- This topic has 18 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Kris Bubic
MacKenzie Gore
Joe Ryan
Garrett Crochet
I would love to see another good lefty in the rotationWe definitely have to add pitching before 26′. Crochet just signed a long extension. The rest of those guys are really good but are free agents in 27 or 28. Not sure we are ready to trade for those kind of guys just yet. We will need 2 or 3 starters minimum. McGreevy and Graceffo could be 2. Doubtful any one else is ready by than from aaa. So we have to get some level of pitching from either the trade or fa market.
Welcome, David. Will they be buyers, sellers, both or neither? They’re experts at playing it down the middle. Minimal reward comes from minimal risk.
Another one who might be available is our old buddy Sandy Alcantara. He has struggled, but is pitching better of late.
Minimal reward comes from minimal risk.
I would love to have any of those pitchers. Who are we ready to give up for a 1 or 2 year rental? That’s what always makes me laugh.
As of right now, the rotation for 2026 looks like Gray, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy and Matthews with very little depth behind them. Graceffo, Granillo, and Svanson look like they could fill in the bullpen.
I would love to acquire a top notch pitcher and put Pallante in the bullpen. I am concerned what it would cost to make that trade.
Exactly Forsch31. Cost is high and none of those guys have more than 2 years except Crochet, and you aren’t getting him.
The cost would likely depend on the acquired pitchers salary and length of club control.
Are you viewing a short term Burns acquisition (BAL)? Or are you looking for a Libby type?I was reasonably certain that the ’25 BP would be above average to good. However, my thoughts on the ’25 rotation were ones that centered around what could be termed an unmitigated disaster. The reality is that area of the team has performed reasonably well. Every one of the 5 primary arms have remained healthy enough to have been able to take the baseball every 5th day and, at times, they’ve taken on a look that could place them in a category of extremely effective. Most recently was during the season best 9 game W streak during which for several consecutive games the rotation took on elite status. In any case, we can all be pretty sure it’s going to boil down to SP’ing if this team is going to demonstrate that they should rightfully be filed in the category of 4 or 5 best teams in the NL.
Gray, Libby and McGreevy would be my only locks. Pallante is fine as a 6th starter and BP arm and Mathews needs to find his control and hopefully be the “1st man up” on the Memphis shuttle.
Cease and Gallen would be FA targets if they want to get back to the old salary level?…
A few guys have simply got to go, even with departures, the 40 man is going to be an issue.
As we look to 2026, it’s certainly possible both McGreevy & Roby could be in the starting rotation.
Roby is having a breakout season and has (knock on wood) been healthy all year.
68.1 IP 75 K’s 3.42 era 1.07 WHIPAnd…lets not forget Mathews & Hence.
As a reminder, Hence is back in Double-A for the third year and still hasn’t stayed healthy long enough to reach five innings in any start in 2025. With only a half-season remaining this year, thinking he can get to Triple-A and master it such that he could be in the mix for St. Louis’ 2026 rotation seems a long way from where he is right now…
I’m thinking Hence as eventual closer. I know we all want him to start-but there just isn’t any positive movement in that direction.
If the Cardinals are buyers at this deadline, and as of now they should be, I think they will focus on acquiring a bullpen arm or two. Why? Because those arms are relatively plentiful and cheap and won’t upset the apple cart on the reset by blocking anyone of note. Upgrading the rotation and lineup is a different kettle of fish and I don’t know if the Cards are ambitious enough to take that on this year.
Hence just looks like Alex Reyes 2.0 to me. We might get a year of him as a bullpen piece in maybe ‘27 or ‘28. But he has not shown any signs of being able to hold up to the rigors of big time pitching.
Mike, that’s where I’m leaning, at this time. If we could package him in a trade package to get a quality need (TOR SP, OF upgrade), I’m all for trading him before his value drops.
I don’t see the team trading for a SP and could see them trading one, but that would be an upgrade getting McGreevy into the rotation.
I definitely wouldn’t pencil Hence in for next year, but I don’t think he needs significant seasoning in AAA. Hence has typically performed quite well, but it is pitching even 5 innings and staying healthy he needs to work on. Talent wise he would be able to pitch in the MLB pen later this year I imagine.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.