[rink23]

It's Nov. 9, 2022, four days after the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 to win the World Series, and the St. Louis Cardinals are beginning a new era.
Coming off a successful regular season, they went 93-69 to win the National League Central by seven games over the Milwaukee Brewers, only to be quickly ousted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild-card round, the Redbirds find themselves moving forward minus three of the biggest names in the franchise history.
Future Hall of Famers Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols have both headed into retirement while the Cardinals have declined to retain veteran right-handed starting pitcher Adam Wainwright.
The 41-year-old Wainwright went a respectable 11-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 2022, but struggled down the stretch and had been regulated to the bullpen for the postseason).
The team could have offered Wainwright a new deal (or an $18.9 million qualifying offer), which he would have probably accepted, but the front office (me) steered away from that option.
(In reality, the Cardinals have re-signed Wainwright for one final season at $17.5 million. Wainwright says he plans to retire at the end of the 2023 season. As free agency plays out, I may revisit bringing Wainwright back. Also, if he should sign with another team which I don't deem realistic -- I think the only team he would sign with is Atlanta -- I will probably retire him).
In other moves.
Like in real life, bench coach Skip Schumaker has moved on to become the manager of the Florida Marlins while hitting coach Jeff Albert and pitching coach Mike Maddux both left their posts.
It will be up to me to fill those positions, as I don't plan to hire the replacements.
Also, since President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak is really the person who makes all the player personnel decisions, he has supplanted Mike Girsch as the team's general manager.
Other notes.
* I will play under the guideline the Cardinals may rank no higher than No. 8 in player payroll.
* The 2023 season will feature the banning of shifts. The three-batter minimum will remain in place. However, the extra-innings runner at second base rule has been set aside.