It’s been a rough offseason for St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, continuing what has been a challenging few years for the executive. The full extent of the struggles became glaringly apparent during this year’s Winter Meetings, and, frankly, it’s been brutal.
The ongoing trade rumors surrounding Nolan Arenado have dominated discussions about the Cardinals. When Mozeliak was asked about the team’s plans regarding a potential trade, his response was less than inspiring: “It’s my intention to try.” Hardly a confidence-boosting statement.
Unfortunately, the hits didn’t stop there. Mozeliak also faced questions about Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old superstar recently posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines. With Sasaki becoming one of the most sought-after players on the market, naturally, Mozeliak was asked about the Cardinals’ potential interest.
John Mozeliak’s comment on Cardinals’ Roki Sasaki plans is beyond brutal
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When asked about Roki Sasaki, John Mozeliak, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, offered a less-than-enthusiastic response: “We will make a pitch.”
Well, one would certainly hope so. Sasaki is a generational talent with ace-caliber potential, and his age makes him even more intriguing. At just 23 years old, Sasaki will sign under international bonus pool rules, meaning he’s a cost-controlled option who won’t require a massive free-agent deal. This opens the door for all 30 MLB teams to be in play for his services.
For a Cardinals team struggling with a lack of young, reliable rotation arms, pursuing Sasaki should be a no-brainer. Yet, Mozeliak’s lukewarm response hardly inspires confidence. What exactly is the pitch? Will they send Sasaki a metaphorical note that says, “We’re broken, but maybe you’d like to fix us”? Because from Mozeliak’s tone, it feels like that’s how he views the Cardinals’ current state.
Adding to the bleakness is the fact that Mozeliak is essentially a lame-duck executive. It’s well-known that this will be his final year, with Chaim Bloom already positioned as his successor. To make half-hearted comments about pursuing a player who fits the team’s needs and timeline so perfectly only amplifies the perception that Mozeliak has checked out.
His recent comments, both on Sasaki and regarding Nolan Arenado (“It’s my intention to try”), suggest a defeatist attitude that isn’t exactly reassuring for Cardinals fans. While brighter days might eventually come, it’s clear that the remainder of Mozeliak’s tenure could feel like a frustrating waiting game.
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