Some astute trades, yet, involving Romero and Nootbaar could make Cardinals very competitive in '26

[Shady]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

[C-Unit]

Thanks for contributing some very asture thoughts for Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas lampShady.

[scoutyjones2]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

Shut up Bobo

[sdaltons]

5 sentences. 6 edits.

[opti mist]

Its Christmas. Be kind.

Opti

[Shady]

Decent, true Cardinals' fans/posters know how relevant the OP is right now. The trash is what's irrelevant.

[NYCardsFan]

True Cardinals' fans/posters know how relevant the OP is right now. The trash is what's irrelevant.

It’s just the same repetitive, inane OP/thread over and over and over again . . .

Please make it your New Year’s resolution to get some new material for your attention-seeking spam threads.

[CCard]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

How is the starting pitching in better shape? All of these guys he's gotten are unproven minor league pitchers with not a lot of innings under their belts. Expecting big things from these guys is a fool's paradise. Sorry to say, we may be looking at a last place team and maybe the worst in the league.

[Boooyah]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

That would be a savvy move.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

That would be a savvy move.

Most indubitably.

[Shady]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

How is the starting pitching in better shape? All of these guys he's gotten are unproven minor league pitchers with not a lot of innings under their belts. Expecting big things from these guys is a fool's paradise. Sorry to say, we may be looking at a last place team and maybe the worst in the league.

I'm taking May over Gray at his age. And McGreevy over Pallante. And Dobbins and Fitts over Fedde and Mikolas. And, hopefully, an improved Liberatore over last season.

[ecleme22]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

How is the starting pitching in better shape? All of these guys he's gotten are unproven minor league pitchers with not a lot of innings under their belts. Expecting big things from these guys is a fool's paradise. Sorry to say, we may be looking at a last place team and maybe the worst in the league.

Well, when you look at Fedde, Pallante and Miko, the bar isn’t that high. But it’s very possible the 2026 rotation performance is better than 2025s.

And though losing gray hurts those chances, he isn’t getting younger…

[sikeston bulldog2]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

You mention some trades. That means three or more. Then they have to be astute, meaning well crafted. Then you mention competable. Not the intent. Lots of water moving under that bridge. You may need to move to higher ground.

[Shady]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

You mention some trades. That means three or more. Then they have to be astute, meaning well crafted. Then you mention competable. Not the intent. Lots of water moving under that bridge. You may need to move to higher ground.

It's good to see Bloom fortifying the future with exciting young pitchers. But I'm seeing a really good possibility of an improved team in '26. Obtaining a stud hitter for '26 would really help that to come to fruition. Especially, if Bloom can keep Donovan in the process.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

You mention some trades. That means three or more. Then they have to be astute, meaning well crafted. Then you mention competable. Not the intent. Lots of water moving under that bridge. You may need to move to higher ground.

It's good to see Bloom fortifying the future with exciting young pitchers. But I'm seeing a really good possibility of an improved team in '26.

Yes he is. Good point. Yes we may be improved. Both good things. But I don’t think we are ready to win the Central.

[ramfandan]

Maybe include a young catcher and Gorman. Bloom just needs to get the Cardinals more offense for the lineup. Especially, since losing Contreras. He already has the starting pitching is in a lot better shape than last season. And he still has Donovan.

How is the starting pitching in better shape? All of these guys he's gotten are unproven minor league pitchers with not a lot of innings under their belts. Expecting big things from these guys is a fool's paradise. Sorry to say, we may be looking at a last place team and maybe the worst in the league.

Maybe Dobbins will be a pleasant surprise for fans. This article thinks so

Hunter Dobbins will emerge as Cardinals' breakout pitcher in 2026

There should be no confusion as to why the Cardinals targeted Dobbins in this trade — the right-hander was originally selected by Bloom in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech, while the front office executive was leading the Red Sox.

I actually had the opportunity to cover Dobbins earlier in the season (prior to his injury) at Talk Sox, a site dedicated to Red Sox coverage. He was exceptionally impressive in his limited stint in the majors, and Cardinals fans should be thrilled that he's coming to St. Louis.


His surface-level stats are impressive enough on their own; he recorded a 4.13 ERA and 3.87 FIP in 61.0 innings in Boston this past season, walking just 6.6% of hitters on his way to 1.0 fWAR. And though he doesn't generate a lot of strikeouts or whiffs, he was a brilliant contact manager, finishing in the 75th percentile in barrel rate allowed and the 78th percentile in ground-ball rate.

That's attributable to a deep, six-pitch arsenal that's far more advanced than other rookie hurlers. Four of his offerings (his curveball, sweeper, splitter, and sinker) yielded xwOBA's below .300 from opposing batters, and even his two primary pitches (his four-seam fastball and slider) showed impressive shape and spin.


Dobbins also has more strikeout ability in him, as his fastball averaged 95.5 mph and his movement profile is diverse. Perhaps by tightening a few screws, he can emerge as more than just a pure contact manager.

There should be some fun competition for the last few rotation spots in St. Louis once Dobbins is healthy, though he should be considered a lock given his talents and his five remaining years of team control. His potential is considerable, and it's clear Bloom wanted another chance to work with him years after originally selecting him in the draft.ording to this , Hunter Dobbins future is bright.