Free Agent starters - little chance the Cards get anyone decent

[ClassicO]

We all know there are one or two rotation openings in 2026, but I wouldn't hold my breath on the Cards signing anyone significant this offseason.
Here is all FAs ranking and Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease lead the way, but they won't be signed here.
The price for Ranger Suarez and Brandon Woodruff will also be high if Eavoldi (35 yrs. old) got 3 yrs. $75M, if they're not re-signed.
I can't see Flaherty or Gallen here, but maybe a Michael King or Tyler Mahle . Maybe the 37 yr. old Quintana?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/ ... ition.html

Gray, Libby, McGreevy and ...
(Please don't include Pallante).
The only guy in the minors is Mathews - and he'd be great if he can find better control.
Ixan Henderson is the only other hopeful I can see but he's not pitched in AAA yet.

[82birds]

most likely true but at least it will be Bloom searching, not MO

[Clubmaker2]

Quintana - 93.1 season innings pitched to date, 17 starts

1 year/$4M (2025), plus 2026 mutual option
signed by Milwaukee as a free agent 3/3/25
25:$2M, 26:$15M mutual option ($2M buyout)
performance bonuses:
$1M each for 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 innings
$100,000 each for 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 games started
roster bonus: $250,000 for making active MLB roster in 2025

[Cusecards]

I would prefer spending on pitching over hitting any day but unfortunately the potential injury risks are far greater for pitchers than position players.
I admit.....I thought signing Matz at the time for $11M per year was a good move.
Four years later.....we’ve seen the results due to injury.
Blake Snell is another pitcher who comes to mind.
Very accomplished(Cy Young) but can’t stay healthy.
There are very few organizations that can sustain a rotation year to year through Free Agency.
Hopefully Bloom and the new FO can upgrade the System!

[moose-and-squirrel]

prolly not worth talking about until after the lockout

[VegasVinny]

The unfortunate reality is that the Cardinals should focus on signing a couple of high-risk/high-reward pitchers on one or two-year pillow deals with the intention of flipping them at the trade deadline. Hopefully, in 2028, the club can return to seeking players that will contribute to a team aiming to win a division and compete for a pennant.

[Hazelwood72]

The 500-pound gorilla in the room is that we don’t have much to trade which will return a quality pitcher.

Look at the Cards major league roster and their first tier of minor league “hopefuls”. There’s just not much that an opposing GM would want.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is “Moconomics”.

[rockondlouie]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

[Mort Gage]

prolly not worth talking about until after the lockout

Yup. If the Cards sign a FA starter it will likely be a one year Kyle Gibson type.

[moose-and-squirrel]

prolly not worth talking about until after the lockout

Yup. If the Cards sign a FA starter it will likely be a one year Kyle Gibson type.

exactly this

[ClassicO]

The 500-pound gorilla in the room is that we don’t have much to trade which will return a quality pitcher.

Look at the Cards major league roster and their first tier of minor league “hopefuls”. There’s just not much that an opposing GM would want.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is “Moconomics”.

Agree. They need to take a risk (non-Mo move) and sign a few free agent SPs, even if it's Quintana-like. Then wait for Mathews and Doyle and Ixan to develop.

[Carp4Cy]

prolly not worth talking about until after the lockout

I’m starting to feel like this lockout is overrated.

[Carp4Cy]

The 500-pound gorilla in the room is that we don’t have much to trade which will return a quality pitcher.

Look at the Cards major league roster and their first tier of minor league “hopefuls”. There’s just not much that an opposing GM would want.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is “Moconomics”.

Agree. They need to take a risk (non-Mo move) and sign a few free agent SPs, even if it's Quintana-like. Then wait for Mathews and Doyle and Ixan to develop.

you make a goldSchmidt type trade using cheap and low level prospects and an extra catcher with a team who has an arb eligible pitcher, but doesn’t have a budget to keep paying him. Think Skenes in 2 years when the pirates need a salary dump. Who is this years version?

This is why we pay for a good GM. To shake the trees and find that deal before someone else does.

[Cardinals4Life]

I would prefer spending on pitching over hitting any day but unfortunately the potential injury risks are far greater for pitchers than position players.
I admit.....I thought signing Matz at the time for $11M per year was a good move.
Four years later.....we’ve seen the results due to injury.
Blake Snell is another pitcher who comes to mind.
Very accomplished(Cy Young) but can’t stay healthy.
There are very few organizations that can sustain a rotation year to year through Free Agency.
Hopefully Bloom and the new FO can upgrade the System!

We can afford to pay for an ace. Go get Valdez.

Valdez
Gray
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews/Pallante

This rotation plays.

[Cardinals4Life]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

Yeah, seems like most here on CT have already accepted that next year "we can't sign anybody" because of a possible work stoppage.
Even on this thread alone, people are talking about waiting till 2028. Wow!

[ClassicO]

I would prefer spending on pitching over hitting any day but unfortunately the potential injury risks are far greater for pitchers than position players.
I admit.....I thought signing Matz at the time for $11M per year was a good move.
Four years later.....we’ve seen the results due to injury.
Blake Snell is another pitcher who comes to mind.
Very accomplished(Cy Young) but can’t stay healthy.
There are very few organizations that can sustain a rotation year to year through Free Agency.
Hopefully Bloom and the new FO can upgrade the System!

We can afford to pay for an ace. Go get Valdez.

Valdez
Gray
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews/Pallante

This rotation plays.

Valdez would be great, but even if they want him, why would he come here without a huge overpay?