The rotation for the 2026 season is entirely uncertain, so the St. Louis Cardinals need more starting pitchers this offseason.
Fortunately, the business has several months to attempt to add components. At this stage of the offseason, the airwaves are dominated by rumors, conjecture, and projections. Since the first priority is to trade pricey veterans away, St. Louis isn’t a team that has been mentioned much when it comes to adding pieces.
However, Chaim Bloom has stated that the team is seeking for more pitchers, and there will be options worth considering, including free agency. Now, if you’re a Cardinals fan, you shouldn’t expect the team to offer a starter a nine-figure contract. The Cardinals are simply not at that point in time. However, it wouldn’t hurt to be resourceful and take a chance on a low-paying veteran. That ought to be the course of action. Right-handed pitcher Cody Ponce is an intriguing candidate for the Cardinals, according to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports.
The Cardinals should consider this idea
“RHP Cody Ponce,” Anderson wrote. Potential suitors include the Padres, Mets, and Cardinals. Ponce, who will turn 32 in April, will return to the United States after spending a few years abroad, first in Japan and then in South Korea. He won’t look like he did during his first 20 MLB appearances; these days, he can reach the upper 90s with his heater and throws a quality splitter among other secondaries.
“There are enough KBO-to-MLB pitching success stories — ranging from someone with staying power, in Merrill Kelly, to more fleeting cases, like Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen — to envision a team giving Ponce a rotation spot on a multi-year pact to demonstrate where he lands on that spectrum.”
Although Ponce hasn’t pitched in a major league game since 2021, he has been successful in South Korea and Japan and has attracted interest from major leagues. Before joining the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for the 2024 season, he pitched for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2022 and 2023. He joined the KBO League’s Hanwha Eagles in 2025.
In 2025, Ponce pitched 180 2/3 innings with a 1.89 ERA while making 29 starts. This is a man who deserves serious consideration. He probably won’t cost much if he returns during this offseason. It’s been a while since he was in the majors. However, he is intriguing due to his recent performances in South Korea and Japan.
Perhaps St. Louis can find a multi-year option on a low deal if the Cardinals sign him and he can bring that momentum to the major leagues. He might be a candidate to be signed and eventually traded if he performs well and the Cardinals falter. That was the Chicago White Sox’s approach when the Cardinals signed Erick Fedde in 2024. Fedde was signed to a two-year contract, and after his successful return to the major leagues from South Korea, he became a desirable trading chip, which resulted in the St. Louis trade.
In summary, Anderson has a decent idea here. Although Ponce is by no means a well-known player, his performance in South Korea and Japan has generated interest. If he had trouble, the payroll wouldn’t be destroyed because he probably wouldn’t cost much. If he performed well, the Cardinals could either move him or appear astute.
