It seems almost inevitable that Paul Goldschmidt will be one of the most notable departures for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. The real question for John Mozeliak is how many other familiar faces, such as Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Ryan Helsley, might also be on their way out amid swirling trade rumors.
Goldschmidt, however, won’t leave via trade. The 37-year-old first baseman, who earned NL MVP honors with the Cardinals in 2022, is entering free agency. With Chaim Bloom now involved in shaping the Cardinals’ future and after two disappointing, postseason-free campaigns, the expectation is that the team will cut payroll rather than pursue significant additions.
This decision sends a disheartening message to Cardinals fans. It also highlights the mismanagement by Mozeliak and the organization, as they won’t be retaining Goldschmidt—especially given the projected cost of his next contract. For a competitive team, his deal would likely be a manageable fit within the budget. But unfortunately, the Cardinals aren’t in that position.
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