The retirements of team legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina close a memorable chapter in franchise history, celebrating two championships and three National League pennants in their nine seasons together. John Mozeliak and his team have since been tasked with ushering in a new era of Cardinals baseball. With the contracts of Paul Goldschmidt and Adam Wainwright set to expire over the next few seasons, the club will have to replace key production in their lineup but will have ample funds to further construct a championship-caliber squad.
Free agency is always an avenue that the team could explore, although the front office has traditionally shown reluctance towards engaging in bidding wars with larger market teams.