The Cardinals have done a lot of work this offseason to bounce back from their atrocious 71-91 2023 season. Not only did they revamp the rotation and bullpen, but the organization also hired former Boston Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom in an advisory role.

But could more be brewing in the future?

St. Louis’ president of baseball operations John Mozeliak‘s latest statement to The Athletic indicates that more changes are coming to the Cardinals’ front office sooner rather than later.

“John Mozeliak just told us he has two years left on his contract and he believes that will be it for him in this particular role,” The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported Sunday.

Mozeliak has held his current role with the Cardinals since 2017 and served as the team’s senior vice president and general manager for almost 10 seasons before taking on his current position.

The 54-year-old has helped lead the Cardinals to the postseason 10 times — including a franchise record of five straight seasons from 2011-2015, winning the World Series in his first year at the position, and leading them to a National League Pennant in the third season.

At the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up meetings on Monday, Mozeliak addressed the potential succession plan in place.

“A lot of people are sort of jumping to conclusions with the Chaim hire,” Mozeliak said. “But I would say that, at the very least, it strengthens our bench. At the very least. Where it leads to, we’ll see, but we have a lot of capable people in our front office.”

The abysmal 2023 season has raised a lot of eyebrows, and asked a lot of questions.

A 2023 season that didn’t go how anyone had hoped hasn’t caused Mozeliak to view his future any differently.

“I would imagine that’s going to stay pretty true,” Mozeliak said Saturday of his plans to step back at the end of his current contract. “I mean, I don’t want to sit up here on January 13 and retire. But I think having a succession plan and then coupling some of the things that I’ve been involved in at such a high level—I think I’m starting my 17th season in this seat—so I think it’s probably reasonable to think that having a different voice at some point would make a lot of sense.

The speculation will certainly be a focal point of the 2024 campaign, but for now, the Cardinals (and Mozeliak) will be focusing on bouncing back from their worst season in 30 years.

(Photo Credit: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports)