Cardinals Bullpen Concerns Loom 1 Month Before Opening Day

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

With one month until the start of the 2026 MLB season, the St. Louis Cardinals are facing questions about their bullpen after a busy offseason that saw them trade away several key players, including Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, and Sonny Gray. The team signed Ryne Stanek but still has uncertainty around the rest of the relief corps, especially with JoJo Romero's future in flux as a potential trade chip.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' bullpen was a weakness last season, and with the departures of several veteran arms, the team will need to address this area of the roster if they hope to remain competitive in the NL Central division race.

The details

The Cardinals' bullpen is an area of concern heading into the 2026 season. While the team signed Ryne Stanek in free agency, there are still question marks around the rest of the relief corps. JoJo Romero has been mentioned as a potential trade chip, and his future with the team is uncertain with only one season of club control remaining before free agency. The Cardinals could look to add more veteran arms, such as Michael Kopech or Danny Coulombe, to shore up the bullpen before Opening Day.

• The Cardinals' 2026 season begins on February 16.
• The team has one month until Opening Day to address their bullpen needs.

What’s next

The Cardinals will need to decide on the future of JoJo Romero and potentially add more veteran arms to their bullpen before the start of the 2026 season.