Absolutely have to do better than Pallante and Mikolas.

[Bomber1]

Mikolas needs to go without any qualifiers. I don't want Pallante back in the rotation, but I could live with it.

But Mikolas should be G-O-N-E.

His contract has expired.

He will not be back, Bloom is not the idiot Mozeliak is.

[Strummer Jones]

Mikolas needs to go without any qualifiers. I don't want Pallante back in the rotation, but I could live with it.

But Mikolas should be G-O-N-E.

His contract has expired.

He will not be back, Bloom is not the idiot Mozeliak is.

I know you're right. But I'm once bitten-twice shy (baby).

Probably more like thrice bitten, but who's counting?

[AZ_Cardsfan]

No doubt

Toss in Fedde and it would be hard to believe you could field three worse starting pitchers.

(And if he's back, then Pallante can't be in the SR! The only way it happens is if BDWJr is too cheap to give C. Bloom some money to add a starting pitcher or two)

First yes I do believe they will put him in the rotation. They are not going to spend a lot of money and they need innings. Plus, he was a lot better prior to 2025 so who knows maybe he rebounds. As a rebuilding team why worry?

He's only a "last resort" starter AZC.

If Bloom can deal NADO and/or Gray or WillyC, then I could see BDWJr letting him use any savings for player additions.

Won't be a lot of money since Dewitt will have to eat large sums of NADO and Gray's deal just to get a decent return but could be enough for Bloom to find an upgrade over the pitiful Pallante.

What he did in 2024 may have just been the league not seeing him as a starter.

Once they had a book on him, he was one of the worst starters in MLB last season.

I don't see him improving.

And no worry, just don't want to see that slug starting.

I'm not advocating for him. Just saying - this is going to be a year where some players who don't belong in their roles keep them. And yeah I HOPE we sign some pitchers that are still standing when the free agency money song ends. Find a diamond in the rough for cheap and flip him at the AS break.

Some other members here are still trying to figure out a roster that competes. They are going to be disappointed IMO.

I sure hope not, to me that was 2025 and Mo.

I'm hopefully Bloom sweeps out a lot of deadwood (and that includes Pallante), gives some more of the kids down below a clearer path and adds some under-the-radar (re: affordable) major league players via trades and free agency (if BDWJr gives him some payroll to play with).

May surprise you but I think Bloom can do this and field a team that's better than the 2025 team, one that may surprise a good portion of our fan base.

They won't win 95 games, but w/some slick moves (while still focusing on the LT goals) they could win 85+.

I will be rooting for you and CCard to be right. It am not a pessimist by nature. But I do not see a path to being a competitor to this club without a large addition to the money spent on the ML roster. And I do not see them spending more than last year.

[Youboughtit]

Those two alone would be addition by subtraction. Let's put someone in that can actually strike people out consistently. Enough with the pitch to contact batted ball luck pitcher. Bring up Whetherholt and put him at 2nd or 3rd depending on who's traded. Walker and Scott should both be better after getting used to major league pitching. If they're still struggling at the all-star break then send them down until they get better or a better option appears available. Noot needs to go. He's TO lite. Can't stay on the field and not really that great when he does. Herrera at catcher or DH. Contreras at 1st and occasionally DH. Then bring in or promote real talent for the bullpen. People that can be counted on to strike people out and not throw gas on the fire. This makes the Cards a playoff contender. Splurge and get a big name pitcher would be great also.

Neither Walker or Scott should be in STL come April. Walker should be in AAA (ops+ 24: 72, ops+ 25: 66) until his bat suggests otherwise and Scott's smaller sample size shows him to be even worse at the plate. Ops+ last yr: 72. This yr: 41.

He might have defense going for him but until/unless he can show an improved approach against mlb pitching, at the plate he's becoming a decent-hitting pitcher, at best.

I hear ya. My thought on Scott is this is the bottom line. As he ages, maybe he matures physically to become an adequate hitter.

Fine but if he is in CF now to compensate they need 2 30/100 or 25/85 OF on each side and we know that won’t happen. The only option is to have 3 20/80 type hitters in the OF.

[icon]

Those two alone would be addition by subtraction. Let's put someone in that can actually strike people out consistently. Enough with the pitch to contact batted ball luck pitcher. Bring up Whetherholt and put him at 2nd or 3rd depending on who's traded. Walker and Scott should both be better after getting used to major league pitching. If they're still struggling at the all-star break then send them down until they get better or a better option appears available. Noot needs to go. He's TO lite. Can't stay on the field and not really that great when he does. Herrera at catcher or DH. Contreras at 1st and occasionally DH. Then bring in or promote real talent for the bullpen. People that can be counted on to strike people out and not throw gas on the fire. This makes the Cards a playoff contender. Splurge and get a big name pitcher would be great also.

Neither Walker or Scott should be in STL come April. Walker should be in AAA (ops+ 24: 72, ops+ 25: 66) until his bat suggests otherwise and Scott's smaller sample size shows him to be even worse at the plate. Ops+ last yr: 72. This yr: 41.

He might have defense going for him but until/unless he can show an improved approach against mlb pitching, at the plate he's becoming a decent-hitting pitcher, at best.

Scott's OPS+ was 72 this year, not 41. That was in 2024. And his bWAR this year was 2.2 in 463 PAs. And his BB% skyrocketed from 3.9% to 9.1%. That's progress. Plus he had 34 SBs and was only caught 4 times. It would help if he had a manager who let him steal more.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Those two alone would be addition by subtraction. Let's put someone in that can actually strike people out consistently. Enough with the pitch to contact batted ball luck pitcher. Bring up Whetherholt and put him at 2nd or 3rd depending on who's traded. Walker and Scott should both be better after getting used to major league pitching. If they're still struggling at the all-star break then send them down until they get better or a better option appears available. Noot needs to go. He's TO lite. Can't stay on the field and not really that great when he does. Herrera at catcher or DH. Contreras at 1st and occasionally DH. Then bring in or promote real talent for the bullpen. People that can be counted on to strike people out and not throw gas on the fire. This makes the Cards a playoff contender. Splurge and get a big name pitcher would be great also.

Neither Walker or Scott should be in STL come April. Walker should be in AAA (ops+ 24: 72, ops+ 25: 66) until his bat suggests otherwise and Scott's smaller sample size shows him to be even worse at the plate. Ops+ last yr: 72. This yr: 41.

He might have defense going for him but until/unless he can show an improved approach against mlb pitching, at the plate he's becoming a decent-hitting pitcher, at best.

Scott's OPS+ was 72 this year, not 41. That was in 2024. And his bWAR this year was 2.2 in 463 PAs. And his BB% skyrocketed from 3.9% to 9.1%. That's progress. Plus he had 34 SBs and was only caught 4 times. It would help if he had a manager who let him steal more.

Good data. As he matures he may hit better. Add his defense, and we are solid on infield and up the middle.

[rockondlouie]

No doubt

Toss in Fedde and it would be hard to believe you could field three worse starting pitchers.

(And if he's back, then Pallante can't be in the SR! The only way it happens is if BDWJr is too cheap to give C. Bloom some money to add a starting pitcher or two)

First yes I do believe they will put him in the rotation. They are not going to spend a lot of money and they need innings. Plus, he was a lot better prior to 2025 so who knows maybe he rebounds. As a rebuilding team why worry?

He's only a "last resort" starter AZC.

If Bloom can deal NADO and/or Gray or WillyC, then I could see BDWJr letting him use any savings for player additions.

Won't be a lot of money since Dewitt will have to eat large sums of NADO and Gray's deal just to get a decent return but could be enough for Bloom to find an upgrade over the pitiful Pallante.

What he did in 2024 may have just been the league not seeing him as a starter.

Once they had a book on him, he was one of the worst starters in MLB last season.

I don't see him improving.

And no worry, just don't want to see that slug starting.

I'm not advocating for him. Just saying - this is going to be a year where some players who don't belong in their roles keep them. And yeah I HOPE we sign some pitchers that are still standing when the free agency money song ends. Find a diamond in the rough for cheap and flip him at the AS break.

Some other members here are still trying to figure out a roster that competes. They are going to be disappointed IMO.

I sure hope not, to me that was 2025 and Mo.

I'm hopefully Bloom sweeps out a lot of deadwood (and that includes Pallante), gives some more of the kids down below a clearer path and adds some under-the-radar (re: affordable) major league players via trades and free agency (if BDWJr gives him some payroll to play with).

May surprise you but I think Bloom can do this and field a team that's better than the 2025 team, one that may surprise a good portion of our fan base.

They won't win 95 games, but w/some slick moves (while still focusing on the LT goals) they could win 85+.

I will be rooting for you and CCard to be right. It am not a pessimist by nature. But I do not see a path to being a competitor to this club without a large addition to the money spent on the ML roster. And I do not see them spending more than last year.

Agree on the 2026 spending, it will be sparse.

My hope is any money Bloom can shave dealing NADO (probably very little), S. Gray and w/M. Mikolas ($17+M) off the books Dewitt at least give Bloom some money for additions.

I'd bet that was already agreed upon when he was hired.

[ramfandan]

Think that Bloom will seek one (if not two ) starters that may have had a down 2025 season that Bloom hoped could rebound to have a better or decent 2026 that Bloom would look to flip at trade deadline for a prospect or two.

That’s the type pitcher I envision Bloom seeking this offseason.
Some guy who had off year high ERA .