The New Cardinal Way | For the Lou

[Captain Canada]

Definitely here for this. Let's get it going.

[six7]

watchu mean bust? He’s like 22 lol

[ShireNiner]

Definitely here for this. Let's get it going.

Thank you

watchu mean bust? He’s like 22 lol

Early to say bust but he has been a letdown so far. I blame coaching tbh.

[ShireNiner]

THE NEW CARDINAL WAY: YADIER MOLINA RETURNS AS CARDINALS MANAGER
St. Louis — MLB Reporting | March 19, 2025


Yadier Molina sits by Chaim Bloom, Chris Carpenter, and Matt Carpenter as he is announced as the next manager in St. Louis

The Busch Stadium press room felt different—buzzing, nostalgic, almost defiant. After years of drifting from their identity, the St. Louis Cardinals planted their flag firmly in the ground on Friday morning, announcing Yadier Molina as the 51st manager in franchise history. The move instantly electrified a fanbase hungry for direction and reunited the club with the heartbeat of an entire era.

Joining Molina on the new staff are two fellow Cardinals legends: Matt Carpenter as hitting coach and Chris Carpenter as pitching coach. All three are icons in St. Louis. All three bring credibility, leadership, and a shared vision. And all three represent a dramatic shift in tone from the analytics-heavy philosophies that defined the past decade.

BLOOM TAKES A DIFFERENT PATH

For new Cardinals chairman Chaim Bloom, the hires are as symbolic as they are strategic. Bloom comes to St. Louis carrying the weight of the national narrative from his Boston days—most notably the Mookie Betts trade, a decision that remains one of the most heavily scrutinized in recent baseball memory. Boston fans soured, patience evaporated, and Bloom ultimately became the face of a front office that prioritized efficiency over emotion.

In St. Louis, he is rewriting that story.

Asked why he chose this trio of former players rather than a more conventional analytics-forward staff, Bloom didn’t hesitate.

“I’m not worried about analytics right now,” Bloom said. “We have all that information already. What we need—what this city deserves—is identity. Leadership. Accountability. We want to bring back the Cardinal Way, and these are the men who lived it.”

It was the kind of quote that instantly resonated with a room full of fans, reporters, and former teammates. The message was clear: this is not Boston. This is not the past. This is restoration.

MOLINA: THE NEW FACE OF THE OLD STANDARD

If the Cardinals were going to return to their roots, there was only one face that made sense. Molina, perhaps the most impactful defensive catcher of his generation, was essentially a second manager during his 19 seasons behind the plate. His competitiveness, preparation, and respect in the clubhouse are the stuff of Cardinal legend.

Now he steps into the role officially.

“This is home,” Molina said. “This organization made me who I am. Now it’s my turn to help build the next great era—our way.”

His presence alone changes the tone. Young players revere him. Veterans listen. Opposing teams respect the name on the jersey.

MATT AND CHRIS COMPLETE THE CORE

Few players in recent Cardinals history embodied the franchise’s hitting philosophy like Matt Carpenter. Plate discipline, gap power, intelligence, and relentless preparation—Carpenter made a career out of maximizing every inch of his skill set.

His new role as hitting coach feels like the perfect extension of who he was as a player. Carpenter has spoken openly in recent years about wanting to coach, to mentor, and to help younger hitters understand approach. With a lineup built around emerging stars like Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan, and Jordan Walker, Carpenter steps into a pivotal developmental role.

Chris Carpenter, meanwhile, returns to the mound where he carved out one of the most ferocious reputations in baseball. As pitching coach, his philosophy is simple—attack, command, compete. For a young core featuring Tink Hence, Michael McGreevy, and a pipeline of arms yet to break through, Carpenter may be the most important piece of the entire puzzle. Completely against the new age of starting pitchers going 5 innings and done, Carpenter is from the mindset if you fail to reach the 7th, you failed.

A MOVE THAT SPEAKS TO THE FANS

There is little subtlety in these hires. Bloom knows the Cardinals’ faithful. He knows this market values tradition, loyalty, and identity in ways that differ from the big-market expectations of Boston. After the criticism he endured in the Northeast, this staff—this direction—feels like both a competitive strategy and a personal reset.

It is also the loudest possible message that the Cardinals are embracing something old in order to build something new.

THE NEW CARDINAL WAY BEGINS NOW

For years, fans wondered what had happened to the culture that once defined this franchise. Today, they finally have an answer: it’s back, wearing the same names that built it. The players on the field are different, the coaches are different but the standards are coming back. Solid defense, timely hitting, and strong starting pitching. The Cardinal Way is coming back to the modern game.

And for the first time in years, St. Louis feels like St. Louis again.

[Captain Canada]

Molina as the manager is a solid pick. Legends ushering the Cards into the new era.

[ShireNiner]

Molina as the manager is a solid pick. Legends ushering the Cards into the new era.

He's the best choice in my mind. In real life, someone with experience might be a better option but I want to bring the old mentality back, he's the man to do it.

[ShireNiner]

NOLAN ARENADO FORMALLY REQUESTS TRADE AS CARDINALS ENTER NEW ERA
St. Louis — MLB Report | March 21, 2025


With only a few years left in his career, Arenado is still searching for that ring

In a move that comes to no surprise through the Gateway City, Nolan Arenado has formally requested a trade, according to sources within the Cardinals organization. The request comes just days after the club announced a sweeping leadership overhaul, including the hiring of Yadier Molina as manager and the return of Matt Carpenter and Chris Carpenter to the coaching staff.

Arenado, 34, is entering the late stage of a storied career, and according to multiple people familiar with the situation, the veteran third baseman wants to compete for a championship immediately—something he’s unsure the rebuilding Cardinals can provide under their new long-term vision.

A RESPECTFUL YET FIRM REQUEST
Team officials characterized Arenado’s request as “respectful, professional, and difficult for everyone involved.”

While Arenado has not spoken publicly, one team source noted that the conversation between him and new chairman Chaim Bloom was “honest and constructive,” with Arenado expressing admiration for Molina and the new staff but acknowledging that he may not fit the club’s emerging youth movement.

BLOOM CONFIRMS: ‘WE’LL WORK WITH HIM’
In a brief availability before Tuesday’s workout, Bloom addressed the situation directly.

“Nolan has been nothing but honest and upfront,” Bloom said. “We appreciate that. We’ll work with him to explore options that make sense for him and for the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Bloom did not provide a timeline, but league sources expect discussions to move quickly with multiple teams already checking in.

The Cardinals have made it clear that a cultural reset is underway. With a roster now centered around Masyn Winn, Tink Hence, Michael McGreevy, and a wave of young talent, the organization is prioritizing development and long-term stability over short-term patches.

Arenado, still a capable hitter with elite instincts and leadership, may be more valuable to a contender seeking a final piece.

WHAT TEAMS COULD PURSUE ARENADO?
MLB insiders believe several clubs make immediate sense:
Los Angeles Dodgers — Perennial contender, need at third base
Seattle Mariners — Searching for veteran offense
Texas Rangers — Aggressive window to repeat
New York Mets — Big-market club seeking credibility

Anyone in the NL Central is ruled out right away due to the Cardinals restrictions of business with rivals.

Coming up short in St. Louis
Arenado was acquired in 2021 in one of the most high-profile trades in franchise history. He delivered All-Star seasons, Gold Gloves, and cornerstone-level leadership. His fiery competitiveness made him a fan favorite and a respected clubhouse voice. But as the Cardinals drifted from contention, his future became increasingly uncertain. Arenado, along with Paul Goldschmidt were hoping to be the key pieces after the era of Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina.

Instead, they were star pieces in underperforming teams and eventually their own standards dropped. Goldschmidt left last season and now Arenado is on his way out.

CARDINALS TURN TOWARD THE FUTURE
According to reporting from inside the club, the front office sees Nolan Gorman as the “next man up” at third base in a post-Arenado scenario. He has major-league experience, a big bat, and a path to playing time immediately — likely as the primary third baseman if Arenado departs or is shifted off the hot corner.

That said, the club may still rely on versatility (with Donovan, Saggese, Prieto) to rotate innings or cover defensively, especially if Gorman struggles or the front office prefers a lower-risk, multi-positional mix while the team develops its younger core.

[redsox907]

solid picks for coaches

send Arrenado to the Marlins just so he rots lmao

[six7]

Yadi

[ShireNiner]

solid picks for coaches

send Arrenado to the Marlins just so he rots lmao

Send him to the Yankees you say?

Yadi

It was always only him