![\"John](\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/zaCYsdpFMaFMqAqlnnLOKy2RBLw=\/0x0:6532x4355\/1200x800\/filters:focal(2744x1656:3788x2700)\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/73989539\/1546731180.0.jpg\")
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We all know that John Mozeliak is stepping down at the end of the 2025 season. That can\u2019t come soon enough. I think we as Cardinals fans would all agree on that. Yesterday\u2019s reception during the Opening Day ceremonies was all the proof that was needed.<\/p>\n
But recently, I read something on MLB.com from John Denton. He said that if the Cardinals are in contention at the trade deadline, they likely won\u2019t trade Erick Fedde and Ryan Helsley.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been adamant that this would be a mistake, even if the Cardinals are in contention. And while Helsley looked great yesterday against the Twins, 2025 represents the Cardinals last chance to restock the farm with a Helsley trade.<\/p>\n
With Opening Day only recently behind us, I think it\u2019s fair for people to say it\u2019s too early to think about the trade deadline. But if you\u2019re like me, you\u2019re always thinking about what the Cardinals can do.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it will still be Mozeliak making the key decisions. But Chaim Bloom needs to have some input here.<\/p>\n
Now, we don\u2019t know for sure what Bloom is thinking. Maybe he and Mozeliak are on the same page. But while Bloom is not in charge yet, Mozeliak should be consulting with him at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n
After all, Bloom needs a clean slate, and I\u2019ve said before that while I want the Cardinals to contend, they should plan on being sellers at the trade deadline. Not capitalizing on the value of some of their veteran pitchers would be a mistake.<\/p>\n
My hope is that Bloom is thinking the same thing, and that he wants to restock the farm system so that he can have a clean slate in 2026.<\/p>\n
While Mozeliak is still running the show, Bloom should have the final say here. It\u2019s going to be his team next year, and my hope and guess is that he\u2019ll want to start fresh. We know he\u2019s big into building a strong farm system and improving player development. That is what he\u2019s doing this year, and he needs to have all the tools in place so that he can get straight to work after 2025.<\/p>\n
While yesterday\u2019s Opening Day win was encouraging, I think we can preemptively rule out the Cardinals having the best record in baseball at any point this year. So, if they are over .500 at the trade deadline, I would like to see them take the Orioles approach from 2022.<\/p>\n
At this point, Mozeliak needs to swallow his pride and accept that he needs to help Bloom have everything he needs to succeed as the next president of baseball operations. One of those things is a strong farm system, and while improving player development will help, this will also include adding some much-needed top prospects to the mix to brighten the future.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve heard Mozeliak talk about not wanting to sacrifice the future in the past. Each time he\u2019s said that he hasn\u2019t done anything to strengthen the future, so now is the time for him to actually prioritize the future. The way to do this is to let Bloom\u2019s thought process influence his deadline decisions.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s going to be Bloom\u2019s team next year, and while Mo is still in charge, Bloom should have the final say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We all know that John Mozeliak is stepping down at the end of the 2025 season. That can\u2019t come soon enough. I think we as Cardinals fans would all agree on that. Yesterday\u2019s reception during the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44895,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n