The St. Louis Cardinals may be shifting into rebuild mode, but that doesn’t mean they’re pulling the plug on being competitive entirely-not yet, anyway.
After selling off three bullpen arms at the trade deadline-Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton-the Cardinals made it pretty clear where they stand in 2025. At 4.5 games out of the NL Wild Card and 14 games behind in the Central, the math may not be on their side, but the organizational reset is more than just a short-term standings play. With Chaim Bloom set to take the reins as President of Baseball Operations at season’s end, the club is positioning itself for something longer-term: a retool, maybe even a full rebuild, that prioritizes internal development over immediate contention.
But here’s the thing about rebuilds-they don’t have to come with a bare cupboard. Even if the budget remains tight under ownership, there’s room for smart, cost-effective pickups.
One name that makes a lot of sense? Right-hander Shelby Miller.
Now, Cardinals fans will remember Miller well. He made his MLB debut with St.
Louis back in 2012, first stepping onto the big stage as a reliever before carving out a spot in the rotation the following year and finishing third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. His time in St.
Louis was marked by flashes of brilliance, and though his journey since then has taken him across baseball’s landscape-from Atlanta to Arizona, Texas to San Francisco, and just about everywhere in between-Miller’s story might be coming full circle.
In 2025, Miller’s been everything teams want out of a high-leverage arm. Between stops in Arizona and Milwaukee-he was traded to the Brewers at the deadline-he’s 3-3 with a sparkling 1.93 ERA in 38 appearances. Those aren’t just solid stats-they’re the kind that earn trust in the late innings, especially for a club that just lost a trio of trusted bullpen options.
If the Cardinals do bring Miller back in 2026, it wouldn’t just be a nostalgic reunion; it would be a savvy, short-term upgrade to a bullpen that suddenly needs stability. He’s got the experience, the resilience, and a recent track record that suggests he still has plenty left in the tank. And if the Cardinals find themselves once again out of postseason reach next summer, Miller could offer even more value as a midseason trade chip for prospects-fuel for a rebuild rather than a limit on one.
Of course, much of what’s to come will depend on Bloom’s approach. He’ll inherit a team with pitching needs, rosters to sort through, and position-player logjams to resolve.
But one thing is clear: even during a reset, the Cardinals can’t afford to overlook bullpen depth. And in a market where bargain deals are going to matter, Miller fits the mold of the kind of move that makes both baseball and business sense.
The coming offseason will offer our first real glimpse of Bloom’s blueprint. He’s got big shoes to fill as John Mozeliak steps aside, but there’s opportunity here-to reimagine the Cardinals’ identity, restock the system, and reposition the club as a rising force, even if the plan takes some patience.
The postseason may be out of reach in 2025, but 2026 could be a different story with a few shrewd additions. And a familiar face like Shelby Miller might just help set the tone.
