State of the Cardinals

The St Louis Cardinals are one great "legacy" franchises in MLB a list that also includes the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Reds, Phillies and Pirates in the NL.  The Cardinals are one of those teams that seems to have fans everywhere who say they are fans because their dads or granddads were fans before them.  They continue to be a successful franchise with a recently build stadium that required relatively little public funding(in the form of a loan) and almost annual visits to the postseason. 

Ownership:  Bill DeWitt Jr is the son of a previous MLB owner and executive.  He has been principle owner of the Cardinals since 1995.  A big part of his business plan is roster building and maintenance through the farm system and player development, something the organization is frequently lauded for.  DeWitt has been willing to supplement the homegrown roster with judicious free agent signings when appropriate.

Grade A.

Management:  Here's an interesting story:  Cardinals GM John Mozeliak got his start in MLB with a gig as a fly-fishing guide for RHP Bryn Smith in Colorado.  Smith helped get him a clubhouse job and he eventually became an assistant for assistant GM Walt Jocketty.  He followed Jocketty to St Louis and took over as GM when Jocketty was essentially fired after Jeff Luhnow was promoted over him in 2007.  Mozeliak has won 3 Executive of the Year honors and the Cardinals won the World Series in 2011,  have made the postseason 6 times and have posted a winning record in every season of his tenure.

Grade B+

Current Roster: 

Starting Eight:  Yadier Molina C, Paul Goldschmidt 1B, Kolton Wong 2B, Tommy Edman 3B, Paul DeJong SS, Tyler O'Neill LF, Dylan Carlson CF, Dexter Fowler RF.

Bench:  Matt Wieters C, Matt Carpenter IF, Brad Miller IF, Lane Thomas OF, Harrison Bader OF.

Starting Rotation:  Jack Flaherty RHP, Dakota Hudson RHP, Miles Mikolas RHP, Adam Wainwright RHP, Kwan Kim LHP.

Bullpen:  Jordan Hicks RHP, Andrew Miller LHP, Geovanny Gallegos RHP, Ryan Helsley RHP, John Brebbia RHP, Tyler Webb LHP, John Gant RHP, Carlos Martinez RHP.

This roster is rapidly developing some serious age issues although young players like Dylan Carlson continue to break in.  Will the transition to an all new generation happen in time?

Grade B

Farm System: 

Top prospect Dylan Carlson is ready now and should be a star.  #2 Nolan Gorman has prodigious power but is a couple of years away.  #3 is newcomer LHP Matthew Liberatore obtained in a trade with the Rays.  #5 LHP Zack Thompson should develop into a solid mid-rotation SP and be a fast mover if he can continue to avoid the injury bug that plagued him in HS and college.  This is a solid system and the Cardinals have historically developed their prospects well.

Grade B.