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After yesterday's trade, it's clear they will need to add at least one veteran arm to the rotation. Who do you think they will add? I'd start by eliminating the players they certainly will not offer contracts - Valdez, Suarez, Cease, King, Gallen, Imanaga. They aren't going to overpay in the free market agent to acquire any of these guys long term, especially in their current state.

Other names of possible interest:

Merrill Kelly
Zach Eflin
Zack Littell
Dustin May
Tyler Mahle
Jon Gray
Michael Soroka
Nick Martinez
Aaron Civale
Jose Quintana
Tyler Anderson
Walker Buehler
Tyler Anderson

I think starting with a veteran arm such as Nick Martinez makes a lot of sense. Can use him as a starter when needed but can also use him in the bullpen. He won't block the development of any young pitchers. Outside of that, would prefer Kelly, Eflin, Littell or Mahle. I'd also add another veteran piece to the bullpen to avoid burnout of any of our young pitchers. Quinn Mathews is 25 years old. I think if he shows anything in Spring Training, he'll start the year in the rotation. It's time to see what he can do. You utilize Pallante/Leahy as 6/7 guys when needed, and we know they will be needed.

Rotation:

FA - Kelly, Eflin, Littell or Mahle
Liberatore
Fitts
Martinez/Mathews
McGreevy

Bullpen:

Jojo Romero
FA veteran
Leahy
Pallante
O'Brien
Svanson
Granillo

JoJo sounds like he's getting traded. Our payroll is going to be less the $80-$90 million

I think JoJo is traded, ( King let go) so we have no lefty in the pen. Look for Bloom to acquire a couple of guys to fill this need.
I also think moving Leahy to the rotation is a mistake. The only reason they would is because he’s still a low cost option. He was so good last year in the role he filled, why move him and create a hole there? Bring in one veteran starter, a good one, they can afford it, and let Mathews and Pallante battle it out in Spring Training for the 5th spot. Liberatore, Veteren, McGreevy, Fitts, Mathews/Pallante.
They shouldn’t be afraid to give Doyle, Henderson, and Mautz long looks either. If any of these guys look ready, give them a shot over somebody who doesnt this Spring.

Agree w/others JoJo likely part of a package w/Donny if C. Bloom is to land a young major league starter w/years of control.

Of the one-year guys, I'd take a shot at:

Dustin May
Tyler Mahle

Maybe we will sign Erasmo Ramirez

I know everyone seems to think they won't...and I agree that it is unlikely they will. But, one could make a really strong case that if you're committed to doing a rebuild, but also not conceding still being competitive, then why not pay long-term money to a young-ish, proven starter to anchor the rotation during the rebuild and be "the guy" when the youngens come up and we are ready to compete for a title? That was a really long sentence. Anyway, I think a Cease, a Suarez, a King, or even a bounceback guy like Gallen can make a lot of sense. We have the money

Giolito is someone Bloom might look into.
He is probably going to land a 2 or 3 year deal - perhaps 30M for 2 years or 40M for 3 - with 2 years being the more probable.
Could cover innings through July - and be a useful trade piece at the deadline if all works out.
Yes, there is some injury risk - but it is a risk Bloom might be willing to take.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 10:22 am Agree w/others JoJo likely part of a package w/Donny if C. Bloom is to land a young major league starter w/years of control.

Of the one-year guys, I'd take a shot at:

Dustin May
Tyler Mahle

May is interesting.

These are the SP's interesting to me:

Low cost
Tyler Mahle- Very effective when healthy. RHP. Projected contract 5.6M
Jose Quintana- Just keeps plugging along. Effective year after year. Durable. LHP. Projected contract 3.4M
Jordan Montgomery- Good with Yankees. Good with Cardinals. Good with Rangers. Not good with D-backs. Suspect he was hurt before he went down. Could take up innings in the second half of the season. LHP. Projected contract 2.65M
Dusitn May- RHP. Projected contract 3.9M

More costly
If the Cardinals are of a mind to spend a bit more and move up a tier, consider this.
Zac Eflin- RHP Projected contract 16.3M


Complete flier
Alek Manoah- Spring training non-roster invite.

You could do a lot with 10-15M. Why would a pitcher come to St Louis? #1 The opportunity to pitch. The Cardinals need at least 3 SP. #2 Good defense behind them. #3 A pitcher friendly park to put up good numbers for their next contract. #4 Even though you start the season on a team not focused on winning, if you perform, you will almost certainly end the season on a team playing for prizes.

The projected 2026 salaries are courtesy of Spotrac.

May, Montgomery and/or Manoah would be nice gambles to take on a one year deal with an option. If they do well we flip them at the deadline.

Mad Max is finally coming to St Louis to be the veteran presence to lock these kids into a future of high strikeouts. Book that.

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 11:57 am I know everyone seems to think they won't...and I agree that it is unlikely they will. But, one could make a really strong case that if you're committed to doing a rebuild, but also not conceding still being competitive, then why not pay long-term money to a young-ish, proven starter to anchor the rotation during the rebuild and be "the guy" when the youngens come up and we are ready to compete for a title? That was a really long sentence. Anyway, I think a Cease, a Suarez, a King, or even a bounceback guy like Gallen can make a lot of sense. We have the money

I can see that happening after the new CBA is signed. Probably not before.

Olemiss540 wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 13:28 pm Mad Max is finally coming to St Louis to be the veteran presence to lock these kids into a future of high strikeouts. Book that.

That would be awesome Ole'Miss

But I have a hunch he's headed for a Mizzou rendezvous w/the new Giants Manager, my two Mizzou brothers are real close and Giants need a veteran hurler to replace J. Verlander.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 12:45 pm These are the SP's interesting to me:

Low cost
Tyler Mahle- Very effective when healthy. RHP. Projected contract 5.6M
Jose Quintana- Just keeps plugging along. Effective year after year. Durable. LHP. Projected contract 3.4M
Jordan Montgomery- Good with Yankees. Good with Cardinals. Good with Rangers. Not good with D-backs. Suspect he was hurt before he went down. Could take up innings in the second half of the season. LHP. Projected contract 2.65M
Dusitn May- RHP. Projected contract 3.9M

More costly
If the Cardinals are of a mind to spend a bit more and move up a tier, consider this.
Zac Eflin- RHP Projected contract 16.3M


Complete flier
Alek Manoah- Spring training non-roster invite.

You could do a lot with 10-15M. Why would a pitcher come to St Louis? #1 The opportunity to pitch. The Cardinals need at least 3 SP. #2 Good defense behind them. #3 A pitcher friendly park to put up good numbers for their next contract. #4 Even though you start the season on a team not focused on winning, if you perform, you will almost certainly end the season on a team playing for prizes.

The projected 2026 salaries are courtesy of Spotrac.

I like the idea of taking a flyer on signing a couple of the lower priced guys vs a guy like Elfin. Heck at those prices sign May, Mahle, and Montgomery and you would only have 12 million invested in all 3 of them vs. the 16mil for Eflin. Spread the risk and hope 1 or 2 of them exceed expectations.

zuck698 wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 13:45 pm

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025 12:45 pm These are the SP's interesting to me:

Low cost
Tyler Mahle- Very effective when healthy. RHP. Projected contract 5.6M
Jose Quintana- Just keeps plugging along. Effective year after year. Durable. LHP. Projected contract 3.4M
Jordan Montgomery- Good with Yankees. Good with Cardinals. Good with Rangers. Not good with D-backs. Suspect he was hurt before he went down. Could take up innings in the second half of the season. LHP. Projected contract 2.65M
Dusitn May- RHP. Projected contract 3.9M

More costly
If the Cardinals are of a mind to spend a bit more and move up a tier, consider this.
Zac Eflin- RHP Projected contract 16.3M


Complete flier
Alek Manoah- Spring training non-roster invite.

You could do a lot with 10-15M. Why would a pitcher come to St Louis? #1 The opportunity to pitch. The Cardinals need at least 3 SP. #2 Good defense behind them. #3 A pitcher friendly park to put up good numbers for their next contract. #4 Even though you start the season on a team not focused on winning, if you perform, you will almost certainly end the season on a team playing for prizes.

The projected 2026 salaries are courtesy of Spotrac.

I like the idea of taking a flyer on signing a couple of the lower priced guys vs a guy like Elfin. Heck at those prices sign May, Mahle, and Montgomery and you would only have 12 million invested in all 3 of them vs. the 16mil for Eflin. Spread the risk and hope 1 or 2 of them exceed expectations.

That's my thought too. There are 1458 innings to cover.

I agree with your statement that they need to add a veteran but I don’t think they will. I think they are in salary dump mode.
I would bet money that the opening day starting rotation in 2026 is-
Libby
McGreevy
Fitts
Pallante
Leahy
They might sign a May type as depth.

As the season goes on they will use minor leaguers to fill in as needed.
Doyle
Matthews
Henderson
Mautz

I can see a signing or two for bullpen if they don’t get something in trade.

I know it’s hard to accept but I think people need to come to grips with reality that they aren’t spending this offseason. Jmo