It’s easy to envision the interview that day in 2038 — a gray-haired Carlos Martinez, back in St. Louis for the 25th anniversary of the 2013 National League champions. Reporters will catch up with the former All-Star. They’ll ask him to look back on his Cardinals career, the highs and lows. And inevitably during the interview, as retired athletes often do, Martinez will have some perspective. He’ll express regrets about how he approached 2018 and 2019.

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“Carlos’ preference would be to be back in the rotation — our preference, if Carlos is physically able, is to get him back in the rotation,” Cardinals general manager Michael Girsch said.