Cardinals legend’s recent comments underscore John Mozeliak’s shortsightedness

John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, has helped the organization tremendously over the years, but he has also made many mistakes.

Before we delve into his shortcomings as a baseball executive, it’s worth noting that he made one during the Cardinals’ successful tenure from 2009 to 2022, in which St. Louis won a World Series and reached a franchise-record five straight playoff appearances played an important role in the front office appearances from 2011-15.

Unfortunately, Mozeliak has struggled since becoming the Cardinals’ boss in June 2017. His most recent mistake was trading a homegrown star who recently received high praise from one of St. Louis’ most popular former players.

“‘When we made the trade, I got a call from Albert Pujols and he said you’re going to love this guy because he’s a baseball player,’ (Dino) Ebel said, referring to the former (Los Angeles) Angels and (Los Angeles) Dodgers slugger who played with (Tommy) Edman in St. Louis in 2022,” said Ebel, the Dodgers’ third base coach, as transcribed by Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times on Oct. 1.

Edman, who was traded from the Cardinals to the Dodgers at this summer’s trade deadline in exchange for aging veteran Tommy Pham and right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde, who has just one good season under his belt, was recently named MVP of the National League Championship Series crowned Los Angeles and will have a chance to win his first-ever World Series ring this October.

“‘He can hit from both sides of the plate, he’s shown some power, he can play short, second and middle,'” Pujols Ebel continued, per Giovanna’s transcription. “He’s fundamentally sound, he knows the routine game, he knows how to run the bases, he can bunt, he can hit-and-run, and he has the talent to play on a championship-caliber team and a World Series to win.” .”

Trading Edman to the Dodgers for Fedde and Pham while St. Louis wasn’t an obvious postseason contender is a shocking decision that has already put another blot on Mozeliak’s legacy as the Cardinals’ POBO.

Hopefully Chaim Bloom ends the never-ending trend of former St. Louis players finding success elsewhere after leaving the Cardinals.

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