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That’s a good point Jack, we are already down to 100mil budget. If they keep subtracting 26man members…. It’s a necessity to add back in trade (Fitts) and signings, just to keep mlb happy.
25, I have Nado at 1/6mil, and maybe that’s low. I was surprised at Goldy’s signing. Maybe the mid-ground of our estimations fits better for me.
Maybe CB looks at taking back a reliever making some dough, who needs a bounce back year. We might throw some save opps at him and keep those saves off our pre-arb relievers.
Good question JJ, I like the Dbacks and the Red Sox or Mets based on which one gets Alonso.
Dbacks – Comp Pick right before Cards (don’t love the fit for any of their prospects except their #1)
Mets – Jonah Tong – already has some MLB experience, Cards need innings
Red Sox – Jhostynxon Garcia – RHH OFerI don’t recall it happening, but has a team ever had 5 SP, in a ML rotation that were all lefties?
Libby
McGreevy -RH obviously
Doyle
Mathews
Henderson
Mautz
Hjerpe
Clarke
Davis
Fitts – RH
Tink – RH, but…..Am I crazy to hope this tanking sell off brings back a proper RHSP? Never thought I’d say that!
More work for you CFICT, if you want it. We are in rent-a-closer range so how about finding one that needs a bounce back year, has a mid-tier 1yr contract remaining and fits an Arenado trade. You got this! 😀
Anyone think Noot for Teoscar Hernandez works? If LA picks up Hernandez’s deferred money, salaries are a wash.
Noot goes home and reunites with all his buddies plus Tommy. LA solves the Hernandez in right problem.
We get a foundational bat who Jay can work with in left.Nigel, I’d do that faster than Joey Chestnut takes down a brat at Miller Park! (or whatever it’s called now)
If you ever get a chance to go there, trust me and have a few brats. Even if the next morning is miserable….
JJ…. Two guys, I don’t see Jojo being here, so we need at least one lefty, but I’m going with two.
1) Drew Pomeranz (1/5M)
2) Andrew Chafin (1/2.5M)I’ve been assuming a “closer by committee” with O’Brien, Leahy and Svanson to start the year. Having Pomeranz could sure help if a couple of tough lefties were coming up. They zhave already “saved” enough that they could easily do this. Jojo needs cashed in though.
Seattle is looking for 3B and LH RP help.
I say Arenado, Romero, and $16 million (11 in 2026 paying half of what Colorado isn’t and 5 in 2027) for Comp Round B pick, A-A+ ball OF Korbyn Dickerson, and another minor leaguer around Dickerson’s value, which isn’t super high.Then get serious about who’s making the offer you can’t refuse for Donovan. And if something comes along for Contreras, Pages, or Nootbaar you can’t pass up do it. I think Nootbaar needs to be traded, but the injury makes me worry the return isn’t what it would be, being this injury has kept others out over a full season. But if I could swap Noot to the LF needy Dodgers for River Ryan I’d do it quickly.
I think Pages value is as high as it’s ever going to be and with Crooks and all the catchers in the minors it makes sense. Herrera wants to get behind the plate again and I’d open the year with Herrera part time C and part time DH with Crooks and if he becomes full time DH then Pozo was re-signed as depth until it’s between Crooks and Bernal for now.
I think Cleveland is probably the best match for Donovan. They are always watching money and Donovan is affordable, 2B is a need, and they have prospects to make it happen. Contreras could make sense going there too, if the Cardinals covered enough.
I read somewhere the Cardinals were interested in LH RP Yuki Matsui when he came out of Japan and they could possibly take a flyer on his “bad contract” to help off set one of their bad contracts too if they were to match up with San Diego on something.
I don’t know how they would match up with Atlanta but they have some arms I really like for not having a highly rated system, including Luke Sinnard. He’s not a highly touted prospect coming back from TJ surgery last year, but he’s 6’8″ with mid 90’s fastball and good breaking stuff all generating good K numbers with solid control.GameCard, the value Donnie and Jojo will bring back for 2028 outweighs what they could do for a team that will win between 60 and 75 games in 26 and who knows if they even play games in 2027.
Which is why I don’t ever clamor to do a 2 year deal. One year deals to be respectable at least in 2026, or 3+ to be a part of a potential winning team.
Church and Crooks are trade bait in my mind since they are highly redundant and have value for actual needed pieces. They won’t be a headliner but could get a better package back with Donnie and Jojo.
I hope to see Torres get a roster spot and game action over Church for full disclosure. Infield and OF capable and very high OBP….. call him the new Donnie?Church and Crooks are trade bait in my mind since they are highly redundant
I think Pages should be moved before Crooks. Pages value is high. Let Herrera have another shot at Catching 60% of the time with Crooks getting the other 40% and let Herrera DH those days. If Herrera needs to go back to full time DH then Crooks gets a shot at full time and Pozo backing him up and Bernal in AAA awaiting his chance at getting time with Crooks or over Crooks.
As for Church. I could see it. But also could see LF being quite the “black hole” this season. I think as is stands now Burleson will get time out there and some at DH. But if Contreras is moved, Burleson takes 1B where he belongs. Church I think is first up in LF, assuming Nootbaar isn’t ready or not with the team. And LF could be a Church, Torres, probably Fermin getting time out there and hope Baez wasn’t a flash in the pan and can develop to get a chance by 2027 in LF or possibly RF if Walker can’t prove he can take steps forward.They are going to give Herrera every possible chance to succeed. He could, or end up at 1B/DH/LF.
For a 2028 catcher I’m taking Leo/Raniel so instead of letting Crooks fail being a part timer, move on now and get top 125 value today. Pages isn’t bringing a bag of cracker jacks back.
Catching market is VERY thin, so if Herrera looks healthy, I could and maybe would take best offers with Crooks and Pages being included (not the same deal).Church is a slow version of Victor S. And faster version of us. Scott and Torres (IF backup) > Scott and Church. If he’s not in center then he has zero value.
The reason that is important is because he has six years of control, and there are so many teams looking for centerfielders.Pages isn’t bringing a bag of cracker jacks back.
I think his value is pretty good, probably higher than Nootbaar right now. Would bring back by himself more than a lot of the other names we’re all mentioning here as “tradable”, other than Donovan.
Crooks could fail, just like every other prospect. But hes hit at every level and hes highly regarded behind the plate. I give him a chance and if Bernal and or Raniel over the next 2 years prove they are the real deal then Crooks is either easy to move on from, a good trade piece, or makes one of them a top prospect trade chip to load up an area of need.
I think Church is a 4th OF, he’s bringing back little, less than Pages. And I’m not sold on Scott at all. He has good defensive value. But guys with speed as their number 1 skill is tough. They have to be on base to use that skill and they are 1 leg injury away from losing a half step that no longer makes them relevant at all. I know pitching at the MLB and AAA level is pretty thin, they do have some promising arms as you go a bit deeper. But they did with Hence too and he can’t stay healthy. But this OF could be a mess. I understand wating to get a look at Torres, but let’s not forget hes 5’7″ 165, 28 years old, and was signed out of independent ball.
If, and big if, they can move Donovan, Arenado, Contreras, Pages, maybe Nootbaar (but who knows if they have Nootbaar when he’s available) you’re looking at
1. Wetherholt – 2B (L)
2. Winn – SS (R)
3. Burleson – 1B (L)
4. Herrera – C/DH (R)
5. Gorman – 3B (L)
6. ??? – DH (R)/Crooks – C (L)
7. Church – LF (L)
8. Walker – RF (R)
9. Scott – CF (L)Saggese – IF/LF (R), Fermin – IF/LF (R), Torres – OF (L), Crooks – C (L)
Still a lot of LH redundancy, Prieto and Koperniak on the 40 man in AAA LH also, and a very questionable OF.Since I know you all love my trade ideas….
1)Donnie
2)Arenado with Seattle only paying $13.5 and $9M in 26/27
3) Jojo (they need/want a LHRP)From Seattle
1) Luzardo Montes – 20Hrs from your top HR hitter on Cards doesn’t cut it
2) Ryan Sloan – RH top of line SP possibility
3) An extra piece – fill in the blank on this oneChurch to Phillies for RHSP Moises Chase
1)Donnie
2)Arenado with Seattle only paying $13.5 and $9M in 26/27
3) Jojo (they need/want a LHRP)You are not dealing with Seattle’s budget. They have $15.5 million total to spend on 2B, 3B and relief.
Cardinals would have to assume nearly all of Arenado’s contract to make that trade.
I’d be ok with packaging Romero and Donovan in a trade if the return is right. Would love to grab another top prospect arm or OF.
What’s everyone’s projected pitching roster/rotation for 2026?
Rotation: Leahy, McGreevy, Fitts, Libby, Pallante
Bullpen: Granillo, Svanson, Graceffo, Romero, O’Brien, + one more lefty and a Free Agent Veteran
DFA/Trade: Fernandez, RoycroftIf Pallante gets shaky, I’d send him to the bullpen and call up Matthews.
I can’t stress this enough… the Cardinals cannot have another season of allowing both Fernandez and Roycroft “work through their mistakes” at the same time. It hinders the possibilities of good prospects in the organization of a shot in the big leagues.
Welcome, tricky. Your projection looks reasonable, given what we know today. But they may be adding more SP either in trade or as free agent.
On the relievers, rather than DFAing or trading them, wouldn’t the Cards be better off having some reserves in Memphis?
Hi Brian! Thank you for the warm welcome.
You have a valid point on the DFA/trade stance. Pitching depth in Memphis needs to be not only bolstered but protected if the Cardinals want to see optimal results in the show. However, if the organization chooses to utilize Fernandez and Roycroft as depth pieces, I’d rather they be called up one a time, rather than together.
Also, do you think they prefer to add a new starter via trade/signing instead of calling up Hence, Matthews or Roby?
Also, do you think they prefer to add a new starter via trade/signing instead of calling up Hence, Matthews or Roby?
I think they will add another starter via trade or FA.
Roby will likely miss most if not all of 2026 due to TJ surgery.
Hence was hurt most of 2025 so I don’t know how much he can be counted on in 2026. If he is able to pitch he will need time at Memphis to prove he can stay healthy.
Matthews could be a potential callup although he struggled with performance and injuries in 2025 as well.
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