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DENVER 鈥� Not too far from where John Mozeliak took his first step in professional baseball toward the mound to throw batting practice against a few sluggers in the Colorado Rockies鈥� inaugural lineup, the Cardinals鈥� longtime executive discussed the moves that could define how his tenure leading baseball operations comes to an end as his contract expires.

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Cardinals went cold in the desert, and after a weekend sweep by Arizona, Mozeliak conceded he鈥檚 exploring how selling at the upcoming trade deadline could benefit the club.

鈥淐learly the weekend was not what we wanted to see, and now we鈥檝e got to understand what the future looks like,鈥� said Mozeliak on Monday in the visitors dugout at Coors Field. 鈥淲here we are in the standings definitely affects our decision-making moving forward at the deadline. Playing those three games and losing all three is not helpful. Wanted to come out of the break having a positive start to it. We didn鈥檛. As we reflect on what鈥檚 best for the organization, there is the longer view in terms of: Are there decisions that we can make that will better situate the franchise in 2026 and beyond?鈥�

With the three losses to the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals (51-49) slipped 8 1/2 games back in the National League Central race and 3 1/2 games back in the wild-card race with two teams between them and the San Diego Padres (54-45).

Other teams have access to the standings too, and calls to the Cardinals picked up.

鈥淚 think people realized it was a tough week for us,鈥� Mozeliak said. 鈥淐alls came in. ... First off, you鈥檝e got to compete in your division, and we鈥檝e got two teams that are really hot right now (Milwaukee, Cubs). Actually three (Reds). And that鈥檚 a challenge. And we鈥檙e not. We have to turn that around.鈥�

The Cardinals are shopping starter Erick Fedde, a potential free agent, to create an opening in the rotation. They are fielding interest on relievers Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz and let teams know as much after the series in Arizona. All three relievers are set to be free agents at the end of the year. The Cardinals expect to set a significant ask for Helsley, who they can present a qualifying offer at the end of the year to secure a draft pick as compensation or lock in the All-Star closer for the 2026 season. John King could also draw attention from teams.

According to sources not with the Cardinals, there are teams wondering if the Cardinals would entertain trading younger players at positions where other starters have emerged. Two examples would be Jordan Walker or Nolan Gorman.

Following policy as old as his tenure, Mozeliak does not discuss specific trade talks.

The Post-Dispatch asked if offers from other teams might shove the Cardinals into sell mode ahead of the July 31 trade deadline more than the standings or regardless of the standings.

鈥淚f there is something that seems too good to be true? Yeah,鈥� Mozeliak said. 鈥淚f there was something that made so much sense, obviously we would pursue it.鈥�

In 2023, when the Cardinals had a losing record and clear motivation to sell, they sought pitching depth for the system, both in advanced arms and potential prospects. This year, pivoting into a sell mode would focus on a broader target. Mozeliak described his goal as 鈥渓ooking for the best talent and controllable talent.鈥�

Those last two words describe players with several years under contract control and preferably not required to go onto the 40-player roster. The Cardinals could alleviate a logjam of players who require 40-player protection and give Chaim Bloom鈥檚 front office greater room to maneuver as it takes over baseball operations toward the end of this season.

鈥淚t gives Chaim and the next gen a little more time without the pressure of we just have to win next year,鈥� Mozeliak said. 鈥淢ore freedom and flexibility.鈥�

In the coming week, Mozeliak intends to approach third baseman Nolan Arenado to discuss his preferences as the trade deadline approaches. The Cardinals attempted to trade their Gold Glove third baseman this past winter as a way to reduce payroll 鈥� a stated goal of the offseason 鈥� and place him with a club that鈥檚 closer to contending for a World Series. He invoked his no-trade clause to veto a trade to the Houston Astros, and Arenado has said he will be picky when it comes to what team he would chose over finishing the season and possibly his career with the Cardinals.

Mozeliak came to Denver this week to gather with parents, who still live in the area, and other members of his family ahead of his final visit to Coors Field as leader of the Cardinals鈥� baseball operation.

He attended Monday night鈥檚 game with 12 guests.

A Colorado native, Mozeliak grew up in nearby Boulder, where went to school at Fairview High and the University of Colorado. In 1993, the expansion Rockies needed a left-hander they could trust to throw batting practice, and through a connection, Mozeliak was hired. On his first day, early in that first season of major league baseball in the Mountain Time Zone, he was tasked with throwing to Group 1 鈥� essentially the middle of the order, with Andres Galarraga and Dante Bichette. While with the Rockies, Mozeliak learned from Don Zimmer, Don Baylor and longtime executive and general manager Bob Gebhard.

It was also there that Mozeliak met Walt Jocketty and eventually came with him to the Cardinals front office, where Mozeliak has been for three decades in roles ranging from scouting director leading the draft to general manager to his current title, president of baseball operations.

His last year with the Rockies was their first year at Coors Field, in 1995, and he was looking over that field when asked about how trades could shape what he leaves behind for the Cardinals 鈥� especially if compelling offers arrive for younger players.

鈥淧utting emotions aside, if something were to make sense that allows us to feel like we鈥檙e improving for the future, then it might be worth a conversation,鈥� Mozeliak said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if any of that will exist or that will happen. I don鈥檛 want to put ourselves in a situation where we don鈥檛 want to explore anything.鈥�

Nootbaar, etc.

Lars Nootbaar has yet to swing a bat without pain in his left ribcage, Mozeliak said, and until he鈥檚 able to do that and do so consistently, it鈥檚 difficult for the Cardinals to put a timeline on the return of their outfielder from the injured list.

• Hours before Monday鈥檚 game against the Rockies, the Cardinals coaching staff discussed how they could alter Andre Pallante鈥檚 schedule in the coming weeks to alleviate some of the workload as the right-hander nears a career high in innings. Pallante is set to start Wednesday at Coors Field.
• The Cardinals, Mets and Cubs are the only National League teams yet to have a starter throw a complete game at Coors Field. The Cardinals did not have one at Mile High Stadium, either.