St. Louis Cardinals prioritize rebuilding and youth development

The St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2024 season with an 83-79 record, placing second in the NL Central. Key players like Paul Goldschmidt and Matt Carpenter have left the team, while new pitchers Nick Anderson and Phil Maton have joined. Third baseman Nolan Arenado remains with the team after blocking a trade to the Houston Astros. The Cardinals are focused on reducing payroll and giving younger players more opportunities, including top prospect Quinn Mathews and breakout player Ivan Herrera. Chaim Bloom is set to take over as the new personnel head, succeeding John Mozeliak. The team is looking for improvement from young players and a rebound from veterans to stay competitive in 2025.