JUPITER, Fla. — John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, promised his comments would be brief and he delivered at a business casual dinner last month in St. Louis.
He offered a one-word theme for spring training.
“Opportunity,” he said.
With 19 players leaving camp to compete in the World Baseball Classic, including MVP Paul Goldschmidt and MVP finalist Nolan Arenado, there will be ample attention and playing time for prospects and non-roster contenders galore during the Cardinals’ camp. But Mozeliak’s description has more layers. The team’s most — only — significant move of the winter was signing catcher Willson Contreras, an All-Star with the Cubs who will replace Yadier Molina, an all-timer for the Cardinals.