St. Louis Cardinals 2026 Spring Training Storylines to Follow

With the St. Louis Cardinals entering a new chapter in their history, spring camp will offer a glimpse of what the 2026 season will look like.

They’ve already overhauled a lot of their roster this offseason, trading away key veterans such as Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, and Brendan Donovan. Likewise, with Chaim Bloom now at the helm as the team’s president of baseball operations, the Cardinals have made a conscious effort to turn this ship around after several seasons of disappointment.

There are a lot of exciting names to watch with Spring Training getting underway, but there are also plenty of questions that will need to be answered heading into 2026.

With many more deserving names than available spots on the roster and a manager with a chip on his shoulder, let’s take a look at what to watch for over the next month ahead of Opening Day.

All Eyes Will Be on JJ Wetherholt

After a 2025 season that saw the former West Virginia standout post a 154 wRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A, JJ Wetherholt has transcended into one of baseball’s best prospects. He recently checked in at No. 7 on Just Baseball’s Top 100 list, and with the departure of Brendan Donovan, he looks to be zeroing in on the starting second base job out of Spring Training.

One could argue Wetherholt was big-league ready as early as late last season. If the Cardinals were in contention for a playoff berth, he would’ve likely been a September call-up to aid in the final stretch.

He’s a polished hitter, displaying advanced bat-to-ball and plate discipline skills. Even if he doesn’t possess premium raw power, he excels at squaring up the baseball and will provide league-average in-game power. His 103.7 mph EV90 (90th-percentile exit velocity) at Triple-A this past season would rank in the 50th percentile amongst all qualified MLB second basemen in 2025.

Nabbing a spot on the Opening Day roster attests to the front office’s trust in his readiness to contribute from day one. He’ll immediately become a strong contender for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Backstop Options on the 40-Man Roster

The Cardinals make a compelling case for developing some of baseball’s best catching prospects, and the front office will have plenty of options for organizing their depth chart going into the season.

Iván Herrera’s nagging shoulder injury has prevented him from maximizing his defensive potential. He received surgery this offseason, and the team has indicated that he will have the opportunity to be the franchise’s backstop in 2026. His 137 wRC+ was the best on the team last year (min. 300 PAs), so he’ll find regular playing time in some capacity.

Pedro Pagés ran point for much of 2025 and is an excellent framer and sheriff behind the plate. His six fielding runs above average ranked 10th in MLB amongst all qualified catchers last year. He’s light-years behind Herrera as a hitter, but Pagés provides enough defense to serve as an average starter.

Yohel Pozo was a pleasant surprise last year and is a premium tertiary option. His return all but confirms their desire to carry three catchers on the MLB roster if he stays on the team past Spring Training.

Jimmy Crooks, who recently checked in at No. 99 on Just Baseball’s Top 100 Prospects List, played a majority of 2025 at Triple-A Memphis, coming on strong toward the end of the season with a 129 wRC+ over his final 136 PAs.

In a vacuum, he’s big-league ready, but is there a spot open for him? If he’s assigned back to Memphis, does he split reps with Leonardo Bernal? Is one of them traded? There are ample questions surrounding this catching situation heading into Spring Training.

It’s clear that the front office and coaches have difficult decisions to make before Opening Day, but more options rather than fewer is always preferable. Spring Training will provide each player plenty of opportunities to prove themselves and give management all the information they need to finalize the depth chart.

Oliver Marmol’s Future as Manager

Having a lame-duck manager entering the season is usually considered taboo in the sport, but the Cardinals find themselves in this very situation heading into 2026. Given this, one can reasonably conclude that the front office isn’t unanimous on retaining Oliver Marmol, who has been the team’s skipper since 2022.

Considered to be a player’s manager, Marmol offers continuity in an uncertain time for the franchise, acting as a shepherd and role model for an emerging young core. His young age and familiarity as a former player help him build easy chemistry within the locker room.

Critics of Marmol will point to his old-school approach to managing, questioning his lineup construction, bullpen usage, and his lack of creativity in using his pitching staff. It’s entirely possible the front office could opt to hire a skipper with a quantitative background.

If an extension doesn’t come by Opening Day, the new front office will surely be examining how closely Marmol aligns himself with their philosophy.

Finalizing the Pitching Staff After a Busy Offseason

The Cardinals went into this offseason with a clear strategy: trade away their veterans in favor of young prospects who will aid a rebuild. Doing so helped shore up a razor-thin pitching depth at Triple-A and the MLB levels.

Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts were acquired from the Red Sox, giving St. Louis additional young, cost-controlled depth at the Quad-A level, while signing Dustin May gives them a veteran presence who could yield additional prospects at the deadline.

2025 rotation pieces Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, and Andre Pallante will return for 2026, with Kyle Leahy making the transition from the bullpen to the rotation after posting a 1.4-fWAR season as a reliever last year. Gordon Graceffo is another long reliever who can start if needed, throwing 130 innings as recently as 2024.

Plenty of promising prospects will also be knocking on the major-league door in 2026 and fighting for a rotation spot.

Quinn Mathews looks to rebound after a disappointing and injury-riddled 2025 campaign (5.00 xFIP in 94 IP). Tink Hence looks to finally combine his scathing arsenal with longevity.

2025 first-round pick and Just Baseball’s No. 70 prospect Liam Doyle will likely start in Double-A Springfield, and while the player development staff will likely take their time with him, he could find his way onto the big-league staff by season’s end.

Chaim Bloom and his staff have done a masterful job of stocking each minor-league affiliate with ample arms to fill innings, especially at the top of the minors and at the MLB level.

Should there be an injury, there are plenty of contingency options available. Should someone fall short of expectations, there’s someone else who can step up and prove themselves. The more options the team has, the more likely a handful will become key pieces on a future Cardinals contending pitching staff.