Cardinals Facing Harsh Reality as Sell-Off Looms
The St. Louis Cardinals entered 2025 with cautious optimism. But as the season has worn on, clarity is setting in — and not in the way fans had hoped. Let’s call this what it is, a dumpster fire. The Cardinals are going to be sellers for the rest of July.
After dropping five of six on a brutal post-All-Star break road trip, including a pair of demoralizing series losses to the Diamondbacks and Rockies, St. Louis sits at 52–50. After a rough 1-5 road trip out of the break — capped by deflating series losses to both the Diamondbacks and Rockies — the Cardinals have slipped to 52–50. Once in the thick of the Wild Card race, they’ve now fallen to fourth place in the NL Central, trailing the division by 8.5 games and sitting 3.5 back of the final playoff spot. Whatever success they had this season has drifted away, replaced by a much colder reality.
Masyn Winn, who made his debut during a similar late-season slide in 2023, now finds himself stepping into a leadership role as the Cardinals face another turning point. “My knee is jacked up right now,” he admitted after Tuesday’s loss — clearly frustrated but adamant about staying in the lineup. “I don’t really like missing games… I can’t afford to sit out.” His resolve captures exactly where this team is: caught between pushing forward and bracing for what comes next.
Long Overdue Shake Up in the Rotation
That pivot may already be underway. Erick Fedde was designated for assignment after another tough outing. Michael McGreevy, a young right-hander with growing upside, takes his spot in the rotation. It’s a microcosm of the bigger picture: veterans out, youth stepping in.
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak is nearing the end of his tenure, but before he hands the reins to Chaim Bloom, he’ll likely preside over a roster reshuffle. Trade rumors surround key names like Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and even controllable assets like Nolan Gorman and JoJo Romero.
And don’t forget the skipper, Oli Marmol. He is probably destined to be part of the shake-up either this season or immediately following. Mediocre managers generally don’t stick around with a new front office. Marmol would need to guide this team to one stellar run to save his gig.
This isn’t new ground for the Cardinals. In 2023, after falling well out of contention early, they moved expiring contracts and used August and September to evaluate prospects. They went 23–31 over the final two months, with Adam Wainwright gutting out tough starts to chase his 200th win. The front office balanced short-term obligation with long-term planning.
Time for some Fresh Faces
There’s potential for déjà vu. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt homered twice for Triple-A Memphis this week, drawing comparisons to Winn’s call-up in August 2023 — a move timed precisely 45 days before season’s end to preserve rookie eligibility and position the club for a draft pick under MLB’s prospect promotion incentive.
Wetherholt may soon follow that blueprint. But he won’t be the only fresh face. If the Cardinals fully embrace sell mode, fans should expect to see names like Irving Lopez, Casey Lawrence, or Jacob Barnes again — familiar depth options summoned not for future roles, but to fill innings and finish out a long, grinding season.
The challenge now isn’t just logistical — it’s emotional. For a proud clubhouse filled with competitors, waving the white flag carries weight. Coaches and veterans aren’t just risking their pride at this point, they risk their employment.
The final two months of the season may not be glamorous, but they’re not meaningless either. For the next generation of Cardinals, this is the proving ground. For the front office, it’s a time to recalibrate. And for fans, it’s a test of patience — one they’ve passed before.
