Non-Tender Candidate: Andre Pallante--would ya'?

[rockondlouie]

From MLBTR.com:

The non-tender deadline is Friday evening. Teams need to decide whether they want to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible (and pre-arbitration) players. Those who are not tendered contracts are sent directly into free agency without exposing them to waivers.

To be clear, this is not a list of players we (MLBTR.com) think are likelier than not to be non-tendered.

These are players we consider to have at least a 10-20% chance of being cut — a broad group who wouldn’t strike us as completely surprising.

As is the case each winter, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz has projected salaries for the arbitration class.


These are the current Cardinals who made their list:

A. Pallante/Est. $3.4M in arbitration

J. King/ Est. $2.1M in arbitration


I'd DFA both and let C. Bloom re-invest that $5.5M.

[Strummer Jones]

I would definitely non-tender King. Outside of being left-handed, I don't know that he brings anything. We can find a replacement that will likely be just as good for cheaper.

Pallante...I lean towards keeping. Let me preface this by saying he s-u-c-k-e-d last year. But...here's where I am with it. We still need starting depth. He's shown capable of turning in good starts. I don't think he can be consistent with it. But as a long man? Or if you need a pitcher to absorb innings when you're either down by a lot or up by a lot? I think he has value there. And potentially (though I don't think it's likely) could rebuild value in that role.

But unless we're trying to completely race for the bottom this year or we get absolutely shelled with injuries, there's no way I want him taking the ball every fifth game for 20+ starts.

[VegasVinny]

I'd rather move Pallante into a long-relief role to see if he can prosper there.

Assuming the team moves Arenado and Gray, I'm not sure how much more money DeWitt and Co. need to save. 2026 is a wash. With that said, there's no need to bring King back. There has to be someone in the 314 that can put up a 5.0 K/9 rate whilst throwing left-handed.

[NYCardsFan]

The Cardinals need to fill a lot of innings. Pallante, even at $3.4mm, seems to fit value-wise within that context.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

I would be fine non-tendering both but I would think Bloom would have done this before setting the 40 man for the Rule 5 draft. Maybe Bloom thinks that he can trade both of these guys or that they will show more in the future.

[rockondlouie]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

[Talkin' Baseball]

Don't non-tender him.

Do try to trade him.

[Strummer Jones]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

[Ozziesfan41]

I would definitely non-tender King. Outside of being left-handed, I don't know that he brings anything. We can find a replacement that will likely be just as good for cheaper.

Pallante...I lean towards keeping. Let me preface this by saying he s-u-c-k-e-d last year. But...here's where I am with it. We still need starting depth. He's shown capable of turning in good starts. I don't think he can be consistent with it. But as a long man? Or if you need a pitcher to absorb innings when you're either down by a lot or up by a lot? I think he has value there. And potentially (though I don't think it's likely) could rebuild value in that role.

But unless we're trying to completely race for the bottom this year or we get absolutely shelled with injuries, there's no way I want him taking the ball every fifth game for 20+ starts.

+1. He had a 4.13 ERA in 6 starts in April 4.34 ERA in 5 starts in may and 4.91 ERA in 5 starts in June then completely fell apart the rest of the year. Could have been the innings catching up to him I don’t know but I don’t think they should just put him back in the rotation he could be one of the candidates and if not he can go to the bullpen they will need innings eaters there if lehay is in the rotation

[Bomber1]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

This. And nobody would rely on Pallante to be the 8th inning guy.

[Strummer Jones]

I would definitely non-tender King. Outside of being left-handed, I don't know that he brings anything. We can find a replacement that will likely be just as good for cheaper.

Pallante...I lean towards keeping. Let me preface this by saying he s-u-c-k-e-d last year. But...here's where I am with it. We still need starting depth. He's shown capable of turning in good starts. I don't think he can be consistent with it. But as a long man? Or if you need a pitcher to absorb innings when you're either down by a lot or up by a lot? I think he has value there. And potentially (though I don't think it's likely) could rebuild value in that role.

But unless we're trying to completely race for the bottom this year or we get absolutely shelled with injuries, there's no way I want him taking the ball every fifth game for 20+ starts.

+1. He had a 4.13 ERA in 6 starts in April 4.34 ERA in 5 starts in may and 4.91 ERA in 5 starts in June then completely fell apart the rest of the year. Could have been the innings catching up to him I don’t know but I don’t think they should just put him back in the rotation he could be one of the candidates and if not he can go to the bullpen they will need innings eaters there if lehay is in the rotation

Those are exactly my thoughts. I think it was clear that he was completely gassed at the end of the year. I still don't think that justifies how badly he pitched, but it makes sense of it.

Either way, I think Pallante is best used as a longman/spot starter. I think about Rea last year in Chicago. That was supposed to be his role. Except he got paid more than what we would pay Andre.

By definition, long relievers aren't top talent. They're not really good enough to rely on for 150+ innings and 30 starts. And they're not good enough to get 60-80 pressure situations in the 8th/9th inning, or else they'd be doing that. Sounds like Andre is that type of pitcher to me. Just a guy to throw innings at when something bad has happened like an injured starter or a blow-out, or when the offense puts up lots of crooked numbers to save a starter and the bullpen.

[rockondlouie]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

Mop up men are a dime a dozen, no way I'd pay Pallante $3.4M to throw up another 5.31 ERA.

He's J.A.G.

Cut the cord and move on.

[Strummer Jones]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

Mop up men are a dime a dozen, no way I'd pay Pallante $3.4M to throw up another 5.31 ERA.

He's J.A.G.

Cut the cord and move on.

I agree, to a point. But I'd rather have Pallante in there to absorb beatings and worthless just-get-the-game-over innings than some kid who's never pitched in the majors before who could theoretically develop further. I think we know what Pallante is. And that's probably the value that he brings to the game right now.

[WaltsSuccessor]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

Mop up men are a dime a dozen, no way I'd pay Pallante $3.4M to throw up another 5.31 ERA.

He's J.A.G.

Cut the cord and move on.

If Mo was still here, I'd stay non-tender Pallante for sure. Just so he doesn't rely on Andre to be anything more than a long-reliever, spot starter. I think Pallante is a fine value at $3.4m in that BP role/7th-8th man up in rotation for injuries.

If we're banking on Pallante to fill out the rotation on opening day, the 2026 season is already toast. But Bloom doesn't appear that dumb. So keeping Pallante around as the insurance's insurance is fine with me.

Wouldn't be heartbroken either way.

[Olemiss540]

Can't wrap my head around people that want to cut starters on a team with no starters to begin with. They will not cut Pallante, they WILL trade Gray and thus will be begging for innings for next year through a couple new acquisitions already.

Pallante will be a 5th starter for a team with 3 or 4 5th starters next year (us). Gotta hope two of the kids turns a surprising corner next year to give our rebuild solid footing.

[rockondlouie]

I think Bloom could find someone, on a one year deal, better than Pallante for that projected $3.4M especially if he's going to the bullpen.

Mo found P. Maton last year for $2M.

Perhaps a starter coming off an injury for a lot less than $3.4M ala D. May?

To me, that's an apples-oranges comparison.

They're both fruit, but Maton and Pallante's roles would be different. I don't think anyone would rely on Phil Maton for more than about an inning.

Mop up men are a dime a dozen, no way I'd pay Pallante $3.4M to throw up another 5.31 ERA.

He's J.A.G.

Cut the cord and move on.

I agree, to a point. But I'd rather have Pallante in there to absorb beatings and worthless just-get-the-game-over innings than some kid who's never pitched in the majors before who could theoretically develop further. I think we know what Pallante is. And that's probably the value that he brings to the game right now.

I'd rather give his roster spot to a kid from within the system who Bloom deems ready in this "re-build" season and see what they've got.

I'd like to see all the deadwood from the 2025 roster (and IMO Pallante is deadwood) gone.