The 2025 St. Louis Cardinals: A Year of Transformation and Takeoff
Imagine a beloved baseball franchise that's been coasting on past glories, only to hit a bumpy road of predictability and missed opportunities. That's the raw reality many St. Louis Cardinals fans faced heading into 2025—a season that promised upheaval, excitement, and a glimpse into a bold new future. But here's where it gets controversial: Was this the right time for a complete reboot, or did the team risk throwing out the baby with the bathwater? Stick around, and we'll dive deep into the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that defined the Cardinals' year, evaluating their young stars and setting the stage for what's next. And this is the part most people miss—how the off-field drama might just be the spark for a championship-caliber revival.
As the calendar flips to reflect on another year, it's only natural to ponder our personal resolutions, like hitting the gym more or picking up that novel we've been eyeing. For the St. Louis Cardinals, 2025 was all about reinventing themselves under new leadership, with President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom steering the ship toward a vibrant, youthful roster. This shift aimed to inject fresh energy into the 'Show Me State,' shaking off the monotony that had crept in during recent campaigns. The outgoing era belonged to John Mozeliak, a long-serving executive who gracefully stepped aside, acknowledging that his seasoned perspective no longer aligned perfectly with the evolving landscape of modern baseball. Before his exit, Mozeliak oversaw a squad that put their emerging talents to the test, revealing strengths and weaknesses alike. Some revelations were disappointing, like the struggles of players such as Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Nolan Arenado, and Erick Fedde. Others remained ambiguous—could Ivan Herrera solidify his role behind the plate? Might Matthew Liberatore anchor the middle of the rotation for a full year? What's the true potential of Masyn Winn's bat? And would Lars Nootbaar stay injury-free while delivering consistent production? On the brighter side, positive answers emerged: Willson Contreras made a seamless move to first base, Alec Burleson capped off a strong campaign, and Victor Scott II cemented his spot in center field.
Looking ahead to 2026, plenty of questions loom, but we'll tease those for another time (wink). For now, let's savor the 2025 season with a detailed monthly recap, spotlighting the standout moments that etched this year into Cardinals history.
January
What a chilly start to the new year, especially in terms of player moves, as fans buzzed about the potential blockbuster trade for Nolan Arenado. After Arenado declined to waive his no-trade clause in late 2024 to join the Houston Astros—just days after they dealt away cornerstone Kyle Tucker—Mozeliak engaged with a select few teams on his approved list, including the Astros (pre-Tucker trade) and others where concerns about contenders arose, like the impending loss of Alex Bregman. Reports suggested the Cardinals and Boston Red Sox had a tentative deal in place for Arenado, contingent on Bregman signing elsewhere (which he did, becoming Boston's top priority). Don't forget Mozeliak's emphatic declaration at the Winter Warm Up: trading Arenado was his absolute top priority.
Notable moves in January 2025:
- Acquired left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn via waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
- Inked catcher Yohel Pozo as a minor league free agent.
February
February dragged on with minimal excitement, marking a sluggish offseason for Cardinals supporters amid the lingering winter chill. Pitchers and catchers headed to spring training, but the team under Mozeliak's final offseason largely stayed the course without major acquisitions or departures. Bregman landed with the Red Sox as expected, and Arenado awkwardly returned to the fold for 2025.
Key developments in February 2025:
- Acquired infielder/outfielder Michael Helman from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash.
- Signed right-handed pitcher Nick Anderson to a minor league contract.
March
Ah, March—the heartbeat of baseball season buildup, with highlights flooding social media and exhibition games kicking off. The Cardinals' sole major league signing before Opening Day was right-handed reliever Phil Maton on March 13, inked for $2 million to fill the setup role vacated by Andrew Kittredge, effectively bridging to closer Ryan Helsley. He excelled in that spot! Offseason dramas built to a rainy Opening Day delay, which, in hindsight, foreshadowed a wet and wild early season.
A solid performance from Sonny Gray led to a Twins victory on Opening Day, followed by another win to set up a potential sweep. The series against the Los Angeles Angels ended with a loss on March 31, leaving the Cardinals at 3-1 as the 162-game marathon began.
April
After tough losses in the Angels series, the stage was set for a historic offensive outburst from a Cardinals catcher:
Ivan Herrera became the franchise's first backstop to smash three home runs in a single game, propelling the team to a 4-2 finish in their opening homestand. This marked their only stint atop the division that season, with near-misses in May and June. Early April was one of the most thrilling stretches of 2025.
A brutal 36-20 drubbing in Boston (no need to relive that) was followed by a Pittsburgh series where the lone win came against future NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. A 1-5 road trip concluded with home games against former playoff teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. Splitting the first two against Philly led to a Sunday showdown, with Matthew Liberatore facing Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler.
Back-to-back series wins over the Phillies and Astros put the Cardinals at 9-9 early on. But here's the anomaly: they couldn't win on the road. Sweeps by the New York Mets (four games) and Atlanta Braves (two of three) resulted in another 1-5 trip. A home series against divisional foe Milwaukee Brewers saw them win two of three, before heading to Cincinnati for a loss followed by wins in a doubleheader, finishing April at 11-16 (14-17 overall).
May
May kicked off with a loss to the Reds, bookended by the Cardinals' doubleheader sweep. Returning home against the Mets, rain forced another twin bill. After dropping the opener, they swept the next two, highlighted by rookie Michael McGreevy's gritty outing and Victor Scott II's web gem robbing Juan Soto of a homer—showing his quick adjustments from earlier struggles, like a previous play against Mike Trout.
This felt like the turning point, as the team embarked on a 5-1 homestand, including a Pirates sweep for a five-game win streak. Traveling to Washington, Erick Fedde delivered his best St. Louis performance yet.
A series-opening win sparked a Nats sweep, extending the streak to eight as they headed to Philadelphia. In Game 1, top-5 Cy Young finisher Christopher Sanchez faced Liberatore.
The ninth straight win followed, but rain necessitated a doubleheader where the streak ended, though a 14-7 slugfest victory over Aaron Nola capped the series. Two of three wins against the Kansas City Royals preceded a 2-3 loss to Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (back-to-back AL Cy Young winner). Sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in comebacks, they took two of three from Baltimore and split with Texas, ending May at an NL-leading 19-8 (33-25 overall).
June
June brought the Cardinals back to earth with a turbulent, up-and-down month that exposed cracks and steered the season's trajectory. A 8-1 loss to Texas on June 1 started a home series against Kansas City. After a 10-7 defeat and a rainout-forced doubleheader split, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers arrived. The Cardinals shut them out 5-0 in Game 1, and at Mozeliak's final Blogger Day, fans witnessed a thrilling finish where Fedde battled Cy Young finalist and Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
For all the frustration around the Arenado situation, it was a joy to see one last highlight from the future Hall of Famer in Cardinals red. A series loss to LA kicked off a rough patch: a home sweep by the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays, a 4-game drubbing in Milwaukee for second place (extending losses to eight), and a 'get-right' sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Back home, they took two against Cincinnati before Andrew Abbott blanked them.
Facing first-place Chicago Cubs with a 4.5-game deficit, Game 1 was unforgettable:
Four two-run homers by left-handed bats carried the Cardinals to an 8-7 wild win the next night (where Masyn Winn scored from second on a sac fly amid confusion over the outs). The Cubs split the rest. In Cleveland, Sonny Gray tossed a brilliant one-hit shutout complete game against the Guardians.
Sweeping Cleveland boosted them to a season-high 10 games over .500, before a Pirates loss ended June at 13-15 (46-40 overall).
July
Swept by Pittsburgh, the Fourth of July series in Chicago loomed crucial. Miles Mikolas' rough Game 1 outing gave way to Liberatore, with catcher Yohel Pozo delivering a memorable hit.
Fedde's poor Sunday start sealed the series loss and signaled the end of his St. Louis run. Winning the Nationals series kept them afloat, but dropping two of three to Atlanta—where Fedde's ineffectiveness led manager Oli Marmol to publicly urge a call-up for McGreevy—highlighted tensions. Mozeliak opted to wait for trade value, which never materialized. The first half ended at 50-47, a respectable spot amid playoff contention.
But here's where it gets controversial: Post-break, they were swept in Arizona and lost two of three to Colorado (1-5 road trip), signaling a downward spiral and impending deadline sells. Splitting with San Diego and losing two of three to Miami, they traded Helsley, Maton, and Steven Matz, DFA'd Fedde for a Braves deal. July finished 8-16 (54-56 overall).
August
The sweltering August dog days felt barren in St. Louis, with low attendance after consecutive deadline sells. Fans had largely disengaged, yet the team clung to wildcard hopes. Dropping two of three to San Diego and winning two of three against LA, they took two of three from Chicago. A 5-4 start through mid-month gave way to losses: two of three to Colorado and a home sweep by the Yankees (1-5 homestand). A 3-3 split with Florida teams (Marlins and Rays) preceded a Pirates split and two of three wins over Cincinnati. August ended 14-14 (68-70 overall).
September
Mozeliak's final month opened with two of three wins over the Athletics, followed by two of three against the Giants, reaching .500 for the first time since mid-July. Swept in Seattle and losing two of three to Milwaukee, they dropped two of three at home to Cincinnati, sinking too deep to recover. A 4-5 finish in the last nine games left them at 78-84.
Though competitive most of the season, die-hards bailed by mid-July, frustrated by delays in benching Fedde and prioritizing wins over trade returns. The Cardinals might not have advanced far past the wildcard (as seen with the Dodgers dominating Cincinnati), but it could have boosted morale and development for the young core.
A day after the season, a press conference honored Mozeliak.
On September 30, Chaim Bloom was introduced as the new President of Baseball Operations—the first sole decision-maker since 2007.
October
Silence reigned in October as offseason prep began, with MLB urging restraint out of playoff respect.
November
A hectic November involved 40-man roster maneuvers, bidding farewell to Miles Mikolas. Outrighting Michael Siani, Anthony Veneziano, Zack Thompson, Roddery Munoz, and selecting Bryan Torres. Adding Leonardo Bernal, Joshuah Baez, Cooper Hjerpe, and Brycen Mautz before the deadline. DFA'ing Jorge Alcala for space, and non-tendering John King, Yohel Pozo, and Sem Robberse (the latter two rehired).
Just before Thanksgiving, trading Sonny Gray to Boston for Richard Fitts, Brandon Clarke, and cash marked Bloom's first big move.
Signing Scott Blewett to a minor league deal for bullpen competition or depth.
December
Claiming Zak Kent from Cleveland, selecting Matt Pushard and Ryan Murphy in the Rule 5 draft.
On December 17, signing Dustin May for $12.5 million and DFA'ing Matt Koperniak. May embodies the upside the Cardinals sought, with flip potential at the deadline.
On December 22, trading Willson Contreras to Boston for Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita, with cash involved. Fajardo, 19, is a high-school arm with room to grow—think patience yielding rewards in 3-4 years.
Signing Jared Shuster to a minor league pact for lefty depth, amid potential JoJo Romero trade talks.
The year began with a caretaker focused on incremental tweaks for steady contention, which faded in Mozeliak's later years but avoided total collapse (barring 2023). Bloom's aggressive roster overhaul signals a draft-and-develop era under DeWitt leadership. The future hinges on young talent, with the right crew in place. Even in down seasons, 2025 offered cherished moments, much like 2025 itself.
Thanks for joining this recap—let's discuss: Do you think the Cardinals handled the Fedde situation correctly, or was it a missed opportunity for competitiveness? And is Bloom's youth-first approach the key to sustained success, or could it backfire? Share your thoughts in the comments—what's your boldest prediction for 2026?
