David Carson, Post-Dispatch
The 2023 season was a disappointment all around for the Cardinals organization. The arrogance of the front office and inexperience in the dugout were probably the two biggest factors in their downfall. However, even with last season’s collapse, the Cardinals are projected to win the weak N.L. Central by some experts. The question is, did they do enough this off-season to make them a contender?
Cardinals Aggressive Early in Off-Season
The organization definitely took an aggressive approach in regard to their starting pitching this past off-season. It was obvious they needed to rebuild the entire rotation after losing three of their starters from the 2023 season. The signing of Sonny Gray was a welcomed addition to the rotation by many fans, but that’s where the excitement fizzled. The front office then signed Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn much to the chagrin of many fans.
The signing of the two veteran workhorses made it obvious that the Cardinals were not going to be going after any more top-tier free agents. The Cardinals front office seemingly signed them to short-term deals as a stop gap measure. They are possibly hoping that prospects will develop quickly or that they can dip into the free agent market next year. Likely after clarity can be achieved where their television deal and income are concerned.
Front Office Refused to Change Their Ways
Prior to the 2023 season, the Cardinals front office seemingly thought that they could continue to tread water where pitching was concerned. Mozeliak and company refused to make any meaningful additions to the starting pitching. That came back to haunt them in a big way. The only meaningful addition they made to the club was Willson Contreras. Unfortunately, that didn’t go as smoothly as many had hoped.
Pitching Staff’s Struggles Blamed on the Wrong Person
The addition of Contreras definitely had some bumps in the road. One of the most shocking things it exposed was the pitching staff’s complete reliance on Yadier Molina. They had become so reliant on Molina that they seemingly forgot how to think for themselves. That combined with some pitchers playing the blame game resulted in Contreras not catching for several weeks. Unsurprising to most, it was an obvious blunder by management. A blunder that helped the team in no way.
Undoubtedly, Contreras is nowhere near the defensive catcher that his predecessor was, nor is he as good at handling a pitching staff. He shouldn’t be expected to be. Molina is one of the all-time greats where that is concerned, and Contreras was signed for his bat, not his defense. The blame for the pitching struggles lay squarely on the front office, the manager’s poor decisions, and obviously the pitchers themselves.
Did the Cardinals do Enough?
Many fans are questioning whether or not the team did enough to truly improve over last year. Gray is an obvious upgrade over any pitcher in their rotation last season. However, he’s not that big of an upgrade in comparison to Jordan Montgomery. Additionally, Lynn and Gibson aren’t much of an upgrade beyond the ability to eat innings.
The ability to eat innings should help to improve the performance of the bullpen. Due to the starters’ inability to go deep in games, the relievers were overworked in the 2023 season. Unfortunately, that’s where the improvement likely ends. The moves this past off-season barely moved the needle on a team that struggled mightily last season. They could possibly compete in a weak division, but if they manage a play-off berth, it is likely they’ll be headed for another early exit.
