[rink23]

Early in the 2024-25 off-season, the St. Louis Cardinals' front office brass declared that 2025 would be a "re-set" season where they hoped to lay the groundwork for a return to the almost continuous success the franchise had enjoyed for much of the 2000s.
That run had ended with an ugly 71-91 campaign in 2023 -- the team's worst finish since 1995 -- and an 83-79 finish in 2024.
Yes, the Cards' let former MVP first baseman Paul Goldschmidt walk in free agency.
Free-agent lefty reliever Andrew Kitteridge also was allowed to exit.
But other than that, the whole dang gang was allowed to return for 2025.
That included former All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who seemingly had taken a big step back in 2024.
Along with over-paid starting pitchers Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz. (Although, Matz likely will primarily serve as a reliever this season).
The return of those three players, really gum up the works in terms of a reset as young players looking to get their shot will be stuck either on the bench or in the minors.
So, what I am going to do is start the season at the end of the off-season.
The goal will be to get rid of Arenado before the start of the season and either one or both of Mikolas and Matz.
Any money I recoup through trades I can use to add other players. But I cannot go over the $127,509,000 payroll ceiling set by the DeWitt family.

I also may revamp the front office and coaching staff, since I don't have much faith in what they currently have in place.