The Cardinals have a rotation opening that could use a steady veteran arm, and Shota Imanaga’s projected market price makes him worth a hard look.
Imanaga, who spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Cubs, has been plenty effective. The left-hander made the All-Star team in 2024 as a rookie and owns a 3.45 ERA across 86 career starts. Now available, he’s been projected by The Athletic’s Tim Britton to land a contract in the neighborhood of $34 million over two years.
That kind of deal would put Imanaga squarely in the range of pitchers like Michael Wacha, Jameson Taillon and Mitch Keller. On paper, that’s a reasonable price for a veteran starter, especially for a Cardinals club that has room to spend.
St. Louis’ projected payroll sits just over $83 million, which ranks 28th in the league. That figure will shift once arbitration-eligible players are signed, but the Cardinals are still near the bottom of the payroll standings and should be able to make a move for a proven starter.
There’s also a practical case for it. The Cardinals need a veteran at the front of the rotation alongside Kyle Leahy, Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, but they also shouldn’t block the younger arms. The organization showed in 2026 that there is upside and potential in the system, and that future should remain a priority.
Still, the Cardinals have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons, and there’s a case for doing something meaningful for a fanbase that has waited through the slide. They don’t need to chase Tarik Skubal, but a deal in this range wouldn’t be out of line.
If the fit doesn’t work and the Cardinals stumble in 2027, there’s even a path to flip Imanaga for prospects later. For now, though, the idea is simple: St. Louis can afford this kind of move, at least on paper.
In Other News...
Cardinals Could Cash In On Key Contributors At Crucial Time
With the GM Meetings looming and a lockout not far behind, the Cardinals are entering a stretch where every conversation can shape the next phase of the roster. St. Louis is weighing how to balance payroll, future flexibility and the need to get better now, and that has put several familiar names into the mix as possible trade chips.
Andre Pallante, Pedro Pages and Jimmy Crooks are among the contributors the Cardinals could use to help address other needs, a sign of how much the front office is trying to thread the needle between present value and organizational depth. The evaluation is rooted in performance, contract cost and how the system is stocked behind them, and the next few weeks could determine whether St. Louis holds steady or makes a move with real ripple effects. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals May Have A Low-Risk Answer To Two Lingering Holes
The Cardinals are already looking ahead to 2027, and two spots stand out as lingering questions: third base and center field. One name that fits the kind of flexible, lower-cost solution St. Louis often has to weigh is Matt Vierling, the Tigers utility man whose value has always come from his ability to move around the diamond and keep a lineup from feeling too rigid.
Vierlings recent run has been interrupted by injuries, but there is still enough recent production to make him worth monitoring, especially after the promise he showed in 2023 and 2024. He has also been better against left-handed pitching, which adds another layer to his appeal if the Tigers decide not to tender him, leaving the Cardinals with a possible low-risk target for a roster that may need one. [Read more 🡒]
Yadier Molina Could Give Cardinals Exactly What This Staff Needs
Yadier Molina has already been a familiar presence around the Cardinals since taking on a special assistant role in 2023, but his footprint inside the organization has grown noticeably in 2026. The former catcher has been spending more time around the club, working with young catchers and other players in the system, and his return to a more hands-on setting has been well received inside the organization.
Now the Cardinals are reportedly exploring a bigger role for him, with a coaching position potentially in play for 2027. For a team that has long valued Molinas influence behind the plate and in the clubhouse, the idea of bringing him deeper into the staff makes plenty of sense, even if the exact shape of that next step is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]