The St. Louis Cardinals are focused on rebuilding. After another year without making the playoffs, they have brought in new hires to enhance their minor league systems. With a potential Nolan Arenado trade on the horizon, the team hasn’t made many additions this offseason, leaving them with some gaps, particularly in their pitching staff. According to John Denton of MLB.com, Matthew Liberatore, an important bullpen arm, might be moving into the Cardinals’ starting rotation this year.
“Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore, who found his niche in 2024 as a dependable reliever, said he’s working to be a starter in Spring Training and 2025,” Denton posted on social media. “‘It’s easier to go from five innings to one than one to five,’ he said. The key for Liberatore will be improving vs. righties.”
Matthew Liberatore turned 25 this offseason and is entering his fourth year with the Cardinals. Over his first two seasons, he alternated between starting and relieving, making 18 starts and 13 relief appearances in 2022 and 2023, while posting a 5.51 ERA. However, he showed notable improvement in 2024, with six starts, 54 relief appearances, and a 4.40 ERA.
While the Cardinals’ pitching staff is underperforming and contributing to the team’s rebuild, Liberatore will provide some help. However, he isn’t expected to lead the team to an unexpected playoff push in St. Louis.
The Cardinals need major pitching improvements for 2025
The Cardinals brought in Chaim Bloom, the former general manager of the Red Sox, to manage a revamped farm system. One of the main reasons for this move is the lack of homegrown pitchers on the current roster. Andre Pallante was the only pitcher with more than 20 starts for the 2024 Cardinals who began his career with the team. Developing pitching is crucial for winning championships, and Liberatore could play a role in that development moving forward.
As Denton pointed out, Liberatore needs to make significant strides against right-handed hitters. He has allowed a .292 batting average to righties, compared to just .212 against lefties. The issue goes deeper, as 18 of the 21 home runs he’s given up in his career have been to right-handed batters, and he has walked 61 righties compared to just 10 lefties.
The Cardinals face a looming challenge, with three starting pitchers—Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, and Steven Matz—set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. All three could be traded at the deadline, meaning the team will need homegrown pitchers to step up. Getting Liberatore ready as a starter early will make this transition smoother for the Cardinals.
Leave a Reply