Throughout most of this offseason, I’ve been highly critical of the St. Louis Cardinals’ decision-making, particularly regarding their Major League roster. The organization had a prime opportunity to give their young players room to grow, but instead, they entered spring training with more uncertainties than clarity.
To be fair, even if the rotation were filled with young arms like the lineup is with young bats, there would still be lingering questions. Andre Pallante has somewhat proven himself, but Michael McGreevy has a very limited track record, Quinn Mathews has yet to make his debut, and former top prospect Matthew Liberatore has struggled significantly as a starter at the Major League level.
And that’s precisely the point. There’s immense value for the Cardinals in gathering information on these young pitchers this season. Allowing them to sink or swim not only helps determine who can be relied upon in 2026 but also plays a crucial role in shaping the club’s long-term trajectory.
Steven Matz has been a focal point of this conversation for me throughout the offseason. I was eager to see whether the Cardinals would prioritize long-term team success, even if it meant moving a veteran starter out of the rotation.
Back in December, I faced some pushback for suggesting that while I wasn’t opposed to trading Matz, it made more sense to shop Erick Fedde. Trading Fedde could yield a meaningful return, whereas Matz, in the final year of his contract, could transition to the bullpen and serve as rotation insurance.
My main concern was whether the Cardinals would follow through with this plan. If young pitchers earned rotation spots in camp, would the team be willing to shift Matz to the bullpen before the season started?
On Sunday, we got our answer — and I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Cardinals’ decision.
Allowing Matthew Liberatore a true opportunity to start over Steven Matz was the right move by the Cardinals
If you haven’t been following the Cardinals’ spring training games, Steven Matz has quietly been one of the team’s best performers. I don’t usually put too much stock in spring stats, but while Sonny Gray and Andre Pallante have struggled, Matz has thrived. Through five starts and 19.2 innings, he boasts a 2.29 ERA. Honestly, if you had told me before camp that he would pitch that well, I would’ve said there was no way the Cardinals would move him to the bullpen.
Would I really believe that this organization — known for prioritizing contracts over young talent — would shift a well-performing veteran into a different role?
Well, they actually did it. It doesn’t warrant a standing ovation for simply making the right call, but it’s worth acknowledging when the Cardinals break character at the start of a season where they claim to want to make more of these kinds of decisions.
Matthew Liberatore has been outstanding this spring. I don’t think the Cardinals expected him to be in this position when camp began. In 16.2 innings, he posted a 1.62 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP, with his offspeed pitches grading out exceptionally well and the team gaining more confidence in his fastball over extended outings.
It’s entirely possible that by late April or May, Liberatore could struggle and find himself back in the bullpen. But what excites me is that the Cardinals are giving him a genuine opportunity to secure a rotation spot. If it doesn’t work out, Michael McGreevy could be next in line. But if Liberatore thrives, the Cardinals may have discovered another promising young arm, similar to how Pallante emerged last year.
Matz will still get his chances to start. Once the team shifts to a six-man rotation in mid-April, he’ll be part of that group, but it’s clear he’s now viewed as a “swingman” rather than a guaranteed starter. If the team needs a spot start during a long stretch of games or if injuries pile up, Matz is there. If the young arms falter, he’s there. And if the rotation is running smoothly, he’s already shown he can contribute from the bullpen.
I wasn’t confident the Cardinals would take this route, but here we are. Hopefully, this decision sets the tone for the rest of the season. However, if McGreevy and Quinn Mathews are knocking on the door come June and still aren’t getting opportunities, it would signal a deeper issue. For now, though, this is an encouraging step. If Liberatore can capitalize on this chance, it could be a major breakthrough for the team.