The St. Louis Cardinals are quietly reshaping their identity around young pitching. Two names are emerging at the center of that strategy: Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts.
Right now, both are more about potential than track record. Still, the organization seems to view them as foundational arms for the next competitive Cardinals club—and is even willing to consider moving established veterans to speed up that vision.
The Cardinals’ Rebuild Is Now Centered Around Young Arms
After several seasons of uneven results and patchwork rotations, the Cardinals are changing course. They’re shifting from simply “trying to contend” to deliberately building a sustainable pitching core.
The front office keeps repeating the same message: the future of this franchise will be decided on the mound, not just in the batter’s box.
Balancing Today’s Veterans With Tomorrow’s Rotation
President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is approaching the winter with a two-track mindset. On one hand, St. Louis still values the leadership and production of veterans like Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Nolan Gorman.
On the other, the club is openly exploring trades involving those same players if it means bringing in more young, controllable pitching. The message to the league is pretty clear: the Cardinals will deal from areas of offensive depth to deepen their pool of high-upside arms.
That makes the internal development of pitchers like Clarke and Fitts matter even more.
Brandon Clarke: High-Octane Stuff, High Ceiling
Brandon Clarke is the kind of left-handed arm that keeps scouts intrigued even when his medical file is thick. At just 22, he already boasts a tantalizing profile: elite velocity, a wipeout secondary, and a spot as the Cardinals’ No. 7 overall prospect.
He’s one of nine left-handed pitching prospects in the system. Clarke’s fastball is the headline tool.
Dominant Velocity, Developing Arsenal
He can reportedly touch 100 mph, which is rare from the left side and immediately raises his ceiling to potential top-of-the-rotation or late-inning impact status. He pairs it with a strong slider that already grades as a legitimate out pitch.
The Cardinals think there’s more to come. There’s room for Clarke to:
If he checks those boxes, the organization sees Clarke as a potential rotation anchor, not just a raw power arm.
Medical Setbacks, But No Loss of Faith
The concern with Clarke isn’t talent; it’s durability. He’s already endured Tommy John surgery, dealt with shoulder issues, and battled finger blisters that cut his innings in 2025.
For many young pitchers, that’s a lot to handle before they’ve even established themselves. Internally, though, the tone stays optimistic rather than cautious.
The Cardinals see his 2025 season as a developmental pause, not a red flag. As long as the velocity and slider stay intact—and reports say they do—Clarke’s upside as a high-impact lefty is just too significant to ignore.
Richard Fitts: Versatile Arm With Rotation Upside
While Clarke brings the flash, Richard Fitts offers something every modern pitching staff needs: versatility and reliability when healthy. At 25, he’s a bit further along the development curve and has already shown he can get big-league hitters out.
A Strong Debut, Interrupted by Injury
Fitts introduced himself to the majors in impressive fashion. Over four starts in his debut season, he posted a sparkling 1.74 ERA, flashing poise and pitchability that backed up the Cardinals’ internal optimism.
That early run built the sense that he could quickly become a rotation mainstay. Then came a setback: right arm neuritis in 2025.
The nerve-related issue paused his momentum, but the club feels encouraged by his recovery. Bloom expects Fitts to have a normal offseason and show up to Spring Training ready to compete for a rotation job.
Starter, Reliever, or Both?
What makes Fitts especially valuable in a rebuilding phase is his flexibility. The Cardinals believe he can contribute as:
In an era where staffs are built around roles as much as raw talent, that adaptability gives the Cardinals options as they mold the roster around him.
Why Veterans Still Matter in a Youth Movement
Even as St. Louis dangles some of its established position players in trade conversations, Bloom keeps emphasizing that veteran presence still matters. This isn’t a teardown; it’s a recalibration.
The front office knows that young arms like Clarke and Fitts benefit from more than just innings. They need:
That’s why the Cardinals are walking a fine line between short-term competence and long-term growth, rather than punting entirely on the present.
A Winter of Decisions, A Future Built on the Mound
This winter, the Cardinals will keep pushing hard to add young pitching. That might mean letting go of a familiar face or two, which feels a bit risky but maybe that’s what it takes.
The front office seems convinced that St. Louis’s next great team won’t just rely on big bats. They’re aiming for a pitching staff that’s deeper and a lot more dynamic than what we’ve seen lately.
Brandon Clarke has electric stuff—if he can stay healthy, that’s a huge plus. Richard Fitts has shown flashes early on, and if he can turn that into real, steady production, the team could already have two big pieces for the future rotation right here.
And honestly, with more young arms probably on the way, it’s starting to feel like the mound might finally be the Cardinals’ foundation again.
Here is the source article for this story: Bloom excited by upside of arms acquired in Gray deal
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