For the third straight season, the Cardinals are going to miss the postseason, and it has frustrated not just fans but also the stars of the team. At the center of it all is Nolan Arenado. After another season of underachievement, the star made it clear that his patience and likely his time with the team are running out. And now, with him has joined Sonny Gray.
“There are drastic changes that need to happen for me individually and probably with this team,” Arenado mentioned. “I’m not a part of those plans for those changes for the team, and that’s OK. I understand that. Still: I would really like this not to go the way it did last year,” he added. All-Star third baseman even talked about being open-minded about the trade possibilities, expanding his list of approved teams.
Now, Gray, who signed a $75 million 3 years deal with championship expectations, has voiced his discontent. STL Sports Central reported, “After another year of missing the playoffs, Sonny Gray said last night that he’ll consider waiving his no-trade clause.” After another missed postseason, the grizzled veteran sounded nothing but frustrated. “I think I do, just to be frank and to be honest. I definitely think I do,” Gray confessed about waiving his no-trade clause. The right-hander even explained why!
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“I came here to win. I signed here two years ago with the expectation of winning and trying to win, and that hasn’t played out that way. I want to win, and I expect to win.”
Gray’s shift is a significant transformation. For much of his Cardinals tenure, he pointed out loyalty, insisting he wanted to see the rebuild through. But even after posting a 4.28 ERA, the almost 36-year-old knows his experience could still draw interest. But the problem is his contract.
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With $35 million owed next season, plus a club option for 2027 that he can void, competitor executives may hesitate unless the Cardinals eat a major chunk of the deal. That puts the front office in a tough position. President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom, must balance clearing payroll with getting fair market value. And for fans, the picture is well-defined.
If Arenado and Gray both push for fresh starts, the Cardinals are on the edge of a full-scale reset. Arenado’s comments hint toward a franchise identity crisis, while Gray’s openness to a trade shows veterans no longer believe contention is close. It now comes down to how aggressive ownership is willing to be in rebuilding the roster and whether St. Louis is ready for those changes…
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With the franchise now officially eliminated from the playoffs and leadership transformation already underway, St. Louis faces the type of offseason that could reformulate its entire direction.
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Playoff elimination pushes Cardinals toward rebuild
The Cardinals’ third consecutive postseason miss has left the clubhouse scrambling. Once known for their October consistency, the Redbirds have not won a playoff game since 2020 or advanced past the Wild Card round since 2019. Sitting at 78–81, they have slipped into baseball’s middle ground, not good enough to contend, but not bad enough to reset without tough choices.
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Ranking 18th in runs scored and a pitching staff sitting 19th in ERA, the problem goes well beyond just one or two players. And the front office turnover only adds to the urgency.
John Mozeliak’s exit clears the way for Chaim Bloom, who comes from Boston with a reputation for rebuilding rosters under financial and competitive pressure. And his first challenge would be deciding the futures of Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray, two veterans openly questioning their spot in St. Louis. Trading both would accelerate a youth-driven rebuild, freeing space for prospects such as Thomas Saggese and JJ Wetherholt to step in. For a team stuck in limbo, Bloom’s decisions this winter will decide whether the Cardinals finally welcome a fresh transformation or risk drifting further into mediocrity.
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The Cardinals’ elimination marks more than the end of another disappointing season; it signals a turning point. With Nolan Arenado vitalizing for trade chatter and Sonny Gray reconsidering his future, Chaim Bloom’s arrival could signal a new era in St. Louis. Whether it is a rebuild or a bold reset, fans should gear up for a dramatic offseason ahead.