St. Louis Cardinals Eyeing Top Free Agent Pitcher Blake Snell to Bolster Rotation

The St. Louis Cardinals are facing significant decisions in the free agency market this winter, particularly in regards to their starting pitching rotation. With Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson becoming free agents after their one-year stints with the team, and Miles Mikolas coming off a disappointing 2024 season, the Cardinals are in need of top-tier pitching talent.

One name that has emerged as a potential target is Blake Snell, the former San Francisco Giants pitcher who opted out of his contract after making $23.5 million in 2024. Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and one-time All-Star, had a strong second half of the season despite early struggles, logging a 3.12 ERA across 20 starts. He is projected to receive a lucrative five-year, $131 million deal in free agency.

According to Fox Sports‘ Deesha Thosar, Snell would be an ideal fit for the Cardinals, who are seeking to upgrade their rotation. Thosar highlighted that the top left-handed pitchers on the market include Snell and Max Fried, with Jose Quintana being another option. The Cardinals’ rotation ERA ranked 20th in baseball last season, making significant upgrades a priority.

This potential move would be a surprise given that the Cardinals have been more focused on cutting ties with players rather than making major additions. However, securing a top-end starting pitcher like Snell could significantly bolster their chances of competing in the upcoming season).