Even though the St. Louis Cardinals are heading into a rebuild, they’re still looking to strengthen the roster for 2026, especially when it comes to pitching.
The team has been exploring trade possibilities for All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan, and multiple clubs — including the Kansas City Royals — have expressed interest. The Royals, in particular, possess the type of pitching talent the Cardinals would likely seek in return for Donovan.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that while Kris Bubic had an All-Star season, he isn’t going to be a target for St. Louis with just one year left on his contract. However, another Royals pitcher was brought up by Goold.
Cardinals Looking For Controllable Starters This Offseason
Think along the lines of how the Cardinals would see control beyond the year. [Noah] Cameron would be an example of more years of control, upside. Actually, there are about two, three examples on the KC roster that would come with that kind of fit for the Cardinals, and that’s at least one area they have looked when it comes to the Royals,” Goold wrote.
While Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo were on the injured list, Cameron stepped up for Kansas City and served as their de-facto ace. He went 9-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts and posted a 3.8 WAR while also striking out 114 batters in 138 ⅓ innings pitched.
He is not a free agent until 2032, which makes him an ideal target for the Cardinals as they try to build a younger pitching staff but also fill the holes in the rotation. Cameron is still only 26 years old as well, so he has plenty of solid years left and could be a huge addition to the Cardinals rotation. Bubic on the other hand, is not a logical target.
For years, the Cardinals have been searching for young, controllable starting pitching. Chaim Bloom now has an opportunity to secure the type of arms that could both bolster the farm system and inject youth into the major-league rotation.
Cameron matches the profile they’re targeting and could become a strong piece as St. Louis works to rebuild while still aiming to improve. It will be intriguing to see what kinds of trades Bloom ultimately pursues.
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