The Cardinals have finalized the 26 players they will open the season with in Cincinnati on Thursday, signaling the end is here for a topsy-turvy offseason that saw a blockbuster addition followed by a rash of injuries during Spring Training.

The Nolan Arenado-led roster will feature 13 pitchers and 13 position players, a group the club hopes can lock up a thirdstraight postseason appearance -- and much more.

Among the final decisions made: John Nogowski, Edmundo Sosa, Austin Dean and Justin Williams made the team as position players, while right-hander Jake Woodford’s excellent spring solidified himself a spot in the bullpen.

As a result, there were difficult decisions to be made: Kodi Whitley, a candidate for the bullpen, and Lane Thomas, a candidate for a backup role in the outfield, were both optioned to the Minors on Sunday and will serve on the taxi squad for the series against the Reds. Non-roster invitees Max Moroff and José Rondón were also reassigned to Minor League camp, after superb springs in their own right, with Rondón, Ali Sánchez and Seth Elledge rounding out the opening taxi squad.

“It was a tough competition, there were some tough conversations,” manager Mike Shildt said on Sunday. “There's some guys left off the roster who are Major League players that we couldn't play with. And good teams have to have that kind of depth.”

Also announced before Thursday’s opener was that pitchers Kwang Hyun Kim (back) and Miles Mikolas (right shoulder), and outfielder Harrison Bader (right forearm) will open the year on the 10-day injured list. As will Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery), who’s not expected to pitch until August/September, if at all this season.

Here’s a breakdown of the club’s 26-man roster:

Catcher (2): Yadier Molina, Andrew Knizner
Molina, 38, is back for his 18th season, and he’ll get the lion’s share of starts as long as he remains healthy, though he has expressed a willingness to split duties. Behind him, the Cards have Knizner, who will be the backup as he embarks on his first full big league season. Switch-hitting Tyler Heineman has impressed and is a prime candidate for the taxi squad.

First base (1): Paul Goldschmidt
No surprises here: Goldschmidt will be the Cardinals’ first baseman, and the hope is he can be an All-Star again now that his bat is protected by Arenado. His backup -- if he needs one -- would likely be Matt Carpenter or Nogowski.

Second base (1): Tommy Edman
Edman, who played six positions the past two seasons, will be the starter at second and will primarily hit leadoff this season. Without a universal designated hitter in the forecast, Carpenter was attempting to win at least a share of the second-base job during spring, but his lack of production has relegated him to the bench to start the year.

Third base (1): Nolan Arenado
A large question mark entering the offseason is now the club’s most secure position. Arenado, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Rockies and signed through 2027, brings with him eight consecutive National League Gold Gloves and four consecutive NL Platinum Gloves. It remains to be seen how his bat bounces back from a down 2020, but he’s done nothing but fit in with his new club.

Shortstop (1): Paul DeJong
DeJong enters his fifth full season as the Cardinals’ shortstop and figures to be a prominent part of the lineup primarily batting cleanup. He reported to be much fresher at camp, after a tough 2020 while impacted by a bout with COVID-19. How he works with double-play partner Edman in place of Kolten Wong will be a storyline to follow. Edmundo Sosa or Edman could spell DeJong here as well.

Outfield (3): Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, Justin Williams
Harrison Bader’s forearm injury shook up the outfield picture just a week before Opening Day. His projected 4-6 weeks on the shelf means Carlson will take the lion’s share of reps in center, especially without Thomas on the roster, and Williams’ path to right field has been yanked wide open. Dean and Nogowski will get some time in the corners, while Edman could see some reps in the grass as well.

Utility/bench (4): Carpenter, Edmundo Sosa, Nogowski, Dean (and Knizner)
Carpenter will be the Cardinals’ primary pinch-hit bat, hoping to provide a spark from the left side. Sosa can play every infield position save for first and got the edge over the non-rostered Rondón. Nogowski, a natural first baseman, had a fantastic spring to earn a storybook spot on his first Opening Day roster at 28 years old. Dean provides a punch from the right side, while Rondón and Moroff are taxi squad candidates.

Starting pitchers (5): Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martínez, Daniel Ponce de Leon, John Gant
When will Kwang Hyun Kim and Miles Mikolas return? That’s yet to be determined, but until then these are the five starters the Cardinals will carry into the regular season. Kim (back tightness) could return sooner than later, but Mikolas (right shoulder) is well behind -- and both will start on the injured list. The Cards hope Flaherty’s 2020 results were an aberration and that Wainwright can keep pitching like the ageless wonder he has been during Spring Training. Martínez gets a chance to prove himself in the rotation again, while Ponce de Leon and Gant could find themselves in creative roles when the rotation returns to full health. Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery) is out for the year.

Relievers (8): Andrew Miller, Giovanny Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Alex Reyes, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Webb, Génesis Cabrera, Jake Woodford
The Cardinals elected to carry 13 pitchers, with Woodford’s inclusion over Whitley the biggest decision made, and he profiles as a swingman. It’s a group the club believes can be one of the best in the Majors, essentially unchanged from last year’s crop. The only question now: Who emerges as the closer?