Bold Opening: The Cardinals’ spring reset is about more than marquee absences—it’s about rebuilding confidence, cohesion, and a clear path for 2026.
Here’s a fresh English rewrite that preserves all facts and nuances from the original, while smoothing the prose and expanding a touch for clarity.
Five questions the Cardinals will tackle during spring training
With many familiar faces no longer in St. Louis, the Cardinals kicked off their first full-squad workout of spring training in Jupiter, Florida, facing a slate of fresh challenges. Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are in Boston, Nolan Arenado has joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Brendan Donovan is in Seattle. As a result, the 2026 club faces several open questions ahead of Opening Day at Busch Stadium on March 26 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
1) Who will occupy the starting rotation?
- In addition to Gray, the team must replace the innings from Miles Mikolas (signed by Washington) and Erick Fedde (traded to Atlanta). Neither veteran was elite, but both logged starts every five days, a baseline the rotation will need to maintain.
- Among the returning arms, Matthew Liberatore appears the most likely candidate to start on Opening Day. The 26-year-old left-hander started 29 games last season and posted a 4.21 ERA, roughly league-average.
- The Cardinals added Dustin May on a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027. May flashed top-tier stuff with the Dodgers but has battled health issues, missing the 2024 season and facing inconsistencies in 2025.
- Other familiar names in the mix include Andre Pallante (5.31 ERA in 162 innings), Michael McGreevy (4.42 ERA in 95 innings), and Kyle Leahy (3.07 ERA in 88 innings, mostly as a reliever).
- New bullpen-to-starter candidates from Boston—Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins—could also contribute to the rotation. Fitts carried a 5.00 ERA across 45 innings for Boston, while Dobbins threw 61 frames with a 4.13 ERA before a torn ACL shortened his season; progress updates from the team’s leadership have been positive.
2) Who will close games?
- The bullpen reshuffle that followed last season’s trade activity left room for interpretation of the late-inning roles. Closer Ryan Helsley was dealt to the Mets, and solid setup man Phil Maton moved to the Cubs via free agency, creating opportunities for others to step in.
- JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien are among the candidates who could again handle high-leverage endings, while veteran reliever Ryne Stanek was added in the offseason. Stanek brings reliever versatility and late-inning experience, though his career save total is modest, suggesting a prominent setup role early on and potential closer consideration later.
- Young right-hander Matt Svanson impressed as a rookie, posting a 1.94 ERA across 60 innings, though his workload skewed toward lower-leverage duties. He’s more likely to be a seventh- or eighth-inning option at the outset.
3) Which players will emerge as team leaders?
- This is a deliberately youthful roster, with management aiming to accelerate development at the major-league level. The oldest position-player on the 40-man is outfielder Bryan Torres, a 28-year-old in the system.
- On the pitching side, Stanek’s extensive experience (nine seasons, a 2022 World Series title with Houston) and May’s pedigree with high-performing clubs provide veteran guidance. Pallante, Liberatore, and Romero remain as ties to the 2022 playoff squad.
- Young veterans like outfielder Lars Nootbaar—expected to miss the early weeks due to foot-and-heel surgeries—will need to anchor the lineup and help newcomers adapt to a 162-game grind. Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman are the two position players who contributed meaningfully to the 2022 club and will be looked to as stabilizing forces.
4) What does success look like this season?
- Absent breakout performances from several young players, playoff contention may be unlikely, particularly after last season’s 78-win tally and the purge of proven contributors.
- Manager Oli Marmol remains optimistic about competitiveness, emphasizing a near-term trajectory. He asserts that while there is a long-term plan, improvement could come sooner than fans expect, contingent on players seizing opportunities.
- Jordan Walker is a focal point for this developmental phase. After a sensational 2023 debut (16 home runs in 117 games) and a quieter two-year stretch, Walker’s performance with the bat—and his progression in the outfield—will shape the offense’s ceiling this season.
- Marmol highlighted that Walker’s growth will be judged not only by raw results but by concrete signs of progress in at-bats, posture, and swing mechanics—indicators that the offseason work is translating into game performance.
- Nolan Gorman, who slugged 27 homers in 2023 while splitting time between second and third, has an opportunity to fill a larger role at third base in the absence of Arenado, though his production in recent seasons will be watched closely.
- The club also seeks a reliable young arm to solidify a mid-rotation slot, with potential candidates including Leahy, McGreevy, Fitts, or Dobbins, any of whom could seize a starting opportunity if they prove capable.
5) Why should fans head to the ballpark this year?
- The Cardinals are in a rebuild phase not seen since the mid-1990s, a period marked by cautious fan optimism and renewed patience. Attendance, which had dipped in recent seasons, provides a barometer for fan engagement as the team pivots toward longer-term growth.
- There are still compelling reasons to watch. First-round pick J.J. Wetherholt from the 2024 draft has progressed rapidly through the minors and is nearing major-league readiness, offering a tantalizing glimpse of future lineup potential. Bloom has expressed excitement about his maturity, work ethic, and talent, suggesting he could become a central figure in the lineup as early as Opening Day should circumstances allow.
- The defense promises to be entertaining, with Masyn Winn at short and Victor Scott II in center, providing quality middle-infield defense that has long been a Cardinals hallmark. These pieces should deliver standout plays and keep fans energized during the season.
Illustration: A smooth transition from veteran leadership to young, high-potential talent is the thread tying the 2026 Cardinals together. If Walker, Gorman, and a few emerging arms meet or exceed expectations, the club could surprise and develop into a competitive unit sooner than expected, sparking a new era for St. Louis baseball.
Note: This rewritten version preserves all facts, names, dates, and context from the original while expanding some explanations for clarity and accessibility. It maintains a friendly, professional tone and introduces a line of thought that invites reader engagement and discussion about the team’s direction and philosophy.
