The St. Louis Cardinals are in rebuilding mode as they try to reinvent the ballclub, and their fans understand the growing pains that come along with that
By Ryan K Boman | Feb 21, 2026
Now that Spring Training is unfolding down in Florida, the St. Louis Cardinals look a LOT different from the team that they were a year ago. Gone are veteran players Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Brendan Donovan. In their place are a lot of unproven young players and some faces we’ve never even seen before.
There’s no doubt that the Redbirds have reloaded this offseason, elevating the franchise to boast one of the most stacked systems in all of baseball. Up and down the different levels of the minor leagues, the organization has plugged in prospects it has poached from teams that are currently at a different level.
But those teams are contenders who, much like Wimpy, will gladly pay you Tuesday for a World Series ring today. They can mortgage a bit of their future if there’s a real chance of reaching the World Series. St. Louis isn’t currently anywhere near that position, and they know it. At the same time, Cardinal Nation is very aware of it, as well.
For a fan base that prides itself on being bathed in red, Cardinals fans really turned on the organization in 2025. While they still put up great attendance figures in comparison to most of MLB, this is a club that typically draws over three million fans per year. When there were lots of empty seats, critics began to scoff at the famed ‘BFIB’ moniker that Cards’ fans have attained. While it’s easy to call that fairweather fandom, this season will be an example of what that nickname truly means.
Yes, the fed-up fans did turn their backs a little on the Cards, due to their frustration with owner Bill DeWitt and his charge, John Mozeliak. Over time, that relationship has eroded, based on the common perception that the St. Louis franchise doesn’t spend enough money to win.
Still with the same ownership, they’ve put an ambitious personnel strategist, Chaim Bloom, in charge of jackhammering the roster and piecing together the rubble that’s left behind.
Now, the Friends of the Feather are showing their loyalty differently. While it’s not completely universal, most St. Louis supporters are giving the team a pass this year. Do they want effort? Absolutely. But they are also intelligent enough regarding the game that they aren’t counting on a boatload of wins. For them, the prevailing theory seems to be: It’s going to be fun, watching all these kids and seeing what they can do.
It’s a realistic reaction for any Redbird rooter. For the first time in this generation, there’s a lot of mystery in the air surrounding this team. The Cardinals could perform like lost little boys and finish dead last. Or, they could play inspired baseball and end up in third place. If the latter turns out to be the case, then Cardinal Nation will know they have something special on the horizon.
That’s the sign of strong support, knowing that patience will be worth it in the long run. And that losing right now is okay, because it’s only going to go up from here. If that kind of courageous optimism echoes through Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village, it will come with tempered expectations but hope about what comes next. That’s a mentality of nurturing those baby ‘Birds through all the snags, snafus, and potholes that might lie ahead.
It’s an easygoing year when the team’s biggest backers have already accepted that the ballclub won’t contend this season. For the Cards and their followers, 2026 should be viewed like a giant eraser for the disasters of the past two Summers.
In fact? It should be seen as a double-reset. One where the Redbirds display a promising future… and where the Cardinal fans return to their rightful spot as the Best Fans in Baseball.
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