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I can see where the Cards don’t add any more starters. Maybe a cheap veteran. The other holes in the outfield, and lefty relievers may take priority.
Right now it’s Liberatore, May, Dobbins, McGreevy, with Fitts and Leahy possibly in the rotation. I would guess maybe Mathews or the other Memphis prospects might be a 6th starter? Especially if they consider Leahy too valuable in the pen. If the prospects get off to fast start at AAA
I hope that we don’t have to break camp with the rotation above. Five question marks. But that’s what we have now. Our HC may might have pallente of reasons to have fitts by May.
I don’t know what role Pallante will have. He is expensive for a middle reliever. I guess he is starter insurance. I always liked him in the minors, and thought he showed improvement in 2024, but then came the disastrous 2025. I was always hoping he would be moved to the pen, and Curtis Taylor would be added. Sorry for the 8 millionth Taylor reference, who is still a free agent surprisingly.
With Pallante slated to make $3-4M in 2026 then two more years of arbitration, I’m surprised there has been zero mention of moving him to be a 5th SP somewhere else.
They wouldn’t get anything of significance back, but even a little international draft pool money could make sense, or a very low level guy.
He’s maybe the type that could be a ST flip of a contender has someone go down. He could be worth the money, just not for the Cardinals.
I want Curtis Taylor as well C27. Better than a guy like Mikolas, and they are going to need more innings.
I’d be surprised if Dobbins is ready before June….ACL usually is 9 months at the earliest after surgery….pitcher puts a lot of torque on his legs.
Sometimes when you rush back from ACL surgery something else in the legs will go like an Achilles
Unfortunately, Curtis Taylor is no longer a FA. Taylor signed with the NC Dinos out of the KBO. Hopefully he impresses against the competition there and can return stateside on a major league deal.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20251211/dinos-sign-ex-minor-league-pitcher-curtis-taylor
This season’s rotation may spin over faster and turn more revolutions per than a crankshaft contained in the engine block saddles of an overpowered Can Am racing machine…Lots of revs.
Unfortunately, Curtis Taylor is no longer a FA.
Bloom had no use for a 30 year old pitcher. Has no use for a 30 year old anything.
We knew what Mikolas was going to do, Fedde kinda fell apart quickly.
I’d guess that the entire body of work turned in in 2026 by the starters will be about the same as 2025 – no way we go the entire season with no injuries again though.
Libby, McG, Dobbins, Fitts and May all have upside to be chased thru the rotation. Maybe we add some more.
Pallante and Leahy have reliever fallback and bring considerable IP that would fit well at swingman and multi-inning relief roles. An option.
That would help position SP6 as next to rotate from the minors to the rotation, with Pallante / Leahy available as rotation fallback, if the farm can’t backfill.
This will be good competition without contracts clouding anything. Looking forward to it too.
Yeah that’s true. With Mikolas, Matz, and Gray out the door there are no ‘must plays’ on the pitching side.
Has Mikolas caught on anywhere yet or is he still waiting for a date to the prom?
I wonder where Robberse and Rajcic fit in to the Memphis pitching staff. Do they start? There are more candidates than slots. Mathew’s , Henderson, Mautz, possibly Hence, Rajcic, and Hanson. It would seem logical that Robberse is in the bullpen to begin 2026. It also seems possible Rincon might get an in season promotion. Rincon could be moved the bullpen as well. Hjerpe may also be a candidate. As always there is always an injury caveat.
If anyone still wonders why the #stlcards made multiple trades for Red Sox pitchers, they lined up well. The Athletic writes about Boston's current 11 rotation candidates, including new signee Ranger Suarez. They also note teams want about 10 SP options. By my count, StL has 7.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 15, 2026
Having 7 options for starter is the reason why St Louis will be a basement level team, sadly. Maybe Libby will pitch like 1st half 2025 Libby all year with a winter to build stamina, maybe Dobbins and Fitts will show some promise for the future, maybe May will finally have a healthy year, maybe McGreevy will settle into a Kyle Hendricks like career, maybe Mathews dominates AAA and proves he’s ready for the Show. Lots of maybes.
Liberatore
May
McGreevy
Fitts
Pallante
Dobbins
LeahyI assume those are your 7. I would add Mathews as he should be capable of being a back end SP as needed already and I expect more of him.
Don’t agree with that 7 ATM, but if you’re doing it in order Pallante is behind Leahy and definitely Dobbins.
That is what I am assuming Brian’s list is. I didn’t do any ordering on priority just the order of who came to my mind.
My list most likely would be the same + Mathews though. And I’m basing this off who is in the org currently not FA or more trade acquisitions.
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