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Growth from players like Brendan Donovan, Masyn Winn, Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante and Victor Scott II could set the stage for more success next season.

But there is much more work to do — both in the majors and the minors — before the 2025 season winds down.

Marmol wants to stay in the playoff chase. He would celebrate the addition of reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline. They may or may not come, based on how president of baseball operations John Mozeliak views things from his perch on the fence.

Meanwhile, the field staff must remain locked in on player development to make the most of the remaining games that remain.

The heaviest lifting must be done with pitching.

Veterans Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde have expiring contracts. They don’t appear to have a future here. But getting them back on track would have value, either to keep the Cardinals in the playoff chase or to create trade leverage.

That is especially true for Fedde, whose team-friendly contract could make him appealing to a contender willing to spend prospect capital for pitching depth.

Trading Fedde would open a spot for Michael McGreevy, who is overdue to pitch regularly in the majors. Of course, no team will covet Fedde while he is getting shelled ... so yeah, there is work to do.

Liberatore and Pallante are still learning how to handle the grind of starting pitching. Liberatore is trying to hold his mechanics together through the 162-game marathon, while Pallante is still tinkering with pitches to use against right-handed hitters.

At Triple-A Memphis, Tekoah Roby recently gained traction while putting previous injuries behind him. Given all the pitching casualties this organization has suffered this year, the Cardinals would love to get him through the season in one piece.

Quinn Mathews is experiencing a reset year at Memphis. He soared up the organization ladder last season before hitting a wall this spring. The Cardinals need him to finish well and go into his offseason program feeling strong.

Relievers Andre Granillo, Gordon Graceffo and Matt Svanson have shown promise this season while riding the Memphis shuttle. Can they keep progressing and earn more permanent bullpen roles next season?

The Cardinals will create developmental plans for their just-drafted pitching prospects. Top pick Liam Doyle could see the majors next season if he can refine his secondary stuff, and the other power collegiate arms could offer badly needed organizational depth.

Then there is Tink Hence. All efforts to keep this former top prospect healthy have failed. He is back on the injured list at Double-A Springfield (Missouri) after pitching just eight games and 21 1/3 innings for four minor league teams this season.

Hence turns 23 next month. Is there a path forward for a prospect whose body can’t handle the rigors of pitching?

On the offensive side, the Cardinals must address their futility against left-handed pitching. They hoped outfielder Jordan Walker would reemerge this season and add right-handed clout to the batting order, but he faded badly after an encouraging start.

His wrist injury was disruptive. So was his bout with appendicitis. But when he landed back at Double-A Springfield on a rehab assignment, his struggles at the plate continued.

Walker is still only 23, but he is reaching a critical point in his career. If he remains lost at the plate, the Cardinals will need to move other right-handed hitters to the outfield and/or look outside the organization for help.

Scott must play regularly, given his elite fielding in center field. But he is high on the list of Cardinals left-handed batters who must become more competitive against southpaws.

This team needs more production from catcher Pedro Pages, whose offensive struggles offset his fine work behind the plate. Backup Yohel Pozo is hitting well, Herrera is hitting very well, and prospects Jimmy Crooks and Leonardo Bernal are developing on schedule.

Will the remaining games provide clarity at this position?

Ideally, Nolan Arenado would get healthier and go on a heater after the break. Ideally, he would create a trade opportunity that makes both him and the Cardinals happy.

This franchise is committed to a youth movement, and Arenado wants another shot at postseason play.

Top 2024 draft pick JJ Wetherholt could reach the big leagues before the end of the season. He seems destined to take over at second base and give Winn some needed breaks at shortstop.

Donovan should remain an offensive mainstay in that scenario, playing regularly in a super-utility role. The resulting positional crowding would create job competition (and trade scenarios) for outfielder Lars Nootbaar and infielders Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese.

There is much to ponder here. The Cardinals have made encouraging strides this year, but their to-do list will be lengthy regardless of which direction their remaining season takes.