IMAGE: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. / Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals have been busy this offseason, and their rotation makeover under Chaim Bloom is already taking shape.

With three new arms-Dustin May, Richard Fitts, and Hunter Dobbins-joining the fold, the Cardinals now boast a young, intriguing group of starters heading into 2026. Add in Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy, both of whom have logged solid innings, and you’ve got a foundation that’s youthful but far from untested.

Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy are also in the mix, and Quinn Mathews offers depth from Triple-A Memphis, giving St. Louis a total of seven pitchers with major-league experience ready to compete for starts.

That kind of depth is a luxury most teams would love to have. It gives the Cardinals some breathing room if injuries pop up in spring training or early in the season-something that’s almost inevitable over a 162-game grind. But while the rotation looks solid on paper, Bloom isn’t ready to close the book on adding more arms just yet.

During Dustin May’s introductory press conference, Bloom made it clear that the Cardinals are still scanning the market for pitching help. “We’re still going to be on the lockout,” he said, referring to the team’s continued search for arms. “We want to make sure we’re insulated for the season, especially as we continue to hunt opportunities to add young talent to this core.”

And true to his word, Bloom didn’t wait long to make another move. Just a week after that press conference, the Cardinals traded Willson Contreras in a deal that brought back Hunter Dobbins and two additional pitching prospects. The message is clear: the Cardinals are building for now and for the future, and they’re not afraid to deal from areas of strength to do it.

But even with a full stable of young starters, there’s a compelling argument for adding a veteran presence to anchor the rotation-and Lucas Giolito could be that guy.

At 31, Giolito is still in the prime window for a starting pitcher, and he’s coming off a season where he posted a 3.41 ERA over 145 innings. That’s not just serviceable-it’s the kind of production that can stabilize a rotation.

He also struck out 121 batters, walked 56, and gave up 17 home runs, with a 4.17 FIP that suggests his performance was largely sustainable. After missing the entire 2024 season due to an internal brace procedure on his throwing arm, Giolito returned in 2025 with the Boston Red Sox and showed he still has plenty left in the tank.

The surprising part? His market has been quiet-almost too quiet.

Giolito himself described it as “crickets” during a recent appearance on Baseball Isn’t Boring with Rob Bradford. He says there’s been interest, but no formal offers yet.

That silence could be tied to broader market uncertainty, especially with another potential labor stoppage looming. Teams may be hesitant to commit long-term dollars right now, and Giolito is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal in the neighborhood of $50-57 million.

That’s where the Cardinals come in. With their rotation full of upside but light on veteran innings-eaters, Giolito could be the perfect bridge. Whether it’s a one-year deal that gives him a chance to reestablish his value-or a multi-year pact that locks in a reliable starter for the next few seasons-there’s a fit here that makes sense for both sides.

If Giolito signs a short-term deal and pitches well, he could become a valuable trade chip at the deadline, especially if the Cardinals are out of contention or looking to retool. On the flip side, if the team is in the hunt, having a steady, experienced arm like Giolito behind May and the younger starters could be the difference between playing in October or watching from home.

There’s also a built-in connection: Dustin May, who spent the latter part of 2025 with Boston, could help recruit Giolito to St. Louis.

May took a similar path-signing with the Cardinals to rebuild value and take on a prominent role in the rotation. That kind of success story could be appealing for Giolito as he weighs his next move.

At the end of the day, depth is great-but depth with experience is even better. Giolito won’t come cheap, but he brings a level of consistency and leadership that could be invaluable to a Cardinals team looking to blend youth with reliability.

Chaim Bloom has shown he’s not afraid to be aggressive, and if Giolito’s market stays quiet much longer, this could be the perfect opportunity for St. Louis to strike.