The offseason has been anything but stellar for St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. In truth, the past few years haven’t been much better for him either. However, the full extent of his struggles has become glaringly obvious during this year’s Winter Meetings—and it’s a tough scene for the embattled executive.
Amid swirling trade rumors involving top star, Mozeliak had no choice but to address the speculation. When asked about the team’s approach to such a trade, he offered a less-than-inspiring response: “It’s my intention to try.” Quite the confidence booster, isn’t it?
As if that wasn’t disheartening enough, things have taken an even sharper downturn. Mozeliak faced another pressing question at the Winter Meetings, this time about Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki. At just 23 years old, Sasaki, recently posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB, has become a hot topic. Naturally, the Cardinals’ involvement was brought into question.
John Mozeliak’s comment on Cardinals’ Roki Sasaki plans is beyond brutal
When questioned about Roki Sasaki, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mozeliak’s response sounded even more resigned as he simply stated, “We will make a pitch.”
Frankly, if you’re Mozeliak, of course you’d hope to make a pitch for Sasaki. The 23-year-old phenom has already proven he’s got ace-level potential, and his early entry into MLB is a rare opportunity. Unlike many Japanese stars who join the league later in their careers, Sasaki’s youth means he’ll be signed under international bonus pool rules, making him cost-controlled and accessible to all 30 teams without requiring a massive financial commitment.
For the Cardinals, a team currently lacking reliable young options in the rotation, pursuing Sasaki should be a no-brainer. Yet, Mozeliak’s response—“We will make a pitch”—sounds remarkably unenthusiastic. What exactly is he pitching? Are the Cardinals selling themselves as a “fixer-upper” project? Because with the tone Mozeliak is setting, it almost feels like that’s how he sees the team right now.
The situation is further muddied by Mozeliak’s lame-duck status. It’s no secret that he’s on his way out after this season, with his successor, Chaim Bloom, already positioned to take over. So, for Mozeliak to deliver such a lackluster statement about a generational talent like Sasaki—who could perfectly align with the team’s future plans—only worsens the optics.
It’s hard not to wonder if Mozeliak has already checked out. His comments on Sasaki, coupled with the earlier “intentions” remark about Arenado, suggest a leader who’s resigned to simply going through the motions. For Cardinals fans, the road ahead might bring brighter days—but with Mozeliak at the helm for now, those changes could take a frustrating amount of time.
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