5 bold moves the Cardinals need to make to overhaul their organization this offseason

#5 - Finally invest in high-end starting pitching, whether that is in a trade or free agency

In this story, I wanted to get bold, but bold as in things that would be bold for St. Louis to do, but not too bold that it for sure would never happen. Would it be bold for them to sign Juan Soto? For sure, and I'd love it, but it's not happening.

Do you know what else feels unlikely? The Cardinals offering big money to a Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, or Blake Snell. Even adding a second sizable pitching contract for Shane Bieber or Nathan Eovaldi feels way out of character. But come on St. Louis, it's time to get uncomfortable and try to do things that will make you great.

Getting Sonny Gray last offseason was a step in the right direction, but its impact was felt far less when he was the only top-end starter they added to a rotation that was desperate for two. Well, they still need another badly, and why not go out and sign that other guy to pair with Gray?

Or, if free agency is not working out, why not go bold and try to trade for whoever the top starting pitchers are on the trade market? Garrett Crochet, Sandy Alcantara, Tarik Skubal, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, or whoever else it could be. Go out and make a big swing for a starting pitcher, and this rotation goes from meh at best to a really interesting group of starters.

On top of the rest of the rotation being filled out by Fedde, Pallante, Michael McGreevy, Sem Robberse, Matthew Liberatore, Gordon Graceffo, or whoever else, there's also the potential for a Quinn Mathews or Tink Hence to rise next year and be difference makers for St. Louis. The Cardinals should not bank on that kind of production in 2025, but imagine if they actually added a second front line starter and then one of those guys comes up and is dynamic out of the gate?

Obviously that does not fix the offense, and they probably need to make an upgrade there too, but I do see multiple players in the Cardinals' lineup who can rebound or progress in a meaningful way next year. What I do not see out of this rotation is anyone, outside of prospects who we have never seen at the Major League level before, who could step up and pair with Gray at the top of the rotation.

Get bold and spend the money or make the gusty trade. It's been long overdue for this rotation.