As the fantasy baseball season approaches, identifying key pitchers for points leagues becomes essential. Focus on strikeouts and innings pitched, as these factors heavily influence scoring. Top targets for 2025 include Minnesota Twins' Pablo Lopez, a starter with a consistent ERA below 4.10 and nearly 200 strikeouts last season. San Francisco Giants' Logan Webb offers incredible value with his innings leader status and strong ERA, making him an ideal mid-round choice. St. Louis Cardinals' Sonny Gray, entering his 13th season, maintains impressive strikeout numbers and low WHIP, further solidifying his mid-round appeal. Finally, despite a season-ending injury, Twins' Joe Ryan's strikeout potential makes him a worthy selection in rounds nine or ten.

The St. Louis Cardinals have added three starting pitchers during the offseason: Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson. However, only Gray is currently signed for the 2025 season, leaving Lynn and Gibson's futures uncertain. Reports indicate that several teams are interested in Lynn, particularly as a potential reliever, although some still view him as a starter. The Texas Rangers are identified as a team that could benefit from Lynn’s experience as a sixth starter, especially given their rotation uncertainties surrounding Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle, both recovering from injuries. Lynn, a former All-Star for the Cardinals, had a solid year in St. Louis with a 3.84 ERA over 23 starts.

Fantasy baseball enthusiasts continue to scour for pitchers who can outperform their average draft positions (ADP). The analysis focuses on starting pitchers with a minimum of 50 innings pitched, using K-BB% as a key metric for assessing their potential. Notable risers include Jack Flaherty, whose K-BB% surged from 12.6% to 24.0% after a successful 2024 season, reflecting his return to form post-injuries. Flaherty’s change in pitch mix—abandoning the cutter for a more effective slider and knuckle curve—has significantly boosted his performance metrics.

Sonny Gray also showed impressive improvement, achieving a K-BB% of 24.4% while garnering the second-most strikeouts in the league. His effective use of the sweeper against left-handed batters played a crucial role. Furthermore, Carlos Rodón made strides in his pitch mix as well, decreasing reliance on his four-seam fastball while enhancing his changeup’s effectiveness, reflecting a positive trend for the 2025 season.

The St. Louis Cardinals are addressing their pitching weaknesses ahead of the 2024 season, having signed Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson during free agency while also enhancing their bullpen. However, the team has faced challenges, including the loss of key players like Paul Goldschmidt and the decision to decline options for Gibson and Lynn for 2025. Despite the quiet off-season, there are indications of interest in re-signing Gibson, who garnered fan support in 2024. Meanwhile, speculation suggests the Milwaukee Brewers might look to acquire Gibson to bolster their pitching depth as they aim to contend.

The winter meetings showcased significant activity, highlighted by the New York Mets' signing of Juan Soto and the Boston Red Sox's trade for Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. The intertwining of free-agent and trade markets has teams reassessing their strategies, particularly with top talents like Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado in play.

Arenado's potential trade from the St. Louis Cardinals is complicated by his no-trade clause and declining offensive stats, even as his defensive skills remain elite. Teams such as the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Red Sox may consider him, but the landscape is influenced by Bregman's market decisions.