What Happened to St. Louis Cardinals?
The St. Louis Cardinals have navigated a period of transition and rebuilding in recent years, missing the playoffs in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Under new baseball operations leadership with Chaim Bloom and a refreshed executive structure in 2026, the team is focused on developing its young core, showing flashes of potential with emerging stars like Jordan Walker and recent MLB debuts, despite a fluctuating record in the 2026 season.
Quick Answer
The St. Louis Cardinals have been in a rebuilding phase, missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025. In 2026, the team appointed Chaim Bloom as President of Baseball Operations and restructured its executive leadership, with Bill DeWitt III becoming CEO. The 2026 season has seen the team focus on its young talent, including a breakout year for Jordan Walker and the MLB debuts of prospects like JJ Wetherholt, Joshua Báez, and Leo Bernal, as they aim to return to contention.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Missed Playoffs with 71-91 Record
The St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2023 season with a 71-91 record, missing the playoffs and marking a disappointing year for the franchise.
Improved Record but Missed Postseason
The Cardinals improved their record to 83-79 in 2024, finishing 2nd in the NL Central, but were eliminated from postseason contention on September 20.
Chaim Bloom Appointed President of Baseball Operations
Chaim Bloom was appointed as the President of Baseball Operations, signaling a new strategic direction for the Cardinals' on-field management.
Third Consecutive Season Missing Playoffs
The St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2025 season with a 78-84 record, missing the playoffs for the third straight year.
2026 Coaching Staff Finalized
The Cardinals finalized their Major League coaching staff for the 2026 season under manager Oliver Marmol, including new assistant coaches Casey Chenoweth and Kyle Driscoll.
Strong Spring Training Performance
The Cardinals accrued a 17-9 win-loss record in the 2026 Grapefruit League spring training, finishing second.
Reached Nine Games Above .500
Defying preseason predictions, the team reached nine games above a .500 record by May 19th, before pulling back in winning percentage.
Executive Leadership Transition Announced
Bill DeWitt III was named Chief Executive Officer, and Anuk Karunaratne was elevated to President of Business Operations as part of a planned leadership succession.
Jordan Walker's Breakout Season and Home Run Derby Win
Outfielder Jordan Walker had a breakout year, improving in nearly all batting categories and winning the 2026 Home Run Derby.
Joshua Báez MLB Debut with First-Pitch Home Run
Joshua Báez made his Major League debut as the starting left fielder against the Chicago Cubs, hitting a home run on the first pitch of his first MLB plate appearance.
Leo Bernal Makes MLB Debut with Home Run
Catching prospect Leo Bernal made his MLB debut and hit his first career home run, contributing to an extra-innings win against the Dodgers.
Current Record Stands at 69-70
As of September 2, 2026, the St. Louis Cardinals' season record stood at 69-70, reflecting a season focused on developing a young core.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The St. Louis Cardinals, a storied Major League Baseball franchise, have experienced a period of significant change and re-evaluation in the mid-2020s. Following a disappointing 2023 season where they finished with a 71-91 record and missed the playoffs, the team showed some improvement in 2024, achieving an 83-79 record but still finishing 2nd in the NL Central and missing postseason contention. This marked a shift from their traditional competitive standing, prompting a strategic overhaul in the front office and a renewed focus on player development.
A major turning point occurred in September 2025 with the appointment of Chaim Bloom as President of Baseball Operations, signaling a new direction for the club's on-field strategy. Bloom, formerly with the Boston Red Sox, quickly began implementing changes, including significant roster adjustments in the 2025-2026 offseason, such as trading pitcher Sonny Gray. The 2025 season itself saw the Cardinals finish with a 78-84 record, extending their playoff drought.
Further organizational leadership changes were announced in June 2026, with Bill DeWitt III named Chief Executive Officer, expanding his oversight to both baseball and business operations. Anuk Karunaratne was elevated to President of Business Operations, taking charge of all non-baseball facets of the club. These moves underscored a comprehensive effort to modernize and strengthen the organization from top to bottom.
The 2026 season, as of September 3, 2026, has been characterized by a blend of development and inconsistent performance. The team's record stood at 69-70, defying some preseason predictions of a worse outcome. Manager Oliver Marmol remained at the helm, with his coaching staff finalized in November 2025, including new assistant coaches Casey Chenoweth and Kyle Driscoll. Key young players have made significant strides, notably Jordan Walker, who had a breakout year as of August 2026, winning the Home Run Derby. Rookie JJ Wetherholt debuted and signed a long-term extension, while Joshua Báez made a memorable MLB debut on August 15, 2026, hitting a home run on his first pitch. Leo Bernal also made his MLB debut on September 2, 2026, hitting his first career home run.
Despite the fluctuating record, the 2026 Cardinals have been noted for their improved clubhouse atmosphere and a fearless approach to games, particularly from their younger players. The focus remains on nurturing this emerging talent and building a sustainable competitive future, with the organization committed to a long-term vision under its new leadership structure.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if St. Louis Cardinals made different choices?