What free agent pitchers may Cardinals target this winter ?

[ecleme22]

Contracts: 1-2 year range

Type: veterans and/or reclamation projects

Purpose: eat innings and possible flip for prospects at the deadline.


Quintana types…

[Strummer Jones]

I think Bloom would sign someone in the Kelly range and maybe a flier on Buehlor or May. That could allow him to focus on prospect returns in any trades.

Johnny bow ties would be scouring the earth for some rotten fruit reject. Or attempting to lure Kurt Kepshire out of retirement.

There's layers to this, and I appreciate it.

Because we all know Jason Simontacchi probably has too big of an ask.

[JuanAgosto]

I think Bloom would sign someone in the Kelly range and maybe a flier on Buehlor or May. That could allow him to focus on prospect returns in any trades.

Johnny bow ties would be scouring the earth for some rotten fruit reject. Or attempting to lure Kurt Kepshire out of retirement.

Chuckled at the Kurt Kepshire reference. Kudos.

Unfortunately that is the type of nonsense John Mozeliak gave us.

[82birds]

I think Bloom would sign someone in the Kelly range and maybe a flier on Buehlor or May. That could allow him to focus on prospect returns in any trades.

Johnny bow ties would be scouring the earth for some rotten fruit reject. Or attempting to lure Kurt Kepshire out of retirement.

no doubt.
so long MO.
you will not be missed

[2ninr]

I think Bloom would sign someone in the Kelly range and maybe a flier on Buehlor or May. That could allow him to focus on prospect returns in any trades.

Johnny bow ties would be scouring the earth for some rotten fruit reject. Or attempting to lure Kurt Kepshire out of retirement.

HiDr
UChuckled at the Kurt Kepshire reference. Kudos.

Hiu750

Juan has his moments

[scoutyjones2]

My #1 would be Z. Gallen.

Young enough (2026 is his age 30 season) for C. Bloom to build a starting rotation around, a pitcher you could have in his prime for the next four-five years.

No thank you on Gallen. The Dbags may give him a qualifier....at least I hope, because it's a mistake to go after him

[82birds]

My #1 would be Z. Gallen.

Young enough (2026 is his age 30 season) for C. Bloom to build a starting rotation around, a pitcher you could have in his prime for the next four-five years.

No thank you on Gallen. The Dbags may give him a qualifier....at least I hope, because it's a mistake to go after him

I just read on MLBTR that the Snakes most likely WILL offer.
Highly doubtful that Chaim, aiming to build thru the draft, would sign a QO guy and lose a draft pick

[cardsfaninla]

Naaaaa
Cards have plenty of pitching.
No free agents are necessary.
We also have plenty of offense and need no additions.
And, obviously, we need no new coaches or managers cuz we are doing super great in that department also.

But seriously.. 'rebuild' and 'free agents' don't really pair too well.

At least MO will be gone.....?

[CCard]

In Derrick Goold's chat on Monday , he thought Bloom would probably sign two free agent pitchers this winter. We know there won't be any high end types but have you any thoughts on any starting type pitchers that Bloom may go after ? I do not have any at this time.

I'd be okay with 2 out of the top 15 or 20. Can't be worse than Mikolas and Pallante. They'd have to crack the wallet though and I just don't see them doing it.

[rockondlouie]

My #1 would be Z. Gallen.

Young enough (2026 is his age 30 season) for C. Bloom to build a starting rotation around, a pitcher you could have in his prime for the next four-five years.

No thank you on Gallen. The Dbags may give him a qualifier....at least I hope, because it's a mistake to go after him

Incorrect but do agree they'll likely give him a QO and he'll accept.

[scoutyjones2]

My #1 would be Z. Gallen.

Young enough (2026 is his age 30 season) for C. Bloom to build a starting rotation around, a pitcher you could have in his prime for the next four-five years.

No thank you on Gallen. The Dbags may give him a qualifier....at least I hope, because it's a mistake to go after him

Incorrect but do agree they'll likely give him a QO and he'll accept.

LoL. What was incorrect?

[rage-STL]

STARTING PITCHERS (‘25-‘26 FREE AGENTS)

Chris Sale (37 years old, 10.0 WAR) -- club option
Dylan Cease (30, 8.1)
Framber Valdez (32, 7.7)
Ranger Suárez (30, 7.5)
Jack Flaherty (30, 5.9) -- can opt out
Freddy Peralta (30, 5.9) -- club option
Nick Martinez (35, 5.5)
Chris Bassitt (37, 4.
Michael King (31, 4.7) -- mutual option
Shota Imanaga (32, 4.0) -- club option/player option
Zac Gallen (30, 3.9)
Merrill Kelly (37, 3.
Zack Littell (30, 3.7)
Patrick Corbin (36, 3.6)
Erick Fedde (33, 3.2)
Justin Verlander (43, 2.9)
Colin Rea (35, 2.7) -- club option
Zach Eflin (32, 2.6)
Kyle Hendricks (36, 2.2)
Miles Mikolas (37, 2.2)
Nestor Cortes (31, 2.1)
Adrian Houser (33, 2.1)
Tyler Mahle (31, 2.1)
Lucas Giolito (30, 2.0) -- mutual option
Andrew Heaney (35, 1.9)
Michael Lorenzen (34, 1.9) -- mutual option
Jose Quintana (37, 1.9) -- mutual option
Aaron Civale (31, 1.
Chris Paddack (30, 1.
Brandon Woodruff (33, 1. -- mutual option
Tyler Anderson (36, 1.6)
Michael Soroka (28, 1.5)
Jon Gray (34, 1.4)
Frankie Montas (33, 1.3) -- can opt out
Martín Pérez (35, 1.3) -- mutual option
Shane Bieber (31, 1.1) -- player option
Griffin Canning (30, 1.0)
Chris Flexen (31, 1.0)
Marcus Stroman (35, 1.0)
Max Scherzer (41, 1.0)
Austin Gomber (32, 0.9)
Cal Quantrill (31, 0.9)
Dustin May (28, 0.
Paul Blackburn (32, 0.6)
Jordan Montgomery (33, 0.6)
John Means (33, 0.5) -- club option
JT Brubaker (32, 0.4)
Alex Cobb (38, 0.3)
Germán Márquez (31, 0.2)
Tomoyuki Sugano (36, 0.1)
Ryan Yarbrough (34, 0.1)
Carlos Carrasco (39, 0.0)
José Ureña (34, 0.0)
José Urquidy (31, 0.0) -- club option
Kenta Maeda (38, -0.1)
Mike Clevinger (35, -0.2)
Kyle Hart (33, -0.2) -- club option
Wade Miley (39, -0.2)
Walker Buehler (31, -0.4)
Anthony DeSclafani (36, -0.7)

[rockondlouie]

My #1 would be Z. Gallen.

Young enough (2026 is his age 30 season) for C. Bloom to build a starting rotation around, a pitcher you could have in his prime for the next four-five years.

No thank you on Gallen. The Dbags may give him a qualifier....at least I hope, because it's a mistake to go after him

Incorrect but do agree they'll likely give him a QO and he'll accept.

LoL. What was incorrect?

Your "no thank you"

Gallen 2019 - 2024:
143 GS
3.29 ERA
1.13 WHiP
9.8 SO9
3 Top 10 CY Young finishes

That's a FOTR/ACE going into his age 30 season.

That's the kind of guy you build a young starting rotation around.

And before you say "look at his sucky 2025", let's look how he finished:

Last 11 GS in 2025:
3.32 ERA
1.08 WHiP

[Imperial Capitalist]

Technically, 2026 might be his age 30 season, but he turns 31 in August. He misses it officially being his "age 31" season by 1 month & 3 days.

The issue STL would face is that it might be the year Gallen turns 33, perhaps even 34, before a true FOTR starter would best fit the rebuild plans.

Do you invest that sort of cash now and hope his skill set doesn't decline (or injury occurs?) by the time the team's fortunes would call for a guy of that caliber?

[IndCard75]

It will be interesting to see if …
Gray is traded
Pallante is given another year to start
Leahy is given the opportunity to start
It looks like the only SP that are locks for the 2026 rotation from last year are Libby and McGreevy. Combine that with ownership that is not wanting to spend money and it could be an ugly season.

[JuanAgosto]

I think Bloom would sign someone in the Kelly range and maybe a flier on Buehlor or May. That could allow him to focus on prospect returns in any trades.

Johnny bow ties would be scouring the earth for some rotten fruit reject. Or attempting to lure Kurt Kepshire out of retirement.

There's layers to this, and I appreciate it.

Because we all know Jason Simontacchi probably has too big of an ask.

Hahaha. You'd think he'd take the "hometown offer" due to prior work history with Mo.