When a club moves on from multiple core contributors in a single offseason, the expectation is usually straightforward: Take a step back now in hopes of moving forward later. The Cardinals appeared to follow that script this winter, trading away Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray and Nolan Arenado.
Instead, they’ve found ways to win.
What makes the early returns even more surprising is who hasn’t been part of it. None of the players acquired in those deals has made an impact at the Major League level -- yet. That could soon change, as right-hander Hunter Dobbins nears the end of his rehab assignment and presents the Cardinals with a delicate decision for a rotation that is still seeking better results but not easy to reshape.
Dobbins, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Red Sox in the Contreras trade, has impressed during his four rehab stints with Triple-A Memphis, posting a 3.86 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings of work. Dobbins landed on the injured list to start the year due to continued recovery from ACL surgery he underwent back in August.
Through 22 games, the Cardinals’ rotation has struggled to provide length, posting a 4.47 ERA that ranks 23rd in baseball. That’s put added pressure on a bullpen that hasn’t fared much better (5.36 ERA, 26th in MLB).
Prior to his injury, Dobbins made 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Red Sox, posting a 4.13 ERA, which was better than any Cardinals starter in 2025 and would rival Andre Pallante for the third-best mark in their rotation this year. Dobbins has a strong argument to be a part of the Cardinals’ rotation when they activate him from the injured list, but it’s not quite that simple.
The club may look to implement a six-man rotation during its stretch of 17 games in 17 days that starts on Friday. That would be the most non-disruptive way to give Dobbins an opportunity to start games for St. Louis and compete for a rotation spot. But any decision to change up the rotation is now more complicated than it was a few days ago.
Richard Fitts, another starter the Cardinals acquired from Boston this offseason (in the Gray trade), recently had season-ending surgery to address a right lat strain, throwing a wrench in the Cardinals' pitching-depth plans. That means that outside of Dobbins, there is not much Major League-ready rotation depth in Memphis.
And so it makes sense that the Cardinals might give extensive opportunities to each starter currently in their rotation.
Dustin May has pitched well in his last two starts following a rough pair of outings to begin his season. Matthew Liberatore, Pallante and Kyle Leahy are all coming off perhaps their best starts of the season against the Houston Astros. And though Michael McGreevy surrendered four runs against the Marlins on Monday, he’s still allowed two or fewer runs in three of his five starts. And yet Dobbins has his own argument to be given chances with St. Louis, too.
The Cardinals faced a similar dilemma with their starters last year when McGreevy deserved to be a part of the big league rotation, but he was held out until July so the Cardinals could get longer looks at some of the starters already in the rotation.
These things tend to sort themselves out, either by injury or performance, and so eventually a solution will likely become clear. But for now, the Cardinals have a decision as Dobbins proves himself ready for an opportunity.