The Cardinals have officially shifted into rebuild mode after falling out of contention. The short-term outlook isn’t very promising, as they’re not projected to compete next season and might be a few years away from returning to relevance.
While it’s frustrating, a rebuild is the only path to restoring St. Louis to its former standing. Chaim Bloom will oversee the process, taking over from John Mozeliak in just over three weeks.
St. Louis isn’t expected to pursue any blockbuster free-agent signings, but their lack of pitching depth will need to be addressed. They could look to acquire near-MLB-ready arms through trades or bring in one or two free-agent options.
To clarify, they won’t be chasing elite, high-priced pitchers—those are out of reach financially. Instead, the Cardinals can focus on affordable rotation pieces, particularly if Sonny Gray is dealt this winter, which seems likely.
The approach would be similar to what they did following the 2023 season by adding veterans like Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Those weren’t flashy moves, but both filled important roles in 2024. With that in mind, here are two potential starters who could serve a similar purpose.
Justin Verlander
The résumé speaks for itself. At 42, the veteran right-hander is a nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young winner, Triple Crown recipient, and former MVP. He’s no longer the dominant ace he once was—back in his prime, the price tag would have been enormous.
But that’s not the version of Justin Verlander the Cardinals would be pursuing. Now with the Giants, he’s 3-10 with a 4.29 ERA over 24 starts, still capable of providing steady innings. Like Gibson and Lynn, he brings proven experience to the rotation.
Financially, he should come cheaper than the one-year, \$15 million deal he landed last offseason, and at this stage, he’d likely only be a one-year rental. Verlander turns 43 in February.
The Cardinals have history with him too, beating him twice in the 2006 World Series back when he was Detroit’s AL Rookie of the Year. And if St. Louis isn’t contending by the deadline, he could always be flipped for a prospect or two.
Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler brings a bit more upside, given that he’s just 31 years old and likely to come at a lower cost. A two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Dodgers, he hasn’t quite regained his old form.
The Red Sox took a chance on him last offseason with a one-year, \$21.05 million deal that included a mutual option for 2026, but after a 7-7 record and a 5.45 ERA, they let him go. He’s now with the Phillies on a minor-league contract.
For the Cardinals, a short-term, low-cost signing could make sense, giving Buehler an opportunity to reestablish his value in a lower-pressure setting while St. Louis rebuilds. If he pitches well, he could become a trade chip at the deadline. Beyond performance, his experience would also make him a valuable mentor for the team’s younger pitchers.
Be the first to comment