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25, Last time we added during the offseason it was Gray, Gibson, Lynn. I’m not seeing a Gray Jr. signing for 2026. A Matz type signing looks like a mistake vs Gibson/Lynn short term. And then there’s the CBA after 2026, where they could also decline Gray.
I’m squinting real hard and I can’t see a multi-year FA signing for the rotation. Multiple one year deals likely. Pillow contracts like back from injury or had a sub-par platform season, that wants a mulligan to re-establish value. Two or three arms somehow. We have to add back IP. Maybe we find a good chip.
(Assuming a flat budget)It’s going to be really hard to get any kind of starting pitcher on a one year deal I wouldn’t want to sign a retread up for 2 or 3 years. It’s possible that they will have to bring Mikolas back for one more year while they figure out if Leahy can be a starter and while they figure out if Hjerpe, Matthews, maybe Zach Thompson, can be a rotation piece. Too bad about Roby. He could have been very helpful in sorting things out.
Gray, McGreevey, Liberatore, Pallante, Mr X.
Thats where we are on paper. Mr X won’t be a high dollar stud, we know that. If Bloom brings in Lynn/gibson type for $10 Million, or trades for a midling contract guy, then that guy gets a slot, and any ST competition will be for other slots.
They need to think about what the messaging is going to be over the winter, now that they know the BFIB are not chained to their oars.I think Pallante will have to earn his spot in spring training – he’s been nothing but bad for a couple of months now.
Gray at 35M ain’t near worth that. McGreevy looks decent – not #1 or #2 decent but not too bad. Liberatore looks decent – not #1 or #2 decent but not horrible. Pallante is a huge question mark at this point. So, Bloom can dumpster dive for 1 or 2 starting pitchers and then maybe the farm spits out a serviceable starter at some point the first half of next year.
I’d bet our old pal Mikolas would come back for $5-10M and eat innings for us – that would be one of the most tone-deaf signings in Cardinal’s history but I can see them pulling a stunt like that.
Let’s not forget about Leahy for the rotation. Also, Hjerpe has had plenty of time to recover. If he keeps working hard over the offseason, he has a chance to make the rotation. Also, Hence needs to either quit or get off the pot. My point is that there is still a glimmer of hope for the rotation.
Matz will be on the market, but he won’t come cheap…He’s only allowed 1 run in 11.1 innings of work with Boston. Heck, he’ll probably get 4 or 5 years at $15M per from the Red Sox…
Hjerpe has had plenty of time to recover. If he keeps working hard over the offseason, he has a chance to make the rotation.
Hjerpe has 78 innings in A level and 14 innings at AA.
Quinn Mathews have any real chance?
I’ve got to imagine that a lot will depend on what the FO does over the off-season. If they go out and sign a couple of free agent starters, then of course the minor leaguers won’t have much of a shot. If they run it back like they did this year, that would open the door for someone like Mathews to grab a rotation slot with a strong spring training. Of course, injuries always play a role so the opening may come in St Louis sooner or later, if Mathews continues to progress.
I still don’t understand what has been said about Matthew’s fastball. He blasted through the system with increased fastball velocity in 2024. Then he gets to Memphis in 2025 and who knows what kind of pitcher he really is.
1) Gray….doubt anybody takes him with his contract…plus a vet is needed for the younger guys
2) Liberatore …not surprised by late season fade, probably most innings he has pitched in a year
3) McGreevy
4) Mathews would be my guess right now
5) no clueObviously there’s a chance that the overall performance of the 5 man could take on some improvement without the presense of Fedde, Mikolas and Pallante. But it’s also entirely evident that their replacements could very well place the rotation from a state of really bad to much worse. I’d say it’s a coin toss.
I still don’t understand what has been said about Matthew’s fastball. He blasted through the system with increased fastball velocity in 2024. Then he gets to Memphis in 2025 and who knows what kind of pitcher he really is.
Mathews missed time with a shoulder injury earlier this year. We can’t 100% know what’s going on, but it seems likely that his injury has been at least somewhat nagging (decreased velocity and command both). Will rest and an off-season program help? We can’t be sure. He may go back to throwing 95+ and be fine for a while, or he may get injured or he may be the 92-93 guy he is now and find a way to adapt and be successful. So in that sense, you’re right in that we don’t exactly know who he is.
Control problems is common after an arm injury, especially shoulder. Lin is going through it now. Earlier this season, Hence’s BB/9 was double what it had been, before he went down again. The glimmer of hope with Roby is that his control has been good when he has been able to return to the mound.
It seems like Mathews is getting his control back. Hopefully, PD under Bloom has or will move away from the add a couple ticks crowd, so that we can have pitchers last long enough to learn how to do something besides try to throw it by ever more advanced batters.
Leahy will probably be in the mix for a rotation spot but he would most likely have an innings limit to avoid hitting the proverbial wall.
“add a few ticks”
The flip side of high velocity arms is a bunch of ball in play guys, like Pallante.There is probably someone they can get off the scrap heap for next year
Walker Buehler was just released by Red Sox, Mikolas on a cheap incentive deal to eat some innings, those type of pitchers are probably pretty attractive to DeWitt
I think the five will be:
1. Gray
2. Liberatore
3. McGreevy
4. internal competition that hopefully brings in Matthews, but if not, Leahy or retooled Pallante
5. mystery acquisition by trade or FA. I’d love something more than a Lynn/Gibson signing, but I’d not get too depressed if it were a Lynn/Gibson signing.None of those guys is going to dominate, but I’d hope all five would give them a shot in a way that too often Fedde and Mikolas did not. Then use the year to see how the varied injured guys recover and how others develop to replace Gray and quite possibly the mystery acquisition.
I’m also curious what an offense adding Wetherholt and Crooks, sending Walker to AAA for the year and reducing ABs to backup level for Pages would look like.
Pallante’s fb hits 95, 96 on the gun. His velocity is big league.
Maybe he just doesn’t consistently throw his breaking stuff for strikes?
To me, his delivery seems a little stiff and mechanical – not smooth and easy but I don’t know if that really matters as long as he’s not injuring himself.
I believe it will be a solid investment in a $15-20 million starter plus a one-year prove it deal for someone coming back from injury. That 2nd guy competes against Pallante and Matthews in the Spring. Likely, Pallante and Matthews become the 6th and 7th starter to start the year. They should both still get plenty of innings.
I think they almost have to sign a good free agent arm for 3-4 years based on where they are at. Gray’s age is catching up to him and most of the reinforcements are hurt. Even Matthews has been partially hurt. Gray likely will only be around 1 more season. They need a reliable starter badly.
They will also need a corner outfielder as I’m pretty certain Walker is going to have his final option exercised and he will be in AAA until he can hit the ball routinely again, if ever. Church, Siani, and Koperniak are not the answer. I guess it’s possible this becomes Herrera. If that’s possible, then go for it. But I worry about defense.
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