The St. Louis Cardinals are sitting pretty with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, and honestly? It’s about time. Here’s the thing, though – their current season performance has been exactly what earned them this coveted position. The Cardinals have struggled mightily this year, sitting well below .500 and among the worst records in the National League. High draft picks don’t come without pain, and St. Louis is learning that lesson the hard way. After decades of success that consistently pushed them to late first-round picks, their struggles finally translated into something valuable: premium draft positioning.

After years of watching elite talent slip through their fingers while picking in the draft’s basement, the Cardinals finally have a golden opportunity to land a franchise-changing player. Want to guess what they’re planning to do with it?

Well, you know how these things go. The Cardinals aren’t just throwing darts at a board. Assistant GM Randy Flores has made it crystal clear that despite having their highest pick since J.D. Drew in 1998, they’re sticking to their “disciplined” approach. “Well, the hope is that you balance the risk/reward or proximity to big leagues similarly to when you’re picking in the late teens and 20s. The balance is that the risk and reward has to be seen in some ways. If you’re just looking for risk for the sake of risk, then you might be chasing something that is not smart,” he explained.

Flores isn’t mincing words about their approach either. “We try to stay disciplined to our board and make sure that whether we’re picking in the teens, 20s, or inside the top 10, that we’re balancing what our eyes are telling us and what the underlying metrics and assessments are telling us,” he explained. The key phrase here? “We hope that our process is true.” Tbh, it makes sense – why abandon a system that’s worked for decades just because you’ve got a shiny new toy?

This isn’t Flores’ first rodeo with high-stakes decisions, though the early picks have been a rare commodity for him. Speaking of that breakthrough moment, Flores couldn’t hide his excitement about landing JJ Wetherholt at No. 7 last year. “Looking at his batting line and the back of the baseball card, is that he’s hit, and he’s always hit,” Flores said after the selection. The organization was “very, very excited” to land what many considered the steal of the draft. But success isn’t built on draft picks alone – it requires strategic moves at every level.

Could the St. Louis Cardinals go for this Atlanta star?

While the draft represents long-term planning, the St Louis Cardinals are also eyeing immediate impact moves that could reshape their roster for years to come. With the trade deadline approaching, rumors have it that they have set their sights on Atlanta’s All-Star catcher Sean Murphy, a veteran presence who could provide immediate stability behind the plate while addressing long-term succession planning.

The numbers tell a compelling story: Murphy’s .828 OPS and 15 home runs this season demonstrate his elite offensive capabilities, despite a modest .236 batting average. His career .765 OPS and 114 OPS+ underscore consistent production that would significantly upgrade the Cardinals’ catching position as Ivan Herrera potentially transitions to a new role.

However, Murphy’s $73 million extension creates a substantial hurdle in negotiations. The Braves remain reluctant to move their cornerstone catcher, though they might consider a deal for the right package.

If talks stall before the deadline, the St Louis Cardinals could revisit Murphy during the offseason, making this pursuit a defining moment for their competitive window. Want to take a guess at how this plays out? The Cardinals are thinking both short-term and long-term, balancing immediate needs with prospects.