DALLAS — There's no need for a long prologue here. Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings are in full swing, back in Dallas. When the Cardinals were here last year, they left without re-signing Albert Pujols, radically shifting the franchise's direction for the next decade. Now, they have something else in mind this winter.

Unraveling the Winter Meetings Buzz for the Cardinals

Arrival and Minor League Staffing

The Cardinals have arrived at the Winter Meetings. They expect to continue outfitting the minor-league staffing over the coming week. They have some coordinator positions close to filling and have had a lot of involvement from all areas of the front office in the vetting, interviewing, planning, and hiring process. They plan to bring on a notable number of new voices in player development, and these hires should start streaming in over the coming days/week.

Player Considerations and Trades

There are various player-related discussions. Heath asks if the Cardinals don't trade Helsley or Arenado, is it basically the same team as last year minus Goldy? DG points out that it's plus Fedde for a full season and minus Kittredge in the bullpen. There are also questions about who might be traded off the current roster, like Nolan Arenado, Steven Matz, and Erick Fedde. DG mentions that the Cardinals don't expect to be overwhelmed by offers for Ryan Helsley as alternative relievers are available.There's also the discussion about what happens if Arenado is traded. Alan asks how long it will be until the Cardinals have their next Cooperstown-bound player on the roster. DG explains that it depends on various factors and that a trade of Arenado could be a break in the continuity or the beginning of the next star.

Hitting and Fielding Concerns

There's been a lot of talk about the hitting decline of Goldschmidt and Arenado and the need for more hitters. Duffy in CT asks about their replacements in the field and if the fielding will suffer significantly. This has been a topic within the front office, and it was part of the consideration for a possible reunion with Goldschmidt. Now Contreras is at first base, so the discussion has changed.

Other Player Situations

There are questions about other players too. JuniorGM asks about holding on to Helsley until the trade deadline and why not do the same with Arenado. DG explains that trading Helsley is a straightforward move compared to trading Arenado, which is complex with money and other factors involved.There are also discussions about other players like Ian Herrera, where the Cardinals intend to find out if he is part of their long-term catching tandem. And about players like Mikolas and Matz, with questions about their contracts and potential roles in the bullpen.

Other Matters

There are various other topics too. Mo's #1 Fan asks about the "golden at bat" rumor, which DG says is not a rumor but not close to happening. There are also discussions about other potential moves like making a serious bid for Garrett Crochet (which is not likely) and the vision for 2025 on Clark Street. There are conversations about the manager's first interview in a few hours and the need for a win song for the Cardinals.