The Cardinals’ 2026 outlook has one obvious question hanging over it: do they keep chasing upside on short-term pitching deals?
That approach worked once already. Dustin May, signed to a one-year contract last December, gave St.
Louis exactly the kind of stabilizing season it needed. He posted a 4.38 ERA in 109 innings and helped steady a rotation that didn’t have much certainty when the year began.
Will Leitch of MLB.com pointed to that success on Thursday and suggested the Cardinals could be headed back down the same road. As he wrote, “The Cardinals didn’t make many additions heading into the 2026 season, but the biggest one they did make turned out to be an unqualified success,”
Leitch also noted that even with fewer rotation openings available, St. Louis could still be shopping for another starter on a similar deal.
“Even with fewer available rotation spots - it would seem Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Quinn Mathews should have a good claim on four of them - the Cardinals may be in the market for a similar free-agent starter this year. It would have to be someone with upside but not coming off a great contract year in 2025, the type of pitcher who might accept a one-year pillow contract.
Kris Bubic? Shane Bieber?
Heck, May again, after his disappointing stretch run in Milwaukee? It would seem to make some sense.”
May’s season with St. Louis made him one of the more appealing starters on the market at the trade deadline. He made 21 starts for the Cardinals and brought veteran reliability at a time when the staff needed it.
Bieber would fit the same general mold. He’s battled injuries over the past three years, but he still carries the résumé of a two-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner. If he bounces back, he could give the Cardinals exactly the kind of boost they’re looking for in the rotation.
And there’s another layer here for St. Louis: pitchers with upside can become trade chips. Contenders are always hunting for arms at the deadline, and the Cardinals could benefit from adding a starter who might later bring back prospects or young players, especially with multiple pitching prospects nearing the majors.
In Other News...
Quinn Mathews May Be Giving Cardinals Fans Real Rotation Hope
Quinn Mathews arrived in the majors on Aug. 1 and has already given the Cardinals a legitimate reason to think about next years rotation a little differently. In nine starts, he has shown enough steadiness and poise to land in a small group of St. Louis pitchers who made strong early impressions, and his work has quickly turned him into a real candidate to fight for a starting job next season.
What stands out most is not just the results, but the way he has gotten there. Mathews brought minor league control questions with him, then sharpened his command once he reached the big leagues, a sign the Cardinals coaching staff has helped him make real progress. For a team that always has to keep an eye on starting depth, that kind of development is exactly the sort of encouraging sign that can carry well beyond one late-season audition. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals May Have Found A Brendan Donovan Trade Prize After All
Tai Peete has started to make the Brendan Donovan deal look a little more interesting for the Cardinals, even if the real payoff is still ahead. The 21-year-old center fielder came over in that trade and has spent the season turning heads in the organizations minor league system, where his offensive upside and speed have stood out despite some injury interruptions along the way.
Now hes carrying that momentum into the Arizona Fall League, which is often where clubs get a clearer read on just how loud a prospects tools can play against advanced competition. For St. Louis, Peetes rise adds another layer to a trade that already had plenty of intrigue, because if he keeps building on this stretch, he could eventually factor into a lineup looking for athleticism, on-base ability and impact in the outfield. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Real Rotation Reason To Watch Tekoah Roby
Tekoah Robys return to the mound gave the Cardinals something they have been waiting to see for a long time. After missing the entire 2026 season following Tommy John surgery, the right-hander made his first appearance in the Arizona Fall League and offered a reminder of why he had been regarded as one of the organizations more promising arms before the injury interrupted his climb.
There is still plenty of road ahead before St. Louis can treat Roby as a factor in its rotation picture, but the early signs were encouraging. Coming back from a major arm procedure is one thing, looking like the same pitcher is another, and Roby at least looked like a prospect worth tracking again as he works his way back into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]