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By the numbers and opinions of the minors followers in this thread, maybe CB will consider trading Leahy’s unexpected results. A sell high point, since he has evidently peaked?
It appears that Leahy will be pencilled in as a starter for 2026 because he’s about the only internal option available at the moment.
This is an organization that is bereft on talent, especially pitching at the AAA level.
I suspect that Leahy would have to really flame out in spring training to not be in the starting rotation at the beginning of next season.
I’m not sure what the backup plan would be if he stumbles. Just keep sending him out there I guess like with Mikolas and Pallante…
I’m with CB/Oli, as they try to continue developing Leahy. The have nots have to be real good at PD.
I don’t understand why some folks think Leahy would be the only new rotation option in the spring.
We’ve had lots of other discussions about them trading away redundant players on offense. It is reasonable to anticipate that some MLB-ready pitching could be acquired in trades.
I wish we had a 200mil budget. This is what the have-nots do.
You bet. The biggest kicker is that they were pocketing the excess from 3.5 million and TV bonanza for years. I specifically recall Goold saying that they had the ability to spend up close to the luxury cap in the right situation (this was back around 2018ish IIRC so that cap was around $210M). Now, the fans express their distaste for the latest product and the ownership’s apathy, so Bill and Co. punish us by pinching even more pennies. There’s a lot of competition in the poor house and no guarantee that they’ll ever get out.
Open the runways, the players will seperate themselves. Capping any pitcher limits player development.
I’m talking about internal options. Yes, clearly trades and FA signings are on the table and it’s likely that even if Leahy is a starter that they still have to grab one more.
It just feels like the organization is doing everything it can to exhaust all internal options first – to save money.
The topic is Leahy as a rotation option and Pallante. I didn’t wander either! 👍
We have to be looking for everyones best, max value, w/out skipping the looking part 😀
I would be surprised if trading our ‘redundant’ players brings a ML ready starter who holds down a rotation slot all year or a substantial part of it. And was serious about them sifting the AA successes this spring.
bb said:
I would be surprised if trading our ‘redundant’ players brings a ML ready starter who holds down a rotation slot all year or a substantial part of it.
I get what you are saying, but I did not predict how any pitchers they bring in will do during 2026. I just don’t think all the eggs are going to be in Leahy’s basket. That would be lacking in preparation. And FWIW, I question whether Leahy could “hold down a rotation spot all year”, either. They need more legitimate horses in the race.
And was serious about them sifting the AA successes this spring.
Regarding the Double-A pitchers, I do not agree. I hope the Cardinals do not short-circuit development of these pitchers just to try to be competitive out of the gates in 2026. (And by leaving them at Springfield in 2025 instead of in-season promotions to Memphis, it tells me they are not going to rush.)
Pallante and Jordan Hicks are recent examples of pitchers who were either rushed through Triple-A or didn’t have any time there at all. On the other hand, McGreevy made 66 career starts at Triple-A and became a better MLB pitcher as a result. Somewhere in the vast gulf between zero and 66 feels right to me.
I find your current stance on pitching to be inconsistent with your past, frequent criticism about position players who you believed were rushed to St. Louis.
Perhaps it is BDW that is pushing the Leahy narrative. He sees a potential starter that will make $800k next year. Sounds like a good solution for an owner headed to the welfare line.
Maybe we run Svanson up to 80 IP next season. Svanson for DeJong. Mo already won that one. Piling on is possible too.
I have hope that Leahy could be a good starter. I liked his long outing where he struck out 7 in 3 innings. He is a far different pitcher than as a starter in the minors. He seemed to lack confidence, and got down in himself easily.
Starting rotation at start of 2026 season:
Liberatore
Pallante
McGreevy
LeahyChomping at the bit:
Matthews
FittsMaybe later:
Hjerpe
RobyNot to be ignored:
Henderson
Lin
Mautz
HenceThe Cardinals absolutely must find at least one more rotation-quality starter whether by free agency or by trade.
Fitts will be given a rotation spot I would assume despite comments of competing for it. I expect him to be a better SP this year than Pallante although both have the same struggle and that is HRs. Fitts I would expect to give up less in STL than Boston though.
I assume they do acquire someone else via trade for the rotation and potentially a low cost FA signing.
I am curious what this FO envisions the rotation looking like even in 27. The pitching type we have of low K% pitch to contact with guys like Pallante, McGreevy, and kind of Fitts as well isn’t what this FO seems to value. I could see them reworking the rotation quite significantly over the next 2 years.
Hopefully, they will be able to rework the rotation over the next two years. Matthews, Fitts, Hjerpe, Roby, Henderson, Lin, Mautz, and Hence ought to be able to help them with that. And add the newly acquired Brandon Clarke and add Liam Doyle to the mix.
The Cardinals just need to find ways to get by the next couple of years.ZTR, you’re correct, plenty of failed soccer players are now NFL kickers so it could happen!
I was kidding obviously but that’s how badly I hope he is either an expensive long relief guy or moved somehow.Mud, Pallante should be pitching in India, not the cards or even Rockies rotation.
Agree, unless his fairy godmother does something to him over the offseason. I listed him as being in the Opening Day starting rotation because the organization doesn’t have anybody to take his place as it stands now. I said in my post that they must acquire at least one quality starter. The truth be told is that they need at least two quality starting rotation pitchers. Because of that, I think Donovan has to be trade bait. And Contreras should be shopped for a staring pitcher, also. I see Arenado as a salary dump if they can pull it off. But I hate to see Arenado go. I just hate it.
Experience can go a long way towards being a better pitcher with different results. You never know until you try. The situation is not as dire as some may think. Bloom is loading up on pitchers as proven by the Gray trade. Matthews and Doyle are a lot closer to competing for the big club than most realize. Bloom still has Contreras, Donovan & Arenado to trade and acquire yet more young pitching. The fact is that numerous guys could turn the corner and become much more productive with age, experience and opportunity. Pallante is most likely on his last leg. If he survives the trade winds. He will be given a chance to show if he can stick or if last year is his new normal. By mid season and about 10-15 starts Matthews will most likely be ready to be seen, and if Pallante has stunk it up he will be headed to the pen or traded. We will all need to see how the trade season unfolds and what Bloom gets in returns. Lets hope he can peel away a top 5 pitching prospect from some team.
So far, so good for Leahy. Just like May he struggled early, then seemed to be more comfortable as a starter.
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