Matthew Liberatore’s hold on a rotation spot in St. Louis looks shakier by the day.
The Cardinals were better on the mound than plenty of people expected this season, even in a rebuilding year. Their starting staff finished 12th in the league with a 4.17 ERA, and Kyle Leahy was one of the bigger surprises on the roster, posting a 10-5 record with a 3.66 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 30 starts in his first season as a starter.
There were other encouraging arms in the mix, too. Quinn Matthews flashed real promise in his rookie season, while Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante both played important roles in the rotation.
But the Cardinals still have a hole to address, especially after trading away Dustin May to the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline and losing Hunter Dobbins to Tommy John surgery. Right now, Liberatore is the leading candidate for the final spot in the rotation.
That’s where the concern comes in. Liberatore, 27, has made 60 starts for St.
Louis over the last two seasons, and durability has been the one thing he’s consistently provided. Production, though, has been another story.
He made 31 starts this season and went 6-14 with a 5.23 ERA, though he did set a career high with 154 strikeouts. Even with all those innings, he still hasn’t locked down the kind of dependable performance that would make him a clear-cut answer in the rotation.
And according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Cardinals may not be content to hand him that job. Bowden reported Tuesday that St. Louis wants to add a solid starter this offseason, which could put Liberatore’s place in jeopardy.
"The Cardinals are going to continue to build their team through amateur scouting and player development for the long haul, but at the same time they are going to try to find upgrades for the bullpen and would really like to bring in a solid starting pitcher who could help lead the staff," Bowden wrote on Tuesday. "They’re also interested in a left-handed-hitting left side of the infield role player to better balance the right-handed-hitting Masyn Winn, Thomas Saggese, Blaze Jordan and Jose Fermin."
That kind of move would make sense for a club still trying to build while also patching obvious needs. St.
Louis has some pitching prospects close to the majors, but bringing in a veteran arm on a short-term deal could give the team both stability and flexibility. Bowden even floated Shane Bieber as the type of pitcher the Cardinals could sign and later move at the trade deadline.
However it plays out, it would be a surprise if St. Louis heads into next season without adding another starter to push Liberatore for that last rotation job.
In Other News...
Cardinals Just Made Another Springfield Change Fans Will Want Explained
The Cardinals are making another notable change in Springfield, where Patrick Anderson will not return as manager of the clubs Double-A affiliate for the 2027 season. Anderson had been in charge since 2025, and during his time there he guided the team to a Texas League championship while keeping it in the hunt for a repeat the following year.
It is the latest shift for a Springfield operation that has already gone through a rebranding, moving from the Springfield Cardinals to the Ozarks Springbirds. With a new identity in place and a successful run under Anderson now ending, the organization is again reshaping one of its most visible player-development stops, leaving plenty of interest in what comes next for the club and who will be in the dugout. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Bullpen Search May Reveal What Kind Of Move Theyll Make
The Cardinals are still shopping for bullpen help before the lockout, and the search itself says plenty about how they may approach the rest of the winter. Their relief corps was a problem area this season with a 4.40 ERA, so adding another arm is a clear priority, but the kind of arm they target could tell you whether they are thinking bigger-picture or simply trying to patch a hole for now.
One name tied to the market is left-hander Adrian Morejon, who would fit the need for another bullpen option. The catch is that he is expected to look for a long-term deal, and that is probably not the lane St. Louis wants to drive in. The Cardinals appear more inclined to chase shorter-term additions, the sort of moves that can help immediately and still leave open the possibility of flipping a reliever later for prospects. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Rogers May Have Played His Way Beyond Baltimore
As the Cardinals sort through an offseason checklist that could include bullpen help, a veteran starter and maybe even a third baseman, Trevor Rogers has emerged as the kind of arm that fits the conversation. The left-handers recent run with the Orioles has put him back on the radar, and St. Louis has both the payroll room and a recent habit of taking chances on younger free agents, with Dustin May serving as one example of that approach.
Rogers would not solve every need in one move, but he does line up with a rotation that could use another option and a front office that has shown a willingness to bet on upside. The question now is whether Baltimores strong finish was enough to change his market in a way that pushes the Cardinals into a tougher decision when free agency opens up. [Read more 🡒]