The St. Louis Cardinals are facing a pivotal offseason after a disappointing stretch since June has all but dashed hopes for contention this year. With Chaim Bloom set to succeed John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations, the organization appears ready for sweeping changes to reshape its roster under new leadership. Amid this shift, pundits believe it may be time for the team to move on from Jordan Walker, once one of its most electric young prospects.
While only 23, Walker has failed to consistently deliver at the major league level. His batting line has dropped to .228/.286/.322 with just four home runs and 31 RBIs, and his OPS has languished around .608. His performance in August—an OPS near .582—has been particularly disheartening, reinforcing the argument that he has yet to justify the expectations that came with his prospect status.
Critics point out that, despite repeated chances, Walker has not shown the growth or breakthrough many believed he would when he first burst onto the scene. The Cardinals’ crowded outfield situation and log‑jams in positional depth are magnifying the problem, making continued underperformance harder to tolerate.
As the organization leans toward a rebuild, more focus is shifting toward younger, emerging talents like Thomas Saggese, Ivan Herrera, Victor Scott II, and Masyn Winn. These players are being viewed as more likely contributors in the Cardinals’ future than Walker, whose stock appears to have dropped substantially in recent months.
Still, there are caveats. Some writers caution that cutting ties with Walker isn’t risk‑free. At just 23, he still has time to rediscover his form or find a path to consistency—possibly via more minor league time or coaching changes. Whether another organization would still see him as a top 100 prospect is also debated.
Ultimately, the case isn’t simply about Walker’s past hype but about his present output and whether the Cardinals are better off investing in fresh prospects rather than holding onto a player who may no longer fit their long‑term plans. With leadership changing, this moment is seen by many as the inflection point: either Walker proves he belongs, or the Cardinals cut bait and move forward without him
