This is why the Cardinals record through 81 games is SOFT | Are you worried about the offense?

The Cardinals’ Next Great Core May Already Be Here | Bernie Miklasz Joins Randy Karraker

The Cardinals’ next great core may already be taking shape. Bernie Miklasz joins Randy Karraker to explain why this young St. Louis team, its rapidly improving farm system and the organization’s new development philosophy feel different from anything fans have seen in years. Bernie and Randy break down the Cardinals’ emerging group of young players, the organization’s growing prospect depth and a 2026 MLB Draft class that received praise from several respected evaluators. They also discuss the Cardinals’ catching surplus, possible trade deadline decisions and why the front office is finally positioned to build a sustainable contender. Later, Bernie revisits some of the greatest Cardinals moments from the Bill DeWitt ownership era, including Fernando Tatís Sr.’s two grand slams in one inning, Adam Wainwright’s legendary curveball against Carlos Beltrán, Rick Ankiel’s unforgettable comeback and the dominant 2004 Cardinals. 🍺 STL Sports Central is brought to you in part by Budweiser. It's Budweiser's 150th Anniversary and they're celebrating with a Heritage Can Series that honors their legacy of being Made of America. Collect all four designs. For 150 years, This Bud’s For You. Enjoy Responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch. Budweiser Lager Beer, St. Louis, MO.  Follow STL Sports Central: https://www.instagram.com/stlsportscentral https://www.facebook.com/stlsportscentral https://www.tiktok.com/@stlsportscentral https://twitter.com/STLSprtsCntrl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What Is Your IDEAL Cardinals Trade Deadline Plan? | ( The Cardinals Are Willing to Take On Salary??)

We're live on a Friday! And the Cardinals play baseball tonight!' Share YOUR Cardinals trade deadline plans with @stlsprtscntrl across socials We're back to talking about the trade deadline, and taking a little break from contracts, as the 2nd half is about to start. What do you want the Cardinals to do? What is Chaim thinking now? Did we find a 3B trade? And is there a new avenue we haven't mentioned yet? 0:00 -- Show Open 0:40 -- Cardinals are taking advantage of the break 3:30 -- The Cardinals maintain they are sticking to the plan 4:55 -- Randy gets greedy & wants an upgrade at 3B 10:00 -- Can the Cardinals win with an offensive negative at 3B (and CF) 15:00 -- Do you want to chase the "sugar rush"? 19:20 -- What are YOUR trade deadline wants for the Cardinals? 37:45 -- Would taking on money to get a trade done send a message 40:40 -- Show Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

$300 Million?? We Thought TOO SMALL on a Potential Jordan Walker Extension

We tried to get a handle on what a Jordan Walker extension could look like for the St. Louis Cardinals and it appears we very much UNDERSHOT the entire idea. Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold joined 101 ESPN earlier this week and completely changed the expectations, saying that DOUBLING Wetherholt’s guaranteed money ($112.5 million) would be the ‘starting point’ in the Walker negotiations… Can the Cardinals pull that off? Would you want them to? 0:00 -- Did we shoot TOO low on a potential Walker extension? 7:00 -- Compare Walker to other ~300mm players--does the resume match up? 14:35 -- Does it make sense for the Cardinals to go *that* high? 20:50 -- Teams are using generative AI during the game, & MLB wants to stop it 33:30 -- The chat has some thoughts on the Jordan Walker conversation... 38:00 -- The Cardinals cannot let Walker go to arbitration 47:00 -- We can't ignore the Walker side of this whole thing 52:20 -- Jordan Walker with $300mm & a doctorate could save the world... 57:45 -- Quick preview of STL CITY SC returning with a rivalry matchup vs. SKC 58:45 -- Show Close Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

17 Games Before the Trade Deadline: What Can the Cardinals Learn?

We have a little time before the Cardinals return from the All-Star Break, and once they are back there's a short time before the big decisions have to made. Seventeen games, in fact. What could change in that time frame? What can the Cardinals learn? 0:00 -- Show Open 1:00 -- 95 games in the Cardinals should have a plan that 17 more games won't change 5:00 -- This next stretch is about the rest of Major League Baseball setting the market 10:15 -- How many teams will actually be "sellers" when August 3rd rolls around? 18:15 -- The Twins (or anyone from the AL Central) could completely change the trade deadline 25:15 -- Could a Dustin May trade send the wrong message to the clubhouse? 30:00 -- What you rather have the prospects from a May trade or a comp pick from a QO? 37:45 -- Does the Austin Riley horror story scare off the Cardinals from a Walker extension? 46:25 -- Is JJ Wetherholt driving the Cardinals in 2026? 47:15 -- Does Randy Karraker think we'll see Quinn Mathews this year 49:30 -- The Jordan Walker topic is gonna be unavoidable... 59:00 -- Talking more Cardinals 2nd half, Walker extension & more this week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Jordan Walker: Home Run Derby Champion & Future 200 Million Dollar Man

Jordan Walker put on a performance Cardinals fans will remember for YEARS with his comeback Home Run Derby title and put himself center of the baseball world stage as millions were formally introduced to the kind-hearted, soft-spoken, colossus-clouting right field that St. Louis has gotten to know over the past three years… And now the Cardinals need to make sure he’s here for 8+ years—and what exactly would that look like? 0:00 -- Something special about getting to watch history in the making 7:15 -- Let's talk about the potential Jordan Walker extension!! 16:30 -- The clock is ticking on Walker's reason to sign an early extension 23:00 -- What about 8 years and over 200 million bucks for Walker? 30:00 -- Walker's family, and an ideal format, helped make the night truly special 34:50 -- What about an extension for...Alec Burleson? 41:50 -- Randy was analytics thinks RBIs are "lucky", but is that true? 47:30 -- Would MLB adding "max contracts" help the Cardinals sign players like Walker? 54:00 -- Do analytics discriminate against high average, low-power guys 1:07:15 -- Final predictions: What does Walker's extension look like 1:08:55 -- Show Close Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]