Future starting pitching.

[DewittDaman11]

I'm starting to get to the point where I'm not as bummed out about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe not really panning out as starters. At least, not yet, and with the injury concerns and the lack of ability to pitch 5-6 innings, maybe, never. However, with the emergence of Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, Mathews and Henderson, I really think the Cardinals may want to start thinking about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe as BP arms.

They all have electric stuff that they have a bit of control issues with, and along with the injury history, would all seem like perfect fits for a lockdown bullpen. You can throw maybe Granillo, Svanson and Leahy, and, eventually Showalter in the mix, and are pitching might have a pretty good decade ahead of it. Normally, I wouldn't even presume bullpen arms, as they constantly change from year to year, but, I feel like the Cardinals have some pretty specific arms at this point that seem custom made for the pen. Go Cards!

[ramfandan]

I'm starting to get to the point where I'm not as bummed out about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe not really panning out as starters. At least, not yet, and with the injury concerns and the lack of ability to pitch 5-6 innings, maybe, never. However, with the emergence of Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, Mathews and Henderson, I really think the Cardinals may want to start thinking about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe as BP arms.

They all have electric stuff that they have a bit of control issues with, and along with the injury history, would all seem like perfect fits for a lockdown bullpen. You can throw maybe Granillo, Svanson and Leahy, and, eventually Showalter in the mix, and are pitching might have a pretty good decade ahead of it. Normally, I wouldn't even presume bullpen arms, as they constantly change from year to year, but, I feel like the Cardinals have some pretty specific arms at this point that seem custom made for the pen. Go Cards!

Yes, you are thinking along the right track . Believe there has already been conversations that Hence in the pen is best long term. He has great velocity to be a later inning reliever. His slender smaller body doesn't appear to be able to take the workload of a starter . The kid can still shine as a reliever though.

[Cranny]

I'm starting to get to the point where I'm not as bummed out about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe not really panning out as starters. At least, not yet, and with the injury concerns and the lack of ability to pitch 5-6 innings, maybe, never. However, with the emergence of Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, Mathews and Henderson, I really think the Cardinals may want to start thinking about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe as BP arms.

They all have electric stuff that they have a bit of control issues with, and along with the injury history, would all seem like perfect fits for a lockdown bullpen. You can throw maybe Granillo, Svanson and Leahy, and, eventually Showalter in the mix, and are pitching might have a pretty good decade ahead of it. Normally, I wouldn't even presume bullpen arms, as they constantly change from year to year, but, I feel like the Cardinals have some pretty specific arms at this point that seem custom made for the pen. Go Cards!

Future rotation over the next few years is probably Gray, Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, and Mathews.
Roby, Hence, and Hjerpe provide depth if they can stay healthy.

[DewittDaman11]

I'm starting to get to the point where I'm not as bummed out about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe not really panning out as starters. At least, not yet, and with the injury concerns and the lack of ability to pitch 5-6 innings, maybe, never. However, with the emergence of Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, Mathews and Henderson, I really think the Cardinals may want to start thinking about Hence, Roby and Hjerpe as BP arms.

They all have electric stuff that they have a bit of control issues with, and along with the injury history, would all seem like perfect fits for a lockdown bullpen. You can throw maybe Granillo, Svanson and Leahy, and, eventually Showalter in the mix, and are pitching might have a pretty good decade ahead of it. Normally, I wouldn't even presume bullpen arms, as they constantly change from year to year, but, I feel like the Cardinals have some pretty specific arms at this point that seem custom made for the pen. Go Cards!

Future rotation over the next few years is probably Gray, Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, and Mathews.
Roby, Hence, and Hjerpe provide depth if they can stay healthy.

I agree with Gray through 2026, maybe 2027, if they don't take the 5 mil buyout. But, if they keep Gray through 2027, starting in 2028, I think Henderson will be the starter that replaces Gray. As far as those three providing depth, I'm not sure any of the three can stay healthy enough to be a starter. Roby is still a possibility in the rotation, but, if he falters again this year, or, gets injured again, the BP will be his home, IMO.

[cardstatman]

2025 Gray 35, Fedde 32, Mikolas 36, Pallante 26, Liberatore 25
2026 Gray 36, Pallante 27, Liberatore 26, McGreevy 25, Roby 24
2027 Gray 38, Pallante 28, Liberatore 27, McGreevy 26, Roby 25, Mathews 26, Henderson 25
2028 Pallante 29, Liberatore 28, McGreevy 27, Roby 26, Mathews 27, Henderson 26

2025 Helsley 30, Maton 32, Matz 34, Romero 28, King 30, Leahy 28, Graceffo 25, Roycroft 28, Fernandez 27, Svanson 25
2026 Romero 29, King 31, Leahy 29, Graceffo 26, Roycroft 29, Fernandez 28, Svanson 27, Granillo 26
2027 King 32, Leahy 30, Graceffo 27, Roycroft 30, Fernandez 29, Svanson 28, Granillo 27
2028 Leahy 31, Graceffo 28, Roycroft 31, Fernandez 30, Svanson 29, Granillo 28

There's lots of room for Hence and Hjerpe and more in future bullpens. Also, starters are all likely to fizzle out; few have long careers.

[craviduce]

Lin, Henderson, maybe Hansen (I think he's 1 inning LH reliever vs. a heavy LHB lineup)....I'm not sure what we have with Robberse and Rom (I think I know, we saw 7 bad outings in the majors in 2023)

[swatski]

Where do you figure in the 6-7 TJ surgeries along the way? I bring that up merely to point out you have to plan to have an overage of arms to cover the unexpected.

[govman]

2025 Gray 35, Fedde 32, Mikolas 36, Pallante 26, Liberatore 25
2026 Gray 36, Pallante 27, Liberatore 26, McGreevy 25, Roby 24
2027 Gray 38, Pallante 28, Liberatore 27, McGreevy 26, Roby 25, Mathews 26, Henderson 25
2028 Pallante 29, Liberatore 28, McGreevy 27, Roby 26, Mathews 27, Henderson 26

2025 Helsley 30, Maton 32, Matz 34, Romero 28, King 30, Leahy 28, Graceffo 25, Roycroft 28, Fernandez 27, Svanson 25
2026 Romero 29, King 31, Leahy 29, Graceffo 26, Roycroft 29, Fernandez 28, Svanson 27, Granillo 26
2027 King 32, Leahy 30, Graceffo 27, Roycroft 30, Fernandez 29, Svanson 28, Granillo 27
2028 Leahy 31, Graceffo 28, Roycroft 31, Fernandez 30, Svanson 29, Granillo 28

There's lots of room for Hence and Hjerpe and more in future bullpens. Also, starters are all likely to fizzle out; few have long careers.

you're including one-year wonder Fernandez for 4 years? He's not even on team now

[Cranny]

2025 Gray 35, Fedde 32, Mikolas 36, Pallante 26, Liberatore 25
2026 Gray 36, Pallante 27, Liberatore 26, McGreevy 25, Roby 24
2027 Gray 38, Pallante 28, Liberatore 27, McGreevy 26, Roby 25, Mathews 26, Henderson 25
2028 Pallante 29, Liberatore 28, McGreevy 27, Roby 26, Mathews 27, Henderson 26

2025 Helsley 30, Maton 32, Matz 34, Romero 28, King 30, Leahy 28, Graceffo 25, Roycroft 28, Fernandez 27, Svanson 25
2026 Romero 29, King 31, Leahy 29, Graceffo 26, Roycroft 29, Fernandez 28, Svanson 27, Granillo 26
2027 King 32, Leahy 30, Graceffo 27, Roycroft 30, Fernandez 29, Svanson 28, Granillo 27
2028 Leahy 31, Graceffo 28, Roycroft 31, Fernandez 30, Svanson 29, Granillo 28

There's lots of room for Hence and Hjerpe and more in future bullpens. Also, starters are all likely to fizzle out; few have long careers.

Great job, but who’s your closer in 2026?

[Futuregm2]

2025 Gray 35, Fedde 32, Mikolas 36, Pallante 26, Liberatore 25
2026 Gray 36, Pallante 27, Liberatore 26, McGreevy 25, Roby 24
2027 Gray 38, Pallante 28, Liberatore 27, McGreevy 26, Roby 25, Mathews 26, Henderson 25
2028 Pallante 29, Liberatore 28, McGreevy 27, Roby 26, Mathews 27, Henderson 26

2025 Helsley 30, Maton 32, Matz 34, Romero 28, King 30, Leahy 28, Graceffo 25, Roycroft 28, Fernandez 27, Svanson 25
2026 Romero 29, King 31, Leahy 29, Graceffo 26, Roycroft 29, Fernandez 28, Svanson 27, Granillo 26
2027 King 32, Leahy 30, Graceffo 27, Roycroft 30, Fernandez 29, Svanson 28, Granillo 27
2028 Leahy 31, Graceffo 28, Roycroft 31, Fernandez 30, Svanson 29, Granillo 28

There's lots of room for Hence and Hjerpe and more in future bullpens. Also, starters are all likely to fizzle out; few have long careers.

Great job, but who’s your closer in 2026?

Maybe Hence at some point? Could see Hjerpe as a LH Reliever and Hence as a closer down the road. Helsley could also be re-signed, never know.

[TraveledLessRoad]

Who is Henderson?

[Futuregm2]

Who is Henderson?

Ixan Henderson.

6’2” LHP 2023 8th round pick

Last year he had a 2.34 ERA in 17 starts between A and A+ with a 9.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9.
This year he has a 2.25 ERA in 7 starts in AA with an improved 11.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.

I’m not sure where he fits in quite yet, but he’s making a name for himself.

[TraveledLessRoad]

Thank you...I have literally not heard that name. Sounds like we may have a gem here

[TraveledLessRoad]

https://www.scoopswithdannymac.com/ixan ... e-hitters/

[sikeston bulldog2]

We have a punchers chance with Gray Libby Pallante and McGreevy. Add an Ace, best staff in baseball.

[PadsFS07]

2025 Gray 35, Fedde 32, Mikolas 36, Pallante 26, Liberatore 25
2026 Gray 36, Pallante 27, Liberatore 26, McGreevy 25, Roby 24
2027 Gray 38, Pallante 28, Liberatore 27, McGreevy 26, Roby 25, Mathews 26, Henderson 25
2028 Pallante 29, Liberatore 28, McGreevy 27, Roby 26, Mathews 27, Henderson 26

2025 Helsley 30, Maton 32, Matz 34, Romero 28, King 30, Leahy 28, Graceffo 25, Roycroft 28, Fernandez 27, Svanson 25
2026 Romero 29, King 31, Leahy 29, Graceffo 26, Roycroft 29, Fernandez 28, Svanson 27, Granillo 26
2027 King 32, Leahy 30, Graceffo 27, Roycroft 30, Fernandez 29, Svanson 28, Granillo 27
2028 Leahy 31, Graceffo 28, Roycroft 31, Fernandez 30, Svanson 29, Granillo 28

There's lots of room for Hence and Hjerpe and more in future bullpens. Also, starters are all likely to fizzle out; few have long careers.

Gray won't be here in 2027. I would say the 1st round draft pick may be the answer too there.