The Cardinals finally made a roster move that actually makes sense…

I didn’t expect them to do this!

Throughout most of the offseason, I’ve been highly critical of the St. Louis Cardinals’ decision-making, particularly regarding their Major League roster. They had a chance to fully commit to their younger players but instead entered spring training with more uncertainties than clarity.

To be fair, even if young pitchers dominated the rotation the way young hitters currently fill the lineup, there would still be lingering doubts. Andre Pallante has established himself to some extent, but Michael McGreevy’s experience is minimal, Quinn Mathews has yet to debut, and former top prospect Matthew Liberatore has struggled in the big-league rotation.

But that’s exactly why this season is crucial for evaluating these young arms. Giving them a chance to prove themselves will not only help determine who can be trusted in 2026 but will also shape the franchise’s long-term trajectory.

Steven Matz became a key figure in this discussion for me—would the Cardinals prioritize their future, even if it meant moving a veteran out of the rotation?

Back in December, I suggested that while trading Matz wasn’t a bad idea, it made more sense to shop Erick Fedde instead. Fedde could bring a stronger return in a trade, while Matz, in the final year of his deal, could be useful in the bullpen as rotation depth. However, the question remained: would the Cardinals be willing to shift Matz to the bullpen if younger pitchers proved ready in camp?

On Sunday, we got our answer—and I was pleasantly surprised.

Giving Matthew Liberatore a starting role over Steven Matz was the right call.

Matz has been one of the best pitchers in camp, posting a 2.29 ERA over 19.2 innings. Normally, I don’t put much stock in spring training stats, but given the struggles of Sonny Gray and Andre Pallante, Matz’s performance stood out. If you had told me before camp started that he would pitch this well, I wouldn’t have believed the Cardinals would move him to the bullpen.

Historically, this organization has favored veteran contracts over emerging young talent. But this time, they made the right call.

Liberatore has had an outstanding camp, with a 1.62 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP over 16.2 innings. His offspeed pitches have graded well, and the Cardinals have gained some confidence in his fastball over extended outings.

There’s no guarantee Liberatore will succeed—he could struggle and end up back in the bullpen by May. But what’s encouraging is that the Cardinals are giving him a real shot in the rotation. If he falters, Michael McGreevy could be next in line. But if he thrives, the team may have discovered another promising young arm, similar to Pallante last year.

Matz will still have opportunities this season, particularly as the team shifts to a six-man rotation in mid-April. He’s positioned as a “swing-man,” ready to step in if needed—whether for a spot start, as injury insurance, or if younger pitchers underperform. He has also proven he can be effective in a bullpen role.

I wasn’t sure the Cardinals would take this approach, but here we are. Hopefully, this signals a shift in their decision-making. If McGreevy and Mathews continue to impress but aren’t given opportunities by June, then something will be seriously wrong with the team’s strategy. But for now, this is a step in the right direction. If Liberatore takes advantage of this chance, it could be a major development for the franchise.