The St. Louis Cardinals are no longer in the playoff hunt with a little over a month left in the regular season. Heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, they sit at 64-66, 5.5 games behind the National League Wild Card spot and 17 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. A rebuilding phase is on the horizon, marking the start of a new chapter in Cardinals baseball.
Even though the 2025 season has been a disappointment for St. Louis, there have still been some positive moments. In fact, a number of players have made notable strides this year. Recently, outfielder Lars Nootbaar has been playing at a high level, showcasing his growth.
Despite the 2025 season being a letdown for St. Louis, there have been some bright spots. Several players have taken significant steps forward, with outfielder Lars Nootbaar standing out lately. His strong performances have been a clear sign of his development this year.
“Even just looking at the slash lines, extra-base hit outputs, and K/BB ratio, you’ll see different versions of Nootbaar coming out during various stretches of the season. And if his last nine games are any indication, where he’s posted a 162 wRC+, he may be sitting on a heater here that can really boost his overall numbers on the year,” Jacobs wrote.
“Here’s the funny thing about Nootbaar right now. If he finishes the year strong, he may be someone the Cardinals want to keep, or he may play himself into being a coveted asset for rival clubs this offseason.”
Lars Nootbaar presents an interesting dilemma for the Cardinals. If he can stay healthy and maintain his solid performance, he could be a player the team wants to retain moving forward. However, there’s also the possibility that his trade value could rise, giving the Cardinals an opportunity to leverage him as they make decisions on who to keep and who to move this offseason.
With Chaim Bloom stepping in as the new president of baseball operations, the Cardinals are likely to take a different approach. This could signal a new direction for the team as they begin to solidify their future plans.
If Nootbaar continues to perform at this level, he could become a key component of that future. It will be fascinating to see what moves the Cardinals make as they try to chart their course.
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