MLB Rumors: Cardinals’ Offseason Plans and Pirates Eye Marcell Ozuna

A seismic shift’s underway in St. Louis. The Cardinals just pulled off another blockbuster, sending All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a tangled three-team deal.

This trade, which also ropes in the Tampa Bay Rays, really highlights President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom‘s aggressive plan. He’s clearly pivoting hard toward the future, stacking up promising young talent instead of chasing short-term wins.

The Cardinals’ Bold Rebuild: A New Era Dawns

The Brendan Donovan trade isn’t just a one-off move. It’s the latest twist in a wild story unfolding in St. Louis.

This deal drives home the Cardinals’ commitment to a full-on rebuild. It’s a strategy that might test fans’ patience right now, but the long view? It could pay off big.

Chaim Bloom’s Unprecedented Offseason Moves

Chaim Bloom arrived in September and wasted no time shaking things up. Trading away established All-Stars for a pile of prospects has become his signature move this offseason.

That Donovan deal? It’s a prime example of Bloom’s approach. For their versatile infielder, the Cardinals brought in a hefty package:

• Jurrangelo Cijntje: A pitching prospect with tons of upside.
• Tai Peete: A 2023 first-rounder, which is always exciting.
• A competitive-balance pick from Seattle: Extra draft ammo.
• Colton Ledbetter: An intriguing outfield prospect.
• Another competitive-balance pick from Tampa Bay: More draft capital.

Here’s the trend under Bloom—monthly All-Star exits:

• November: Sonny Gray

• December: Willson Contreras

• January: Nolan Arenado

Ownership has eaten about $59 million to make these moves happen. That’s a pretty big signal they’re serious about resetting the team’s direction and gaining financial flexibility.

Beyond the Trades: A Holistic Reconstruction

The Cardinals’ overhaul isn’t just about swapping players. They’re carefully gathering assets on every front, trying to build a foundation for long-term success.

The Draft and Financial Landscape

The numbers tell the story. St. Louis has added:

• 11 pitching prospects

• 4 position-player prospects

• Additional draft picks

• International bonus pool money

Even though execs avoid saying it, this team is in full rebuild mode. The Cardinals now own the 13th overall pick in the next draft, plus top-five and top-ten picks in 2024 and 2025.

That’s a lot of firepower for future talent grabs.

The financial side? Also getting a full reset. Payroll’s set to drop below $100 million for the first time since 2010.

For the first time in at least 25 years, the Cardinals will actually receive revenue sharing. That shift comes as broadcast revenue takes a hit—$20 million this season, down from about $60 million last year after leaving FanDuel Sports Network.

These moves should give the team more flexibility and keep things stable for the long haul.

Other MLB Buzz: Offseason Moves and Rumors

The Cardinals may be grabbing the most attention with their bold rebuild, but they’re not the only ones making moves. The hot stove’s still burning, and plenty of teams are reshaping their rosters for the season ahead.

Positioning for Success: Outfield, Infield, and Designated Hitters

Bloom’s Final Touches? Chaim Bloom says he might still add a veteran right-handed outfielder on a short-term deal. He points to the need for depth, especially with Lars Nootbaar recovering from double-heel surgery.

Recent low-cost signings like Dustin May and Ryne Stanek on one-year contracts show a pretty shrewd approach to filling gaps. Bloom seems to know how to stretch a dollar when it comes to roster moves.

Pirates’ Bat Hunt: The Pittsburgh Pirates are openly searching for more offense. Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna is reportedly on their radar.

But bringing in someone like Ozuna could mess with playing time for younger guys like Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Mangum, and Spencer Horwitz. The team needs to weigh that carefully—veteran power or opportunities for developing talent? It’s never an easy call.

Red Sox’s Lineup Balance: The Boston Red Sox want a right-handed infielder, but they’re also looking at right-handed outfielders to break up their lefty-heavy lineup. Randal Grichuk, Starling Marte, and Tommy Pham are still out there, and any of them could help balance Boston’s offense.

Manager Alex Cora would probably appreciate having more options to avoid tough platoon matchups. Sometimes you just need a few more chess pieces.

Tyler France’s Versatility: Some teams have talked about asking free-agent first baseman Tyler France to play some second base. He’s mainly a first baseman, but he’s got past experience around the infield.

If France is open to moving around, that could really boost his value. Teams always need another flexible bat, right?

 
Here is the source article for this story: What we’re hearing in MLB: The Cardinals’ offseason, the Pirates’ interest in Marcell Ozuna and more