John Mozeliak, who guided the Cardinals to a 2011 World Series win and oversaw a sustained run of success earlier than falling off the tempo the previous two seasons, will stay in his place as president of baseball operations for the ultimate yr of his contract, however lots of his duties might be shifted elsewhere in 2025.
Manager Oliver Marmol, who led the Cardinals to 93 wins and an NL Central crown in 2022 earlier than lacking the playoffs the previous two seasons, may also return in 2025.
Former Rays GM and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who has labored with the Cardinals as an advisor since January, will oversee a reset of the participant growth system in 2025, in accordance to chairman Bill DeWitt II. Bloom will then succeed Mozeliak as the subsequent Cardinals president of baseball operation after the '25 season. He has agreed to a five-year contract, DeWitt stated.
He might be charged with revamping a farm system that has grown sporadic in producing difference-making expertise for the large league membership in current years. Bloom, who evaluated each stage of the Minor League system — even the Dominican Summer League — spent most of this season evaluating prospects and advising the employees on participant acquisitions. He is predicted to have the ultimate say on the hiring of a brand new director of participant growth following the Sept. 6 retirement of Gary LaRocque.
Marmol, who signed a two-year contract extension in Spring Training that runs by 2026, is happy a few future the place the Cardinals lean closely on their younger core of Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, Matthew Liberatore and Ryan Fernandez in '25.
“We need to build this group up and get them ready to go on a real run and not just compete every now and then and make the playoffs every other year,” Marmol stated on Sunday after a 6-1 win over the Giants made the Cardinals 83-79 for the season. “This is a group that we need to come together and continue to develop. It’s a young group, but it’s a good group. At the end of the day, I think there’s a bright future ahead.”
Mozeliak’s reassigned duties come on the heels of the Cardinals ending 71-91 in 2023 and failing to attain the postseason this previous season regardless of feverish makes an attempt to restock the pitching employees with veterans. Mozeliak, 55, has stated repeatedly that he has no intention of staying in his present position past the expiration of his contract following the 2025 season.
Much of Mozeliak’s obligations in the approaching months might be serving to the Cardinals trim a few of their payroll and long-term contracts by way of trades as they shift their focus extra towards their younger core of gamers. Highly paid veterans equivalent to Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Ryan Helsley might be moved. Having chosen coveted hitter JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis' No. 1 prospect, MLB No. 16) at No. 7 in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cardinals can have one other excessive Draft choose in '25.
While the Cardinals aren’t anticipated to choose up the $12 million membership choices for veteran pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, the membership does have a robust curiosity in making an attempt to retain free brokers Paul Goldschmidt and relievers Andrew Kittredge and Keynan Middleton due to their talents as leaders for the younger core.
Mozeliak, MLB.com’s Executive of the Year in 2011, helped the Cardinals grow to be one of many NL’s most constantly dominant and mannequin franchises after turning into the membership’s common supervisor after the 2007 season. His time in cost was highlighted by the Cardinals' means to pluck stars Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman, Goldschmidt and Arenado from cost-cutting groups to preserve their contending standing in the NL alive. He additionally performed a serious position in St. Louis reacquiring doubtless future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols in 2022 and paving the way in which for him to attain 703 profession dwelling runs whereas carrying a Cardinals uniform for a second time.
Goldschmidt, who's about to grow to be a free agent for the primary time in his profession, stated he could be open to a return to the Cardinals, however that quite a lot of components would play into the place he performs subsequent season. Goldschmidt, 37, first instructed MLB.com in mid-August that he wouldn't be retiring and supposed to play once more in 2025. Playing for a staff that may compete for a World Series crown subsequent season appeals vastly to the seven-time All-Star and 2022 NL MVP.
