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Former GM Reveals Cardinals’ Biggest Need to Contend

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By A. Kazmierczak | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 10:12 AM ET

With under two months before the trade deadline, MLB executives around the country are trying to figure out how to best position their team's for a deep postseason run.

Former GM and current MLB analyst Jim Bowden published an article Tuesday, suggesting what teams in contention need to do in order to contend.

Bowden's biggest need for the St. Louis Cardinals was simple, "We just have to play"

"The Cardinals have been one of the biggest surprise teams in baseball and appear to be legitimate postseason contenders. "Bowden wrote. "And it’s interesting how they’ve been getting the job done — with solid consistency in the starting rotation and lineup, from top to bottom."

Bowden also opined how St. Louis should just stay the course.

"The Cardinals don’t have any glaring needs, nor do they appear to have the financial resources or top prospects they’d want to trade to make a splash at the deadline. So, if nothing changes between now and then and they stay in the race, don’t expect big moves from their front office." He wrote.

"Instead, the Cardinals want their young major-league players to continue to develop, and could follow that path rather than look for reinforcements. For that reason, I did not list trade targets for them at this point."

Entering this season, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Cardinals (36-31) have defied expectations.

Once thought to be sellers before the trade deadline, - projected to offload stars like closer Ryan Helsley and third baseman Nolan Arenado - St. Louis sits five games back in the NL Central and only two games out of wild card contention.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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