Skip to content

Mozeliak: Cardinals' 'trend is not positive' despite personnel changes

Scott Kane / USA TODAY Sports

In the second week of June - as the team was just about to end a seven-game losing streak - the St. Louis Cardinals called an impromptu press conference to shuffle their coaching staff and announce the eventual release of Jhonny Peralta.

Now, general manager John Mozeliak says he has a better feel for the 2017 version of his team than he did on "rearrangement day," and told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the "trend is not positive."

Since the dismissal of Peralta and Chris Maloney, the team has meandered to a 7-8 record which began with a four-game winning streak. At least the fourth-place Cardinals outscored their opponents 82-76 over that stretch.

Whether Mozeliak's comments signal further shuffling of the coaching staff or players remains conjecture. However, with the Cardinals 5 1/2 games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and riding a three-game losing streak, the team could very feasibly become sellers by the deadline.

Just last week, a report surfaced that the Cardinals could listen to offers on impending free-agent starting pitcher Lance Lynn. The 30-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.86 ERA and 5.54 FIP over 15 starts in his return from Tommy John surgery.

If other impending free agents become available, it could be interesting to see what the Cardinals could get for Seung Hwan Oh, with a premium on elite relief arms developing over the last couple seasons.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox