St. Louis Cardinals fans face a terrifying reality heading into 2026: a starting rotation in crisis. With Sonny Gray potentially traded and no proven ace to replace him, the pitching staff looks more like a horror show than a playoff contender.
Host JD Hafron breaks down the Cardinals' most frightening roster concerns, from Matthew Liberatore's below-average performance to Andre Pallante's gruesome 6-15 season with a 5.31 ERA. The discussion covers potential free agent targets like Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, and hometown hero Max Scherzer, though multi-year deals seem unlikely.
Hafron also examines offensive question marks surrounding Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, plus the surprising news that Yadier Molina won't return to the coaching staff despite recent lobbying efforts. New hires Joe Douglas and Jacob Buffa signal organizational investment, but will ownership provide resources for meaningful roster upgrades?
Discover why the Cardinals' pitching situation might be scarier than any Halloween movie and what moves could save their 2026 season.
0:00 Intro
0:32 Welcome and Halloween theme
2:03 Scariest thing: Starting rotation concerns
4:36 Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy analysis
7:09 Andre Pallante's disappointing 2025 season
10:12 Price Picks sponsorship segment
12:14 Free agent pitchers Cardinals might target
15:19 Austin Gomber and Max Scherzer possibilities
18:25 Miles Mikolas potential return concerns
19:58 Offensive production and outfield struggles
22:31 New staff hires and organizational changes
25:04 Yadier Molina not returning to staff
27:06 Payroll and ownership commitment discussion
28:07 World Series Game 6 preview
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/cardinals-go-into-first-offseason-with-chaim-bloom
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