In the MLB, teams have a variety of ways of configuring their roster. Free Agency, Trades, & Drafting Players are the most common. The Cardinals generally ignore Free Agency for the true “stars”. Most of the Free agents signed by StL are “filling a spot”now and a often good players…but not real superstars.

The enormous price tag for the superstars requires that a team have very deep pockets. For several years now, the Cards have delved into the trade market for “stars” on a limited basis. The heart & soul of the Cardinals acquiring players is the use of the “farm system”.  For many decades, the Cardinals have learned to lean on their minor league teams to develop their draft choices into real players.

… In this MLB FARM APPROACH, a team relies heavily on its draft picks to “work out”—especially it’s high draft choices. Taking a year or 2 in the minor leagues to develop their skills, the player reaches the MLB prepared to play. He plays for 6 years w/o the ability to become a free-agent. Hence, the cost stays down  for ownership and the player is tied to the team. The team hopes or expects (depending on the player) that this player will have developed MLB skills to a high extent. When several of these players play into their 4^th, 5^th & 6^th year, the team expects the players to be achieving at their highest level. Further, they expect that high level to lead them to some post-season play. Eventually, the team expects a World Series Winner. An Free Agent, or 2, may be acquired to fill “needs” of the team. After 6 MLB years, MLB players are “free agents” and may stay with their team or move on (if they haven’t signed a contract beyond that time)

….Using the “FARM APPROACH—i.e. developing your own players & winning with them, doesn’t often work in reaching/winning the World Series….don’t know if it EVERY did consistently for most teams since the era of Free Agents evolved. Further, a team needs veterans who are NOT stars to a) fill in the weaker spots; b) set the tone of winning; c) use their experience to adjust to daily situations; There have been a few exceptions—namely, the Dodgers & Cards about using the “farm” as the primary source of fielding championship teams. But, I don’t think that this system works any longer. In part due to Free Agency ! Take a look at a couple of the Cardinals World Championships. Their reliance on “outsiders” was evident. Yet, the current club seems to be locked to only 3 acquired veterans who still hold above average skills.

…Let’s look @ the Cardinals World Series Championships rosters from recent year & decades ago. Let’s see if the ‘FARM APPROACH (developed in farm system & played for Championship team) has worked for them with the most recent World Series Championships. The last World Series title was in 2011.

…The 2011 World Series Winners Roster had some long-term, some short-term players & 2 long-time Cards had wonderful years. Farm product—Albert Pujols (signed with Cards), completed his 11 year term w/Cards after 2011 season. His numbers sagged a bit for the 1^st time…didn’t have 100 rbi’s & 1^st time and didn’t bat .300.  But, he still was a MAJOR contributor….Maybe the best on the team.  He was a free agent at the end of this year and moved on to the LA Angels for 11 years.

… Yadi Molina, a Card draftee, had a banner year. He batted .305, 14 HR, 65 RBI’s. He would play 11 more years for the Cardinals.

…But there were other non-draftees who contributed to the Cards-  Free agent Lance Berkman was a huge addition to the roster after 12 years in Houston (& 1 year @ NYY). In 2011, he batted .301 31 HR’s,with 94 RBI & a .959-OPS.

…Another non-farm player was Matt Holliday. He started his career with Colorado for 5 years, was traded and played 1 year in Oakland. On July 24, 2009, the A’s traded 31 year old Holliday to the St. Louis Cardinals for prospects Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen and Shane Peterson and $1.5 million. A steal!! In 2011 for the Cards, he was a leader for the Cards. He was  2nd in HR-31; 2nd in RBI-94: 2nd in runs scored—90; #1 OBP—.412. WOW!

…Continuing down the non-farm player list…this one was a surprise to me.  David Freese was drafted by the SD Padres in the 9th round of the 2006 amateur draft.  On Dec 14, 2007, he was traded by the San Diego Padres to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jim Edmonds. How could anyone not remember his 2011 World Series? His walk-off HR in the 11^th innings. He was incredible in the post-season !! David Freese became only the 6th player in history to earn League Championship Series and World Series MVP awards in the same postseason.

…the ace of the Pitching Staff, Chris Carpenter, had come to the Cards in 2002 as a Free Agent. Toronto had cut him loose due to injuries & so-so performances. The first few years were rocky . Without these players, there isn’t any way that the Cardinals win the 2011 series. I don’t think that the Cardinals would have reached the Series w/o these non-farm players.

…the other Cardinal World Series Championship in this millennium was in 2006. Again, the non-Farm players played key roles.  In his 5^th year as a Cardinal was 3b-Scott Rolan. He was 31 years old in his 5th year(2002 came in trade) of Card play . In 2006, he batted .296, OPS of .887   

…Flamboyant CF Jim Edmonds-came to Cards in 2000 from Angels…he would play thru 2007. In 2006 he was 36 years of age and slipped a bit as he batted .257. His incredible defensive play in CF was often electrifying. He saved many runs, and wins, for the Cards with his defense.

….RHP Chris Carpenter was the Ace of this staff. He was 31 years old. He had been RELEASED on Oct 9 2002 by Toronto & grabbed by the Cards 15-8, 3.09 ERA in 32 starts—221 innings!!—He had come as a free agent after being in Toronto in 2003, was 3rd in Cy young voting was in his 3rd Cardinal year—was 15-8 w/3.09 ERA  he would pitch through 2012.

… 2b-Aaron Miles-came to Cards in ’06 from Col, played  in 135 games in 2006. He played 9 seasons in MLB from 2003 to 2011 for the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He is currently the head coach for the Dublin Leprechauns of the independent Pecos League. Miles batted .263 with 20 doubles in 135 games for the 2006 Cardinals. Miles was a versatile player. He made 71 starts at 2B and 33 starts at SS for the Cards that year. Not fancy, but productive–SS David Eckstein, came from Anaheim in ’04, hit .292, was an All-star in 2006. The pitching corp had some players from trades also—

…Chris Carpenter was the Ace–31 years old—he had been RELEASED  ON Oct 9 2002 by Toronto. He was 15-8, 3.09 ERA in 32 starts,221 innings in 2006!!—He had come as a free agent after being in Toronto in 2003, was 3rd in Cy young voting was. He would pitch  for the Cards through 2012.

… The Cardinals signed Jeff  Suppan as a free agent in 2004 pitched 17 years in MLB, he arrived to the Lou as his 6th different MLB team(of 7 teams) in 2004—he signed with Cards as a free agent when he was a 31 year old pitcher in 2006! He Pitched for StL 3 years. 2006 was his 3rd year.  His pitching numbers @ StL were the best of his career—W-L; 47-32, 3.94 ERA@ StL (lifetime in 4.51) In his 4 years, he posted some of his best numbers—1.411-WHIP (his 2nd best), one of his lowest HR/9 inn in hiscareer-1.1  and he enjoyed a career year, posting a 16–9 record and a 4.16 earned run average, with 110 strikeouts, 65 walks, and 192 hits allowed in 188 innings. Suppan helped lead the Cards to the 2004 World Series, where he started Game 3.

….Sooo….it’s clear that to win “big”… interpretation—win the World Series.. a team needs a mixture of players. For sure, some will come from the Farm system but many, many others will come from Trades and Free Agency. Currently the 3 best players in the regular lineup have come from trades—Goldschmidt, Arenado & Contreras. However Goldschmidt is now 36 years old and has shown signs of aging. In 2023, his .268 average was the 2^nd lowest in his career for a full season, had his fewest RBI’s of any full MLB season, HR was the lowest full season number since 2012 and his OPS was the lowest of his career. Nolan Arenado made such a point of joining a “winning culture” when he was acquired from Colorado, one has to wonder what he’s thinking about that idea now. Last year, he had his lowest HR total for a full year in his career. His OPS for a full season was his lowest. You get the idea.

…Am I saying to dump these two players….no!  But, if the Cards want to join the elite teams again, they’ll have to do more, much more than leaning on their Farm System to fill the roster. Thanks for your time & read!  I’m thinking that many of you have some thoughts about this idea. Have a great week!  Bob