The St. Louis Cardinals season ended with a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The final score was 6-4, but the real story is the missed playoffs for the fourth straight year. A team that once held 11 World Series rings now sits at home while Paul Goldschmidt plays in the ALDS for the New York Yankees. The contrast is stark and painful for fans who remember the good old days.
The Bullpen Breakdown
The numbers tell a brutal story about why this team failed to reach the postseason. According to Yahoo Sports, the Cardinals blew 30 saves this year, a disaster that cannot be ignored. Patrick McAvoy wrote in a recent article for Sports Illustrated that “Improving the bullpen should be the Cardinals’ biggest priority this offseason after blowing 30 saves this year.” This is not a minor issue. It is the reason the team finished with a 77-85 record and lost eight of their final 10 games. You cannot win in October when your closers cannot close.
The front office needs to act fast to fix this mess before the next season starts. They cannot just hope for the best. They need a specific plan that brings in a veteran who can handle the pressure. The team lost its All-Star first baseman to the Yankees, so the roster needs a major shakeup. St. Louis must stop making excuses and start making moves that actually work on the mound.
The Yarbrough Solution
There is a clear target on the board for the Cardinals to sign this winter. Ryan Yarbrough, a 34-year-old reliever, is set to become a free agent after playing for the Yankees. According to Yahoo Sports, New York saw Yarbrough post a 2-1 record with a 3.69 ERA and 49 strikeouts across 38 regular season games this season. He is not a star, but he is effective and reliable. He also had a 3.19 ERA in 2024, proving he can handle big moments.
Yarbrough represents the precise relief pitcher profile McAvoy believes the Cardinals must target. The idea is simple. Signing him as a veteran left-handed reliever allows the team to trade him for prospects at the deadline. This mirrors what the Cardinals did with JoJo Romero earlier this season. It is a smart way to get help now without giving up the farm for a long-term deal. Yarbrough has 703 career strikeouts over 253 MLB games, so he knows how to get outs.
The Cardinals need stability, and Yarbrough offers it. He is 6-foot-5 and has a solid track record that fits the team’s immediate needs. The Yankees are looking to move him, which makes this a perfect opportunity for St. Louis to step in. The cost should be low, but the impact could be huge if the bullpen finally gets some help.
The clock is ticking on this offseason for the Cardinals organization. They missed the playoffs again, and the window to compete is closing fast. Paul Goldschmidt, who won the National League MVP Award in 2022, is now a key part of the Yankees’ playoff run. The Cardinals need to stop watching former stars win while they sit on the sidelines.
