6 options the Cardinals could consider if they expand to a six-man rotation

Option 1 - Zack Thompson

While I believe Zack Thompson is better suited for a long relief role in the late innings as a high-leverage left-hander, he did show significant promise as a backend rotation option toward the end of the 2023 season. In nine games started, Thompson recorded a 4.57 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched. He was slightly better in relief, but not enough for it to be noticeable. For a backend starter, this is more than serviceable and significantly better than the Cardinals were able to get from the combination of Adam Wainwright and Jake Woodford last season.

Thompson should move back to the bullpen, where he's better suited, for a Postseason run but for the start of the season or filling in for an injured starter he's proven that he's good enough. Fans often overvalue how productive a team's backend starter should be.

The Cardinals by no means will have a super-rotation with Thompson at the back like the Dodgers or Mariners who have promising young talents such as Bobby Miller and Bryan Woo at the backend, but a super-rotation is not needed to contend in the playoffs. Thompson is better than the fifth or sixth starters of most Major League clubs, so there should be no concerns about letting him start a game or two.

Option 2 - Matthew Liberatore

Matthew Liberatore has had as rocky of a start to his MLB career as a starting pitcher could have. Through 31 appearances and 18 starts, Liberatore has recorded a 5.51 ERA and 4.54 FIP, not nearly the numbers fans expected from a once top-100 pitching prospect. It's still too early to say whether or not Liberatore should be considered a bust, but time is running out for him to prove himself. It's been reported that the Cardinals may look to move him to a bullpen role moving forward, but one last chance in the starting rotation may help Libby turn the page.

His command and velocity have wavered in late innings, but with the additions of Gibson and Lynn in the backend of the rotation to help eat innings, letting Liberatore struggle for a bit before finding his footing as a potential starter of the future for the Cardinals could work to their advantage. After all, if Liberatore has a few shorter outings in the early season, the bullpen won't be as overworked as it was last year so they can fill the remainder of innings.

Option 3 - Drew Rom

Drew Rom's first dance as a Major League starter was not pretty. Through 8 starts, he recorded an 8.02 ERA as he greatly struggled with his command. While his 5.75 FIP indicates bad luck in a small sample size, he's still far from playable for a contending team without significant improvements. Personally, I hope Rom doesn't see much more starting action at the Major League level, but he's certainly in consideration for the final rotation spot this Spring. It'll be an interesting battle for the sixth rotation spot and perhaps a revamped Drew Rom could win the spot.

Option 4 - Gordon Graceffo

Once a top 100 prospect, Gordon Graceffo could win the final rotation spot in Spring Training. However, due to injuries and his struggles at Triple-A Memphis, Graceffo fell off the rankings and seemingly off the Cardinals' radar as a potential rotation candidate this offseason. His upside is much higher than many of the other pitching prospects in the Cardinals' system, as he boasts an upper 90's fastball and a wipeout slider. At 23 years old, it's getting a bit late for Graceffo to live up to his full potential, but he could win that final spot by shoving this Spring.

Option 5 - Michael McGreevy

While most Cardinals fans probably don't want to hear about Dakota Hudson ever again, his ability to coax ground balls to get himself out of tough situations was always an asset to the Cardinals. However, Michael McGreevy does one thing Hudson did not: limiting walks. He's not the flashiest name, but he put up solid numbers at Double-A and Triple-A last season and fits the Cardinals' old mold of pitching to weak contact instead of striking batters out. There are plenty of pitchers McGreevy has to leap over, but he could fill innings as the sixth man in the rotation with a good Spring performance.

Option 6 - An external option

The six-man rotation does keep the door open for another starting pitching acquisition from outside the organization. It's no secret that the Cardinals and Rays were in talks for Tyler Glasnow before he was shipped to Los Angeles, and the Cardinals have also been linked to White Sox ace Dylan Cease. Moreover, if free-agent options such as Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell have gotten more affordable, it's possible though unlikely that the Cardinals could swoop in on a shorter-term contract for either of the two frontline pitchers.

With starting pitchers as routine-based as they are, it's very possible that Montgomery and Snell will be forced to sign sooner than Boras might want to force the market. Suitors are also growing impatient and many such as the Rangers appear to be tapping out. Since the Cardinals filled their needs as early as they did, they can hold more leverage in such negotiations especially since an extra starter is more of a want than a need.

I believe the Cardinals are still one more top-end starter shy of contending for a World Series championship in 2024. While it looks like they'll roll into the 2024 season without that final piece, it would be wise to get it early and play like a World Series contender for the entire season instead of just the second half. It seems like that was the plan in 2023, but the Cardinals fell apart before they were able to get to the Trade Deadline as contenders.

Jumping on the market early may also help the team avoid paying a hefty price with many other teams looking to add starters at the deadline. After all, Montgomery and Snell can be had for only money right now, and the Cardinals have the rare opportunity to strike so late in the offseason.