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Chaim Bloom has his work cut out this winter coming up with a rotation for 2026. The probables right now are Liberatore, Pallante, and McGreevy. Gray is under contract for next year but John Denton’s quote of Gray yesterday was something like “I don’t want to be traded right now and would would like to stay at least the rest of this season” sounds like Sonny would be open to being traded over the winter. Gosh I hope not. We need him bad.
There doesn’t look to be any help from AAA. Matthews has stalled and everyone else is hurt. Will Bloom have to find some stopgaps like Lynn and Gibson?
McG has been hit or miss since his runway opened up. Pages has caught his last 5 GS and I’d like a different look w/Pozo catching. Maybe it tells us nothing, maybe it does. I’d like to see Pozo’s sequencing of McG’s pitches.
That sounds to me like Gray doesn’t want to be traded. But, if there was a serious WS contender that could give him a realistic chance of winning a ring, he might approve the trade. Previously, he has always ruled out being traded, but this time he gave it a little wiggle room.
In this past week’s Wednesday With Walton, there was discussion about Mathews’ fastball velocity which, this year, has been around 92-93. Last year, when he was leading the league strikeouts, it was in the high 90’s. But there was no explanation for the reduced velocity. Is there any way to find out what happened to Matthews’ fastball?
Matthews threw a ton of pitches in college including 156 pitches in a super regional, I don’t recall him throwing upper 90’s in college
I can’t remember who said it, but I do remember that there was discussion about his increased velocity after he signed with the Cardinals. As I said in my comment, the decreased velocity was mentioned in this passage week’s Wednesdays With Walton.
I think they have to make a trade or FA signing to acquire someone who pitches at least like a #4. With injuries devastating the 5 pitching prospects who would have been the most likely to get a rotation spot in 2026 (Hence, Roby, Mathews, Hjerpe, Robberse), there just isn’t depth to count on minor leaguers. I included Mathews as he still seems to be having shoulder problems. Yes his velocity is a good amount down this year and I am assuming his shoulder is not 100% still.
Don’t forget Leahy as an option, but he will have the same problem Liberatore experienced this year and that is needing to build innings back up.
Potential Rotation
Gray
Liberatore
McGreevy
Pallante
LeahyDepth
Mathews
Henderson (would need a really good spring)
Hence?????
Robersee????? (#5/#6 at best)
Rajcic (spot starter)
Rincon (spot starter)
Mautz (spot starter)
Hansen (spot starter)There are some guys in AA and Rajcic in AAA that could maybe be make spot starts at some point. But in terms of handing a rotation spot to someone, there are only 3 I see really having a chance to earn one. If Mathews or Hence are healthy and pitching well, I think they would get one, but I’m not convinced Hence shouldn’t be in the pen when he comes back.
That just isn’t a lot of depth and even the rotation itself has some major question marks. I don’t see any way Bloom wouldn’t want to acquire someone else to shore up the rotation a little bit and ensure they have enough guys to even throw the innings needed for the season.
Gray is an overpaid #3
Every other SP we have is a #4 / #5 guy.So, next year will be, “Second verse, same as the first” and we’ll just stagger along at .500 +/-?
Again?
Sigh…..The fans aren’t coming back because Bloom is getting promoted, lol.
Translation: There is a number that will make the NTC go away.
He’s getting $35 million no matter what. He’,s not getting any more $$$ unless our team or if a team that wants him picks up his option in 27. Which we know the CBA is set to expire.
The numbers matter to the Cardinals and the team that would try to acquire him. Only wiggle room he gave is that he’s rather remain here this season.
I think they have to make a trade or FA signing to acquire someone who pitches at least like a #4.
I agree ATM. Most likely the Cardinals are going to have to look at guys like Noot, Donovan, Burly, Herrera, Gorman, Walker, Crooks, and Bernal and offer some of them up for young, cost controlled pitching. That makes more sense than dumpster diving in the veteran FA ranks.
There are a number of mid rotation-ish guys who are going to be on the market this winter. They really need to make a good choice and sign one. Ideally, they’d get a guy who outpitches Gray, but it’s not likely they’ll pay that up front cost. Gallen on a bounce back?
Ideally, they’d get a guy who outpitches Gray, but it’s not likely they’ll pay that up front cost. Gallen on a bounce back?
Gallen blasted the Cardinals when he left. I doubt he would resign here.
If I remember correctly, Lynn was not happy when the Cardinals didn’t make an offer to keep him long term the first time. But he came back later on.
I bet if the money and years were to his liking, Zac would go for it.
I would think Gallen needs to turn it around this year some before he gets a lot of cash thrown at him.
I got a feeling they are going to take payroll down to about $100-110 million for 2026 and see what shakes out from their system, and then maybe put a little money into 2027
Gray, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, and ?? in 2026 now? Maybe Leahy or dumpster dive for an old retread?
Maybe Doyle steps in at the #5 spot immediately? The SEC is about like playing AA ball? Not sure on an accurate comparison….
I think they will be signing some sort of free agent starter, unless they can swing a trade. Some of them may well have their options picked up, and some may retire, but these guys are available this off season:
Starting pitcher: Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez, Chris Sale (club option), Michael King (mutual option), Jack Flaherty (opt-out), Justin Verlander, Jordan Montgomery, Shane Bieber (player option), Shota Imanaga (club option/player option), Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon Woodruff (mutual option), Zach Eflin, Kodai Senga (opt-out), Ranger Suárez, Chris Bassitt, Walker Buehler (mutual option), Nestor Cortes, Jon Gray, Merrill Kelly, Frankie Montas (opt-out), Dustin May, Tyler Mahle, Freddy Peralta (club option), Nick Martinez, Marcus Stroman (vesting option), Lucas Giolito (club option), Aaron Civale, Kenta Maeda, Charlie Morton, Michael Lorenzen (mutual option), Germán Márquez, José Urquidy (club option), Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Kyle Hendricks, Steven Matz, Miles Mikolas, Chris Paddack, Erick Fedde, Alex Cobb, Tomoyuki Sugano, Jose Quintana (mutual option), Griffin Canning, Michael Soroka, Martín Pérez (mutual option), Colin Rea (club option), Cal Quantrill, Kyle Hart (club option), John Means (club option), Patrick Corbin
ZTR
Maybe Doyle steps in at the #5 spot immediately? The SEC is about like playing AA ball? Not sure on an accurate comparison….
Just looking at Hagen Smith and Chase Burns from last year, I don’t see that quick of a call-up. Smith is doing okay playing in AA right now for the White Sox 3.32 ERA but 6 BB/9. Chase Burns was at UT, but was drafted out of Wake Forest. Burns did well in the minors with a 1.77 ERA across 3 levels and 13 starts, but he’s been all over the place for the Reds with a 6.26 ERA. I think these two represent about where Doyle will fall out.
stlcard25
Max Scherzer
Chris Bassitt
Tyler MahleFinally bringing Scherzer home at 41 years old!
Who they will get: Bassitt seems really likely to me. Durable, short-term due to age, still a name. Of course, a QO and losing a pick would change this if they offer it.
Who I’d like them to get: Mahle – He’s finally healthy (sort of) this year and at just 31 years old, he still has some years left.
I hope the Cardinals don’t rush Doyle. Let’s see how he does at AA and AAA in 2026 then have him ready for STL in 2027.
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