Reader Mailbag, Part 1: Possible rotation additions, causes for 2026 excitement, Iván Herrera's future at catcher, Brendan Donovan's future anywhere, and more

Readers have questions, writer has answers -- some of them possibly correct and coherent

You, gentle readers, replied in abundance to the recent call for mailbag submissions, so I’ll be breaking up my responses into two episodes. The first can be found just below, and the second will be dropping soon. Onward …

Jay writes:

Just having a new face and new voice leading the organization has me excited for 2026. Beyond that, I’d just like to see some new faces in 2026, even if they are on 1-year deals. And I’d like to see a line-up where Arenado isn’t batting 4th every night and a rotation that doesn’t include Mikolas. As a fan, what can Bloom do from a personnel standpoint to get you excited for 2026?

I think the budget and roster realities will make this difficult. The Cardinals simply aren’t going to swing big in free agency, and any trades they make won’t bring back talents who figure to make an impact right away. This is a long-term project, which means excitement going into 2026, at least in the conventional sense of things, will be elusive. I think you’ve hit on one aspect of it, which is the freshness Bloom brings to the seat. There’s also an element of trust in place, given the extent to which he’s already built out the front office in some key areas that have been neglected for too long. This has me intrigued by what moves he makes and what they say about his vision for the organization.

I’m particularly interested to see what he does to supply the rotation with depth and innings going into 2026. Obviously, this won’t entail adding a Framber Valdez or a Ranger Suárez or a Dylan Cease (it’s hard to see the Cardinals bidding for any pitcher who receives a qualifying offer or can command a no-trade clause), but the expectation is that one or more veteran starters will be added (my guess at this juncture is that two signings to fortify the rotation are more likely than only one). Given the pitching braintrust now in place – Bloom, Rob Cerfolio, Matt Pierpoint, and others – such additions will probably not only reflect the need for bulk innings in 2026 but also the possibility that there’s untapped potential within, or at least a developmental pathway to restoring lost value. Zac Gallen seems like an obvious name depending on how strong his market is. Tyler Mahle and Brandon Woodruff qualify as “health/durability risks worth taking.” Lucas Giolito will probably have a price tag north of what we’re willing to pay, but maybe keep an eye on his market. This is a long-winded way of saying that I’m interested to see how Bloom populates the back of the rotation, at least when it comes to external additions. Given the state of things “can this guy maybe be flipped at the deadline” is another consideration.

This isn’t really what you asked, but the thing that excites me the most is the prospect of Jordan Walker’s showing skills growth at the plate. Bloom just after the season indicated they knew what kind of adjustments Walker needed to make and that it’s now a matter of grooving them this winter. I’m quite interested to see what that looks like and whether it yields improvement for the hitter who, lest we forget, is just 111 days older than JJ Wetherholt.

Johnny writes:

Good Morning Dayn, it’s another off season, but with a new Front Office, I’m looking forward to what might be coming up. Yes, it might take a while, but I’m glad it’s finally time for ‘Hot Stove’ time. How about them Dodgers, WOW, what a World Series! But moving along. I just finished reading Bernie Miklasz column about how the Dodgers won that series, and started thinking, what former St. Louis Cardinals World Series Champions do you think would stand a chance against this Dodgers team? 1926 WS Champs Stl. Cards against “Murder’s Row’ of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig? 1967 STL team with Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, or what STL. Cards team would be your pick for Best STL. Cardinals WS team ever?

Interesting question. I’m of course tempted by some of our great 1940s teams, but that World War II thinned out the talent pool gives me pause. On another level, I always lean toward post-integration teams and players when the subject is objective greatness.

I imagine you have in mind a team that won the World Series, but as a buccaneering sort of long-standing, I’ll defy that particular notion. I want to say the ‘85 team, as that’s my favorite ever. Instead, I’ll go with the 2004 Cardinals, who won 105 games before being swept by the Red Sox in the World Series. They prevailed in an NL Central division that also included the 92-win Astros and the 89-win Cubs, and during the regular season they went an MLB-best 46-33 against teams with winning records (that’s a 94-win pace across a full season). Yes, the pitching was more notable for its depth than its excellence, but I can’t ignore this 2-5 sequence in the batting order for the World Series opener:

2. Larry Walker, RF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Jim Edmonds, CF

That quartet combined to slash .313/.412/.628 for the Cardinals that season with 133 home runs (and Walker was acquired in early August and didn’t even have two full months of regular season with the team). Yeah, gimme that color-television viewing. Also: Kiko Calero forever.

Aaron writes:

If the Cards finally trade Arenado, which players do you want as your regular second and third baseman in 2026: Donovan, Gorman, or Wetherholt? Do you start the season with Donnie at second and Gornan at third and displace one of them later if Wetherholt shows he’s ready? Or do you figure he will be and try to trade one of the other two this winter?

Barring some kind of unimaginably disastrous spring training performance by Wetherholt – something on the order of 6 for 40 with 27 strikeouts – I want him installed as the starting second baseman for 2026 and beyond and then left the absolute hell alone. Don’t toggle him between different infield positions, don’t rest him for days-long stretches. Play him at one position and put him in the lineup on a daily basis. Consistency of role and steady doses of playing time are important for young players of promise, and these are the top priorities for Wetherholt at the highest level. Bloom sort of hinted that they still view Gorman as an important long-term talent, so he needs to be put at third base and, likewise, left alone to sink or swim in what will be his critical age-26 season in 2026.

As for Donovan, assuming he’s not traded for what would surely be an impressive return, he can get back to the multi-positional role that maximizes his value. Give him time at third, first, and DH and in left. He can very occasionally spell Wetherholt at second, and while he’s stretched defensively at short he can be in that particular mix when Masyn Winn isn’t in the lineup.

Eric writes:

What do reasonable expectations for this offseason look like as the rebuild finally starts in earnest? Moving NTC players Arenado and Gray should be a priority, assuming ownership is willing to eat more of Arenado’s contract and some of Gray’s contract. But what about other established players, such as Donovan or Gorman (assuming Nootbaar is untradable post surgery)? And would Bloom look to move a young catcher to address pitching or other roster needs? Can we assume he will avoid the Mozeliak pitfall of half-assed/half-measured efforts to reshape the roster/accelerate a return to contention? For free agency, might they target a veteran depth starter on a short term deal and a RH hitting OF who can play all three OF spots?

The Donovan situation is, to me, the most compelling. That’s because what happens to him – i.e., whether or not he’s traded – will illuminate whether or not Bloom thinks contention in 2026 or even 2027 is tenable. Donovan has two years of arbitration remaining before he reaches free agency after the 2027 season. That remaining team control, his defensive flexibility featuring his plus capacities at the up-the-middle position of second base, and his strong level of production against right-handed pitching all make Donovan an alluring trade target for contenders. As well, there’s reason to think he had reached a higher tier with the bat last season before that toe injury cascaded throughout his lower half and compromised his production. If traded, Donovan will almost certainly fetch a noteworthy return – one that improves the Cardinals’ system and long-term outlook. However, parting with Donovan would probably do significant damage to the team’s competitive outlook in the here and now (but, if Gorman progresses and Wetherholt produces immediately, maybe not as much as you’d think). That would also signal that Bloom probably doesn’t think contention is a likely outcome until at least 2027 and probably later.

Otherwise, yes, I do think multiple starting pitchers will be targeted and a fourth outfielder who bats righty is also a reasonable aim, assuming Nootbaar and Victor Scott II are part of the plans.

Now I’ll group two Iván Herrera questions together.

Eric writes:

How long will the Cardinals stick with Herrera as a catcher? I am not a catching expert, but if his primary problem is a total inability to control the running game, how can that skill improve? I assume pop time can improve with reps (and he reportedly worked on that), but isn’t it much harder to improve arm strength this far into his development? Would he be better off focusing on learning to play LF this season? I say yes because his bat plays there, LF is the best place to hide a weaker defender with a poor arm, and he would be a great value solution to our long-term OF problem (assuming he can become a slightly below average to average defender).

And Kyle writes:

I’m somewhat disappointed to hear that Ivan is going to continue trying to be a mlb catcher. Perhaps Contreras’ impressive and seamless transition to first is coloring my view, but I just don’t see a way that Herrera couldn’t be a competent left fielder for 140 games. While I most definitely do not want him to be a full-time DH, I just don’t see how he doesn’t continue to be a liability behind the plate. With all of the renewed emphasis on training and beefed-up coaching, I still have faith that the likes of a Raniel Rodriguez could be coached into an average-ish backstop, but it seems like making that happen w Herrera just doesn’t line up with his MLB timeline. His time is now, in other words! Am I over my skis on this one? Talk me down Dayn! Talk me down!

Yeah, last season I was firmly on board with moving Herrera off catcher, and I was a bit surprised to learn he’d be working toward a return to the position this winter. That said, I’m still in the “inclined to trust the Bloom regime” phase of the relationship, so I’m withholding judgment. Yes, controlling the running game is his leading weakness behind the plate, and the hope is that offseason elbow surgery will improve his arm strength and pop times. He’s capable at blocking pitches and framing pitches, and framing will be somewhat de-emphasized with the advent of the ABS challenge system in 2026. The bat figures to be special regardless of what position he plays, and at the premium position of catcher it would be elite. That – positional scarcity – is a key consideration. Herrera wants this, and giving him some autonomy in the decision is probably part of the thought process.

All that said, I suspect a full-time return to the position is not in play. What’s more likely is that Herrera is in the lineup almost every day, health permitting, but at the catcher position maybe half the time. It’ll be a job-sharing arrangement, probably with Jimmy Crooks (Pedro Pagés seems like a trade candidate to me). In terms of playing time, I wonder if it would look a bit like Salvador Perez of the Royals this past season. Salvy in 2025 racked up 641 plate appearances on the season but just 367 while manning catcher. Herrera would probably be in line for a lower percentage than that and presumably would be around 700 defensive innings caught if healthy for the full season. That’s the kind of thing I would expect to see as opposed to Herrera becoming a heavy-load primary at the position. If Crooks doesn’t hit, then maybe Herrera’s job-sharing partner is Leonardo Bernal at some point later in the first half. And, of course, if Herrera’s rebuilt elbow and work with support staff don’t yield a better handle on the running game, then his return to catcher will probably be short-lived. As long as the switch back doesn’t compromise his durability, I’m OK with it for now.

All right, folks, back soon with answers to the rest of your submissions. Be well.