MLB Rumors: Yankees-Juan Soto, Cardinals panic, Astros double down

MLB Rumors: Cardinals understand change is needed

The Cardinals are 38-52 and 11 games back of a postseason spot. A run to the playoffs would be shocking, and although not impossible, baseball fans in St. Louis ought to prepare for a fire sale at the trade deadline.

That’s an indictment of this front office, which thought they put a winning product on the field to start the season, despite obvious flaws in the starting rotation and bullpen. As with every team, injuries and disappointing play from some of their stars have certainly played a role, but in the end this is on John Mozeliak and his team.

“When you look at how things have unfolded, I don’t want to go through every little excuse we see,” said Mozeliak. “We know it hasn’t worked. We know changes have to happen.”

For St. Louis fans watching the All-Star Game, it was a reminder of just how much the Cards front office has faltered over the last few years. In 2019, both Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena were on this roster. Now, they are starring elsewhere. Zac Gallen, who started for the National League, is another former Cardinal.

Mozeliak went as a far as to say the on-field product “should have been better,” per their model.

“When you look at what we’ve put on paper, it should’ve worked better, but it didn’t,” said Mozeliak. “The front office [and] ownership know we have to do something different. This is not the model we’re going to follow. That’s something we’ll take a hard look at [and] try to address it, but changes will happen.”

It remains to be seen exactly how many changes the Cardinals intend to make. If Mozeliak can use this season as a wake-up call, and an excuse to get younger around the margins, then fans will have something to look forward to in 2024.