardinals season a success in your eyes?
The majority of baseball metrics sites predict that the St. Louis Cardinals will have a losing record in 2026, with the best-case scenario being around a .500 team. The season I hope to see, however, is not about the win-loss record. One of my biggest complaints with the St. Louis Cardinals over the last 3 seasons was the lack of direction and clarity. Ownership and management have given unclear signals from 2023 to 2025 as to whether they plan to add to the current team or if some sort of teardown is necessary. For 2026, we now have this answer.
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I will consider the 2026 season a success for the St. Louis Cardinals if it is clear which players (if any) are worth building around for the next few seasons. I want to see Masyn Winn add offense to his prolific defense and have a relatively injury-free year. Can JJ Wetherholt make the major league team and establish yourself as an everyday second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals? Will Alex Burleson continue his Silver Slugger year with another great offensive campaign and is there a place for him on the team moving forward? What about Ivan Herrera as a receiver and/or DH? Don’t even get me started on the issue of Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker’s development. I also want to see where Matthew Liberator And Michael McGreevy settle into the rotation. Is Liberatore capable of being a No. 1 starter? I have hopes and questions.
I also want to see what Chaim Bloom I’ll just stick with the list now that the first big teardown is complete. Will he make smart trades at the deadline this summer? What free agents will he be able to attract into the organization once the Cardinals want to add and compete again? I admit that this past offseason was just a honeymoon period. Now the list building begins and we’ll start learning more about the Chaim Bloom builder type. I also want to see another year of Oli Marmol managing to decide if he’s the type of leader this team needs to get back into contention. While I think I’ve seen enough to know how I feel about Oli, 2026 will be another year to watch and measure.
Yes, I would love for the St. Louis Cardinals to shock the baseball world and contend in 2026, but I think the season can still be a success if they don’t. If I understand more clearly the core of players that will be on this team over the next 3 years or so, I will consider the 2026 season a success. What is your measuring stick for a successful Cardinals season? I expect the answers will vary wildly and it will be fun to go back after the season is over to compare notes on how this is going.
