DALLAS -- An organization that has famously banked on the notion that Major League Baseball is not the proper level for the development of raw, unproven players -- sometimes to their own detriment -- the Cardinals know that there will likely need to be some massaging of expectations for a 2025 season that will be focused on the improvement of their young core.

For now, however, manager Oliver Marmol said that he and the club are operating with the highest of expectations despite a stated ¡°reset¡± that will center more on a reduced payroll and development than trying to track down a 12th World Series crown for the franchise.

¡°I¡¯d say the mindset is still on winning baseball,¡± Marmol said from MLB¡¯s Winter Meetings in Dallas. ¡°I had recent conversations with [Brendan] Donovan and [Masyn] Winn, and they¡¯re hungry to win. What I¡¯m excited about is [that] ¡­ some of the pressure is going to be lifted off their shoulders. That might lead to more production.¡±

For decades, the tradition-rich Cardinals have used championships and deep playoff runs into October as their bottom-line metrics to judge seasons. With Paul Goldschmidt, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson gone and others -- such as Nolan Arenado, Ryan Helsley, Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz -- potential trade targets, there most likely won¡¯t be a championship push in the season ahead.

The Cards have plenty of work to do between Wednesday¡¯s end of the Winter Meetings and the start of Spring Training in early February. Here is a look at some of the items the club needs to check off its list.

BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1. Who stays and who goes? Arenado? Helsley? Matz? Mikolas?

The Cardinals worked for more than a year to acquire Arenado, but the 10-time Gold Glove winner now seems to be on his way out because of his desire to win a World Series. The 33-year-old third baseman and his agent, Joel Wolfe, have been working with president of baseball operations John Mozeliak to find a contending team.

? Arenado narrows down wish list of trade candidates to 6 (source)

"The way he phrased it is, ¡®I¡¯ll play first [base],¡¯¡± Wolfe said of Arenado. ¡°He wanted to be the first to offer that so that Mo could tell other teams that, and it was, from what I¡¯ve heard, well-received.¡±

With plenty of high-end closers on the market, there¡¯s a strong chance the Cardinals could start the season with a rostered Helsley, who recorded a franchise-record 49 saves in 53 opportunities last season. Matz, who can start or relieve, is the most likely pitcher to be moved. Mikolas, who is owed $17 million, will likely be back.

2. Continue the offseason momentum and improvement.

The Cardinals have gotten encouraging feedback from new hitting coach Brant Brown, who has made it a point to work throughout the winter with young sluggers Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker. Both players saw their strikeout numbers soar in 2024, resulting in both of them being demoted to Triple-A Memphis for extended stretches. Brown, who lives in Arizona in the offseason, has spent time with Gorman (in Arizona) and Walker (in Jupiter, Fla.) to build relationships and get an early jump on work needed to make to swing changes.

¡°I think [Gorman¡¯s] in a really good spot,¡± Marmol said. ¡°He's been able to relate to a variety of our guys based on how they take in information. There's been a lot of buy-in from the Walkers and the Gormans with what they're working on right now, and that leads to overall confidence.¡±

RULE 5 DRAFT

The Cardinals lost talented left-handed pitcher Connor Thomas to the rival Brewers in Wednesday¡¯s Rule 5 Draft. Thomas, who spent most of 2023 on the club¡¯s 40-man roster after pitching well in the Arizona Fall League, was 7-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 56 games (three starts) in 2024 with Triple-A Memphis.

The Cards tried offsetting the loss of Thomas and six other Minor League players by nabbing four Minor Leaguers in the Rule 5 Draft. Left-hander Oddanier Mosqueda, who spent seven years in Boston¡¯s system and 2024 in the Yankees¡¯ system, was the Redbirds¡¯ most significant acquisition.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 season will likely be judged by the progress that such young players as Walker and Gorman make and whether promising pitchers Tink Hence, Quinn Mathews and/or Tekoah Roby break through to the big league level. Marmol is hopeful that the Cardinals can remain competitive, and maybe even surprise the doubters.

¡°For me, it¡¯s still about winning baseball,¡± Marmol said. ¡°In speaking to our guys, they¡¯re not going in looking at development. Sure, our approach will signal toward that, but the mentality is wanting to compete.¡±