Which Cardinals move will tell you the most about 2027?

Scott Plaza argues that St. Louis Cardinals executive Chaim Bloom must take an aggressive offseason approach to signal a true commitment to contending in 2027. He cautions that simply running back the 2026 roster would be a disappointment, setting a baseline expectation for the front office to improve the roster rather than settling for the status quo.

Plaza highlights pitching as the key indicator of the team's ambitions, urging Bloom to target ace-caliber starters like Michael King or available Japanese arms instead of short-term flip candidates. Additionally, Plaza advocates allocating $15 million to $20 million to overhaul the bullpen with proven relievers such as Bryan Abreu or Gregory Soto.