ST. LOUIS — If patience were a virtue, St. Louis Cardinals fans would be facing their harshest test this 2025–26 offseason. With MLB Winter Meetings drawing to a close and virtually no notable trades, the Saint Louis team seems to be holding a… “patience workshop” under Chaim Bloom, the new Chairman of Baseball Operations.
While other teams have been making blockbuster trades, the Cardinals have remained almost completely silent. The only notable trade was Rule 5’s pick of Matt Pushard — not a bad pick, but certainly not the “splash” fans were hoping for. Witnessing this, many fans can only tell themselves: “We really need to be patient.”
Outwardly silent, but what’s going on behind the scenes? Some reports suggest Brendan Donovan is receiving interest from several teams, most recently the San Francisco Giants. However, beyond that, there’s virtually no talk of Nolan Arenado, Alec Burleson, or Willson Contreras.
According to Bloom’s recent statement at a press briefing about Donovan, he and his team are being “very cautious in evaluating offers.” When asked “how do you know when to act?”, Bloom emphasized there’s no one-size-fits-all answer — every player, every offer is different.
He stated bluntly: “Do you want us to rush into accepting the first offer just barely, or wait for an opportunity that could change the Cardinals for years to come? I’m sure most of us would choose to wait.”
Disappointment is inevitable. Many fans were already preparing to demand immediate action from the team. However, the advice is to remain calm and listen to Bloom’s long-term strategy: a sustainable plan to transform the Cardinals into perennial winners—a team that competes consistently, not just temporarily.
Another small piece of good news: MLB Trade Rumors updated that the New York Mets have expressed interest in Willson Contreras and Lars Nootbaar, contacting the Cardinals about both. At least, there are now some “rumbles” about the possibility of an upcoming trade.
But with the overall silence remaining, fans can hardly avoid disappointment. Clearly, this year’s Winter Meetings proved Bloom wasn’t joking: patience is key to rebuilding a team that was once an MLB icon.
Bloom’s caution may be a smart strategy: maintaining the farm system, thoroughly analyzing every offer, waiting for the “perfect deal” instead of accepting hasty trades that could cost the team years to fix.
However, in the context of a bustling free market and tight trade deadlines, the Cardinals’ failure to make a big move immediately is leaving fans feeling like this offseason is passing without significant progress. The question is: will this patience truly bring the Cardinals back to the top, or is it just prolonged impatience for the fan community?
The 2025–26 Winter Meetings are living proof of Bloom’s promise: rebuilding the team isn’t an overnight affair. Cardinals fans must learn patience, even though the desire to see big trades remains strong. A week has passed with only Matt Pushard being the trade that has garnered attention – but if they are willing to wait, the Cardinals may be laying the groundwork for a long-term era of success.
Meanwhile, MLB observers and fans of other teams are holding their breath: will patience truly pay off with future championships, or will it result in an offseason that appears disappointing from the outside?
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