Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Predicted To Reunite With All-Star Ace In Free Agency

The Cardinals could be looking to add an ace to their pitching staff ahead of next season...
Zach Pressnell|
May 23, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) pitches against St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
May 23, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) pitches against St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

In this story:

St. Louis CardinalsArizona Diamondbacks

The St. Louis Cardinals have seemingly kicked off a roster rebuild this offseason. This rebuild was a few years in the making, as the Cardinals have struggled a bit over the last few seasons.

They kicked off the offseason by trading Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox. This pair of trades sent a haul of prospects to St. Louis.

But the Cardinals could continue making moves ahead of opening day.

If you like our content, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google.

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently predicted the Cardinals would add veteran starting pitcher Zac Gallen in free agency this winter. Gallen was drafted by the Cardinals in 2016, but he's spent the last seven years with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Zac Gallen could be headed back to the Cardinals in free agency

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Galle
Sep 26, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images

"With Sonny Gray traded to the Red Sox and Miles Mikolas gone in free agency, the Cardinals are set to roll out an extremely young rotation, even with the addition of Dustin May on a one-year, $12.5 million deal in free agency," Reuter wrote. "Keep an eye on St. Louis as a potential landing spot for Zac Gallen if he decides to opt for a short-term, high-AAV deal in an effort to rebuild his value and test the free agency waters again in short order.

"He could eat innings early in the season while serving as staff ace and give the Cardinals a high-value trade chip at the deadline."

There's a chance the Cardinals front office believes this will be a quick turnaround. If they believe the rebuild will quick, it would make sense to sign Gallen to a three- or four-year contract.

Gallen is the perfect buy low candidate this offseason. He's an ace whenever he's at his best, but he struggled a bit last season. If the Cardinals are able to add Gallen to the roster, he could be in the perfect position to turn his career back around in the right direction.

Gallen would slot in at the top of the Cardinals' rotation. If the Cardinals sign him, but struggle to win games, they could use him as a trade chip in the coming years. Either way, signing the veteran makes a lot of sense.

More MLB: Cardinals Predicted To Cut Ties With Veteran Lefty In Trade With Yankees

Published
Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

Home/St. Louis Cardinals News