Now that the World Series is in the books, the St. Louis Cardinals can turn their attention to the offseason and a pitching market that needs some help. The bullpen was the club’s biggest problem in 2026, finishing with a 4.40 ERA as a unit, which ranked fifth-worst in the National League.
The rotation held up better, but the Cardinals still make sense as a team that could use a proven arm to stabilize things for 2027. One name that stands out is Nick Martinez, who turned in a strong season for the Tampa Bay Rays and helped push them to the World Series.
Martinez put together a resume that will get attention. He went 15-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts, earned his first All-Star selection, logged 180 innings and finished with a 3.9 WAR. That kind of production usually comes with a price tag to match.
At 36, though, he’s probably not chasing a long-term deal. That opens the door for a one-year contract with a bigger salary, something the Cardinals could use if they want a veteran starter without tying themselves down for years.
If the season goes sideways and St. Louis isn’t in contention, he could also become a trade chip at the deadline.
That possibility gives the move some real flexibility. Martinez could net the Cardinals a solid prospect or two if they decide to sell, but if the team takes a step forward in 2027, he could function as their de facto ace while a young roster keeps developing.
There’s also the value of what he brings beyond the numbers. Martinez would add a veteran presence to a young pitching staff, similar to what Dustin May provided before he was dealt at the deadline. He also declined a mutual option for 2027, which suggests he’s looking for more money.
That might push him beyond the Cardinals’ usual comfort zone on the pitching market, but a one-year arrangement could still fit their plans as a short-term fix. And if he doesn’t match what he did in 2026, his background as both a starter and a reliever gives St. Louis another layer of insurance.
The Cardinals have decisions to make as free agency opens up, and Martinez looks like one of the more intriguing names on the board for them.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Can Dream On Tarik Skubal But Bloom Faces One Test
The idea of Tarik Skubal in St. Louis is the kind of offseason daydream that can get Cardinals fans talking, especially with ESPN floating the fit. Skubal has built a rsum that would make him one of the most coveted arms on the market, and any club looking to accelerate a rebuild has to at least consider what a pitcher of that caliber could mean at the front of a rotation.
For the Cardinals, though, the conversation quickly turns from fantasy to reality under Chaim Bloom. Payroll remains a central issue as the organization tries to balance long-term planning with short-term competitiveness, and the cost of landing a premium free-agent starter would be steep even before factoring in Skubals injury history. The bigger question for St. Louis may not be whether he would fit, but whether Bloom is willing to break from the clubs current path to chase a name that big. [Read more 🡒]