The Cardinals may have more room to think creatively this offseason than they usually do, and their own recent history could help point the way. After watching the Brewers and Rays - two small-market clubs that have leaned hard into drafting and developing - reach the World Series, St. Louis has reason to believe it can keep building from within and still look outside for the right kind of veteran help.
That’s where a reunion could come into play.
The Cardinals already have plenty of starting rotation depth, but bringing in a seasoned arm would still make sense as they look ahead to 2027. One possibility is Miles Mikolas.
St. Louis signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and later sent him to the Brewers at the deadline with JoJo Romero.
His numbers were stronger with the Cardinals than they were in Milwaukee, and he wrapped up the year at 7-9 with a 4.70 ERA in 31 starts. Since his mutual option probably won’t be picked up for 2027, the door is open for a return.
He also gave the young pitching staff the kind of steady leadership that can matter in a rotation full of developing arms.
Jack Flaherty is another familiar name in the mix. He broke in with St.
Louis in 2017 and produced one of the finest stretches ever by a Cardinals starter during the second half of the 2019 season. He won 11 games that year, helped push St.
Louis to the NLCS, and picked up the win in the clinching game of the NLDS. Injuries later interrupted that run, but he’s now a free agent and could fit as a bounce-back target.
A return to Busch Stadium might help him as he works to rebuild his value. He posted a 4.48 ERA with the Detroit Tigers, but the upside is still there.
Steven Matz rounds out the list. His best work in St.
Louis came out of the bullpen, though he can still operate as a starter when needed. The Cardinals dealt him at the 2025 deadline for Blaze Jordan, and on a one-year contract, he gives them another possible chance to regain value.
He appeared in 36 games for the Rays this season and started 11 of them. If he stays healthy, he could handle a rotation spot for St.
Louis, and a return to a pitcher-friendly park could help him too.
In Other News...
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For St. Louis, the discussion goes beyond one owners public comments. It touches the larger question of what separates teams that keep winning from those that merely trim payroll, and the answer has not always been simple spending. Some smaller-market clubs have stayed competitive by investing in player development and scouting, a reminder that smart organization can matter as much as the size of the checkbook. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Still Need Three Key Fixes To Get Back In The Race
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Alec Bohm would help the lineup, Shane Bieber would deepen the rotation, and Jonathan Loaisiga would give the bullpen another arm with leverage-inning potential. Those are the kinds of additions that can change the shape of a roster quickly, but the Cardinals still have work to do before they can be considered a true playoff threat, and the front office will have to decide how aggressively to push this winter. [Read more 🡒]