The Cardinals’ offseason checklist starts on the mound, and it’s not subtle. St.
Louis needs pitching help in multiple places, with both the rotation and the bullpen in play. Even if the organization treats 2026 as another rebuild season, the logic stays the same: add veteran arms, deepen the staff, and keep moving the reset forward.
That was the formula last winter, when the club brought in several relievers and Dustin May, and it makes sense again now.
With October baseball underway, there’s also a built-in scouting trip for the Cardinals. Four impending free agents are still alive in the postseason, and all four have traits that should put them on the team’s radar.
Kris Bubic is the most obvious starting-pitching name in the group. He was an All-Star and turned in a 2.55 ERA last season over 20 starts with the Kansas City Royals.
Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign, though, and he ended up appearing in just 14 regular-season games - nine for Kansas City and five for the Dodgers. Los Angeles has used him out of the bullpen, but the Cardinals would be looking at him with a starter’s role in mind.
Steven Newcomb brings a different kind of value. He’s worked both as a starter and a reliever, and this year he logged 60 regular-season appearances for the White Sox, including six starts.
In all, he posted a 3.09 ERA across 90 1/3 innings. For St.
Louis, the appeal is pretty clear: a multi-inning bullpen piece who can also make a spot start if needed.
Dustin May is already a familiar face. He gave the Cardinals solid work in the rotation, and with a mutual option for the 2027 season that is almost certainly going to be declined, he’s expected to hit free agency.
St. Louis has already seen what he can do there, which makes a reunion an easy idea to understand.
Then there’s Génesis Romero, another arm the Cardinals know well. He was excellent in St.
Louis before being packaged with May in the trade that sent both pitchers to Milwaukee. The Cardinals came out ahead in that deal, but the bullpen still needs help, and Romero would bring exactly what they’re lacking from the left side.
In Other News...
Brewers Get An Early Miguel Rojas Read Before NLCS Opener
Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a meaningful early sign as they approached the National League Championship Series, getting back on the field for batting practice and ground balls after the back injury that forced him out of the NLDS. Dave Roberts said the issue is not expected to keep the infielder out of the next round, which matters for a Los Angeles team still fine-tuning its roster before opening the series against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers plan to keep evaluating Rojas before the NLCS opener, so the final call is still ahead even if the early indicators are encouraging. Roster construction is part of the equation too, with Los Angeles leaning toward carrying a 13th pitcher and likely trimming a position player, another small but relevant detail as the Brewers prepare to see which version of the Dodgers theyll be facing. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers NLCS Roster Leaves One High-Stakes Pitching Twist To Watch
With the National League Championship Series set to open against the Dodgers, the Brewers have turned in a roster that reflects both their usual balance and the urgency of October. Milwaukee is carrying the expected mix of infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers, and the club enters the series with a bullpen that has had several days to reset. That gives the Brewers a little more flexibility than they might normally have this time of year, especially when it comes to deciding how to handle middle relief in the most important spots.
The most interesting wrinkle now is how Milwaukee lines up its pitching after the initial wave of the series. The Brewers have already mapped out their starting plan for the first three games, but the way they use the rest of the staff could shape the tone of the matchup just as much as the names on the lineup card. Against a Dodgers club that can force managers to make decisions early, every lever matters, and the Brewers still have at least one high-stakes pitching choice hanging over the series. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruff Just Created A Brewers Roster Dilemma For October
Brandon Woodruff took a notable step in his comeback from a right shoulder injury this week, getting back on a mound for the first time as he works toward a possible late-October return. For a Brewers club with bigger immediate concerns, it still matters because Woodruff is trying to build himself back into a relief option if Milwaukee keeps advancing, and every bullpen session from here carries a little more weight than usual.
The next stretch will help determine how realistic that path is, with more mound work ahead and a possible live batting practice session if his arm responds well. It has been a good October for Brewers storylines off the field too, with Pratt even getting rewarded by Coca-Cola after his NL Division Series celebration with Fanta, but Woodruff's recovery is the one that could actually reshape the roster if the Brewers need another arm in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]