The St. Louis Cardinals made several moves during the offseason as part of an organizational reset, and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts was among the players acquired to help shape the club’s future. Although the team clearly views him as someone who could eventually contribute at the major league level, he will not begin the 2026 season as part of the Cardinals’ starting rotation.
According to the Minor League Baseball transactions page, St. Louis has optioned Fitts to Triple-A Memphis. The move indicates that the club prefers him to continue developing and building consistency in the minor leagues before rejoining the big-league roster later in the season. While this assignment keeps him off the Opening Day roster, it does not necessarily reflect a lack of confidence in his potential. Instead, it appears to be part of a broader roster strategy as the Cardinals finalize their pitching plans.
Fitts joined the organization during a notable offseason trade that signaled the Cardinals’ commitment to reshaping their roster. In November, the club dealt veteran right-hander Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Fitts and pitching prospect Brandon Clarke. The deal was one of the earliest major moves under the leadership of president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who has been tasked with guiding the franchise through a transitional period.
The trade itself reflected the Cardinals’ long-term strategy. By sending Gray to Boston, St. Louis moved a veteran arm who had been productive but expensive while acquiring younger pitchers who could contribute in the coming years. Fitts, in particular, stood out as a pitcher who had already reached the major leagues and shown flashes of promise. At the time of the trade, Bloom praised his ability to attack the strike zone and suggested that he had the tools necessary to develop into a reliable starting pitcher.
Despite that potential, Fitts will begin the year in the minors while the Cardinals settle on their Opening Day rotation. The decision also clarifies the group of pitchers expected to start the season in the team’s starting five.
Cardinals insider Derrick Goold reported that the move essentially finalizes the club’s Opening Day rotation. The starting staff is expected to include left-hander Matthew Liberatore along with right-handers Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy and Dustin May. Each of those pitchers earned a spot after competing throughout spring training.
Among that group, May is a particularly interesting addition. The Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract during the offseason, hoping he could provide experience and stability to a rotation that is otherwise relatively young. With his track record and talent, he quickly became a candidate to lead the staff. In fact, the competition for the Opening Day starting assignment appears to come down to May and Liberatore. Liberatore has already spoken publicly about how much the opportunity would mean to him, expressing enthusiasm about the possibility of taking the mound in the team’s first game of the season.
While the rotation is set for now, the decision to option Fitts does not eliminate him from the team’s plans. Rather, it places him in position to serve as an important depth option. Starting pitchers are often needed throughout the long Major League Baseball season due to injuries, fatigue, or performance issues. Because of that reality, many teams keep additional starting options ready in Triple-A so they can be called up when necessary. Fitts fits that role perfectly.
The 26-year-old pitcher has already traveled a winding path through professional baseball. A native of Alabama, he was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees after pitching in college at Auburn University. His strong arm and ability to generate strikeouts helped him climb through the minor league system relatively quickly.
In December 2023, Fitts was traded to the Red Sox in a deal that sent outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Yankees. The trade gave him a fresh opportunity in a different organization and eventually helped pave the way for his major league debut.
That debut came during the 2024 season with Boston. In a small sample size, Fitts impressed by posting a 1.74 ERA across four starts. While the number of appearances was limited, his performance demonstrated the type of upside that had made him an intriguing prospect.
The following year presented more challenges. During the 2025 season, he appeared in 11 games for Boston, including 10 starts. Over those outings, he compiled a 2–4 record with a 5.00 ERA while striking out 40 batters across 45 innings. The results were more inconsistent, which is common for pitchers still adjusting to the major league level.
Late in the 2025 campaign, Fitts encountered another obstacle. In late August, he suffered from right arm neuritis, an issue involving nerve inflammation that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Injuries can be particularly frustrating for developing pitchers because they interrupt both progress and opportunities to prove themselves. For Fitts, the setback meant he entered the offseason focused on recovery and preparing to regain his form.
By the time spring training arrived in 2026, he was back on the mound and competing for a roster spot. During exhibition play, he posted a 2–1 record with a 5.79 ERA while striking out nine batters in 9.1 innings. Although the numbers were not dominant, the Cardinals appeared satisfied with his health and progress. Still, the team ultimately decided that additional work in Triple-A would be beneficial before giving him another opportunity in the majors.
Even though he will begin the season in Memphis, Fitts remains a pitcher to watch within the organization. The Cardinals are in the midst of reshaping their roster, and young pitchers often emerge as key contributors during rebuilding periods. Because he already has major league experience, he could be among the first players called upon if the club needs reinforcements in its rotation.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals’ pitching plans for the 2026 season extend beyond just the current rotation. Several other pitchers acquired during the offseason or rising through the farm system could also play important roles.
One of those names is right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who was also obtained from Boston in a separate trade. Like Fitts, Dobbins is expected to factor into the team’s long-term pitching strategy.
The organization also has its eyes on several promising prospects. Among them is Jurrangelo Cijntje, a highly regarded young pitcher ranked among the top prospects in baseball. Cijntje joined the Cardinals in an offseason trade that sent utility player Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. Scouts believe he has the potential to develop into a frontline starter, and there is a possibility he could make his major league debut sometime during the 2026 season.
Another pitcher worth watching is Liam Doyle, who was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee. First-round picks often move through the minor leagues quickly, especially if they perform well early in their professional careers. Doyle’s progress will likely be closely monitored throughout the year.
Taken together, these pitchers illustrate the direction the Cardinals are heading. Instead of relying primarily on established veterans, the organization appears committed to building a younger, more sustainable pitching staff. While that approach may require patience, it also creates opportunities for emerging talent like Fitts to prove themselves.
In other Cardinals-related developments, the international baseball stage recently hosted one of the sport’s most exciting tournaments. The World Baseball Classic concluded Tuesday night with Venezuela national baseball team defeating United States national baseball team by a score of 3–2 in the championship game. The victory marked Venezuela’s first title in the tournament’s history. Meanwhile, the United States has not won the event since capturing the championship in 2017.
Although no current Cardinals players appeared in the final matchup, the organization still had connections to both teams. Former Cardinals star Matt Holliday served as a hitting coach for Team USA during the tournament. On the Venezuelan side, former Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras took part in the championship run after being traded earlier in the offseason.
Back in St. Louis, attention is now shifting toward the beginning of the Major League Baseball regular season. The Cardinals are scheduled to open their 2026 campaign on March 26 with a home game against the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is set for 3:15 p.m. Central Time.
Opening Day always carries a sense of excitement, optimism, and anticipation. For the Cardinals, this year’s opener will also serve as an early glimpse into how their rebuilding plan is beginning to take shape. With a mixture of young pitchers, new acquisitions, and developing prospects, the team hopes to lay the groundwork for future success.
Although Richard Fitts will not be part of the Opening Day rotation, his story within the Cardinals organization is far from finished. If he performs well in Triple-A and continues progressing as a pitcher, there is a strong possibility he will contribute to the major league club later in the season. In a year focused on development and growth, players like Fitts could ultimately play a significant role in determining how quickly the Cardinals return to contention.
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