The Cardinals wrapped up their annual Winter Warm-Up event Monday with appearances from team leadership, including club CEO Bill DeWitt Jr., his son and team President Bill DeWitt III and manager Oliver Marmol.
DeWitt Jr. was asked directly about the team's payroll situation, both now and in the future. In the short term, he said the team is still looking to trade All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado but that there will not be cuts elsewhere to free up money should that not happen. DeWitt III noted that he thought the team is "in a good spot" to begin this "reset," as the team has called it, and that spending could be reasserted once player development lays a foundation for future success.
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Marmol, meanwhile, sang the praises of early development success from last season. His youthful energy and zeal for the game makes him the right manager to lead this team through this period, columnist Benjamin Hochman wrote.
On the player front, some of the team's elder statesmen addressed their futures, with newly minted first baseman Willson Contreras detailing his growing leadership role within the franchise after he declined to request a trade this offseason. That's a role columnist Lynn Worthy thinks might fit Contreras like a glove.
Outfielder Lars Nootbar, on the other hand, now finds himself quickly transitioning From the kind of young star the Cardinals are trying to develop now to the kind of veteran they'll need to mentor that young talent. For him and others in a similar position, "there's no hiding anymore," he said, as the team has opened everyday opportunities to see exactly what they've got in several of these younger veterans.
Up next for the Cardinals is spring training, with pitchers and catchers reporting to the team's complex in Jupiter, Florida, on Feb. 12. Full-squad workouts begin the following Monday, Feb. 17.
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Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol talks during a question-and-answer session at the Cardinals’ annual Winter Warm-Up event Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Ballpark Village.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol talks during a Q&A session at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras signs autographs at the Cardinals' annual Winter Warm-Up event Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. signs autographs at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up event on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Ballpark Village.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III signs autographs at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr., right, and President Bill DeWitt III sign autographs at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Ballpark Village.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, left, watches his father and the Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. sign autographs at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Day 3 of St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. signs autographs at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Photos and videos: Sights and sounds from Day 2 of Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, center, answers questions at the team's Winter Warm-up event on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Ballpark Village.

John Tiemann, 6, of Shiloh, endures the 12 degree temperature as he father Tyler snaps a photo of a snow-covered field on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Siblings Oliver,10, and Xandra Kelly, 7, of Dutchtown, mimic Championship- winning ballplayers as they lay on the rug during a tour of the the St. Louis Cardinals' clubhouse on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the team's Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Cardinals prospect Quinn Mathews poses for a photo with Brenda Highley, of Lakewood, Ill., during the annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up event Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Busch Stadium. “I think he’s going to be our new up-and-coming pitcher,†Highley said.

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker answers questions at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Ballpark Village.

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker answers questions at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Ballpark Village.

St. Louis Cardinals 2025 Spring Training invitee Quinn Mathews signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.

St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Andre Pallante takes a photo with a fan on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

“I promised the kids I’d get a picture,†said second grade teacher Chris Loeider, who snaps a selfie with Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn after getting an autograph at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Busch Stadium.

Employee Natalie Atkins stands in front of the heater to warm her hands during a lull of fans entering at gate 4 on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the St. Louis Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Josh Geiler takes a family portrait, from left to right, of brothers Niall, 9, Owen, 11, and their parents Brandy and John Turek of Webster Groves at the St. Louis Cardinals' Warm-Up event on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Kevin Jordan waits in line for St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Zach Thompson autograph Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the team's Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Cardinals pitcher Zack Thompson autographs a baseball card for Wayde Menke, 7, at the teams’ Winter Warm-Up event on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, downtown.

Steven Stubblefield and his son Jaxon, 10, wait for St. Louis Cardinals's pitcher Andre Pallante to autograph a baseball on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Employee Natalie Atkins stands in front of the heater to warm her hands during a lull of fans entering at gate 4 on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the St. Louis Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals' shortstop Masyn Winn signs autographs on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Zack Thompson signs autographs on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Andre Pallante signs autographs on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Justin Lampe, 13, holds his autographed baseball signed by St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Andre Pallante on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Zack Thompson signs a baseball for Kevin Jordan on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.

Kentaro Yoshimoto of Narita, Japan holds a baseball hit by St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Yoshimoto said he came to Winter Warm-Up from Japan because he's a fan of Nootbaar.

Leigh Ann Zaretzky and her son Ben exit the stadium with a signed bat from St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the teams' Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium.
Photos and videos: Cardinals Winter Warm-Up sights and sounds on first day
John Mozeliak speaks at Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak speaks at a Q&A during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
John Mozeliak speaks at Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak speaks at a Q&A during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
John Mozeliak speaks at Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak speaks at a Q&A during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
John Mozeliak speaks at Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak speaks at a Q&A during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Ballpark Village on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
John Mozeliak speaks at Cardinals Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak fields questions at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event at Ballpark Village on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
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Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence signs autographs at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals pitcher Tink Hence signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray signs autographs at the club’s Winter Warm-Up event on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Busch Stadium
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley signs autographs at the club’s Winter Warm-up event on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan poses for a photo with a fan at the team’s Winter Warm-up event on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals players sign autographs at Winter Warm-Up

Cardinals outfielder Brendan Donovan signs autographs during Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.