Offseason additions: Starting pitcher Dustin May, starting pitcher Richard Fitts, starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins, starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, starting pitcher Brandon Clarke, starting pitcher, Yhoiker Fajardo, starting pitcher Blake Aita, starting pitcher Jack Martinez, RHP Ryne Stanek, RHP George Soriano, RHP Matt Pushard, RHP Robbie Knowles, RHP Dominic Freeberger, LHP Justin Bruihl, LHP Jared Shuster, LHP Bruce Zimmermann, RHP Scott Blewett, RHP Justin Militello, infielder Ramon Urias, first baseman/outfielder Bligh Madris, outfielder Nelson Velazquez, outfielder Tai Peete, and outfielder Colton Ledbetter.
Offseason substitutions: Starting pitcher Sonny Gray (traded to Boston Red Sox), starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (signed with Washington Nationals), RHP Jorge Alcala (minor league contract with Toronto Blue Jays), RHP Roddery Munoz (claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds, now with Houston Astros), LHP John King (signed with Miami Marllins), LHP Anthony Veneziano (signed with the SSG Landers in Korea), first baseman Wilson Contreras (traded to Boston Red Sox), third baseman Nolan Arenado (traded to Arizona Diamondbacks), second baseman Brendan Donovan (traded to Seattle Mariners), and outfielder Michael Siani (claimed off waivers by Atlanta Braves, now with Los Angeles Dodgers).
Point team prediction: 75-80 wins (4th place in NL Central).
The Cardinals spent the off season heading into 2026 restocking their farm system. The Cardinals have needed to get better talent in their farm system for the last couple of seasons. On paper, the moves seem to have paid off for the new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Baseball America ranks the Cardinals farm system the second best in baseball behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. For comparison with other sites, FanGraphs ranks the Cardinals' farm system no.1 and ESPN 9th.
The Cardinals also hired three new player development coaches Casey Demko (infield coordinator), Hugh Quattlebaum (hitting coordinator), and Dalton Hurd (director of hitting). Demko, 29, joins the Cardinals organization after being an assistant coach for Abilene Christian University.
Quattlebaum, 42, most recently was an assistant hitting coach with the Atlanta Braves for 1 season (2025). Before joining the Braves coaching staff, Quattlebaum was the New York Mets hitting coach for 1 season (2021).
Hurd, 30, most recently was the Baltimore Orioles' minor hitting coordinator for 1 season (2025). Before joining the Orioles organization, Hurd was a hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants at their Arizona Complex League.
Hurd was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25th round in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Overall, Hurd played 2 minor league seasons. Hurd played 33 games with 12 runs, 15 hits, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 16 RBI's, 1 stolen base, 12 walks, and a .156 batting average.
Starting rotation (5):
Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Richard Fitts, Michael McGreevy, and Kyle Leahy
Bullpen (8):
Matt Svanson, Riley O'Brien, Ryne Stanek, George Soriano, Matt Pushard, Andre Pallante, JoJo Romero, and Justin Bruihl.
Lineup:
2B JJ Wetherholt, DH Ivan Herrera, 1B Alec Burleson, 3B Nolan Gorman, LF Nelson Velazquez (Lars Nootbaar is expected to start the season in the IL), SS Masyn Winn, RF Jordan Walker, C Pedro Pages, and CF Victor Scott II
Bench (4):
C Jimmy Crooks, OF Nathan Church, infielder Ramon Urias, and infielder Thomas Saggese.
Fantasy stud:
Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson
Prospects to watch:
JJ Wetherholt, Quinn Mathews, and Leonardo Bernal
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