Richard Fitts was one of many players brought in this offseason during the team's rebuild. He'll be an option for the starting rotation at some point, but it clearly won't be at the beginning of the campaign.
According to the MiLB transactions page, the St. Louis Cardinals have sent right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts down to Triple-A Memphis.
Fitts was one of the pieces acquired by Chaim Bloom this offseason in the November trade for Sonny Gray with the Boston Red Sox.
As noted by Cardinals insider Derrick Goold, this decision should settle the team's Opening Day rotation with Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy and Dustin May earning spots.
May was brought in this offseason on a one-year deal. The battle for the Opening Day starter likely comes down to him and Liberatore, who has expressed interest in having that honor already this offseason.
About Fitts
A 26-year-old Alabama native, Fitts was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. The Red Sox acquired him December of 2023 in the trade that sent outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Yankees.
He made his debut with Boston in 2024, going 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA in four starts. He made 11 appearances (10 starts) in 2025, going 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA. He struck out 40 batters in 45.0 innings.
Fitts was injured in late August and missed the rest of the 2025 season with right arm neuritis. He's 2-1 with a 5.79 ERA this spring, striking out nine batters in 9.1 innings.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Richard Fitts (35) plays catch during spring training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesAbout the Cardinals pitching plans
Though Fitts isn't going to make the Opening Day rotation, he does figure to be a big part of what the Cardinals do in 2026. Hunter Dobbins, also acquired in the offseason from the Red Sox, should factor into plans and top prospects Jurrangelo Cijtnje and Liam Doyle could possibly debut this season as well.
Cijntje, a Top 100 prospect, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the offseason trade of Brendan Donovan. Doyle was a first-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2025 out of Tennessee.
Elsewhere in Cardinals news
--The World Baseball Classic ended on Tuesday night with Team Venezuela beating Team USA 3-2 in the final. It's the first title for Venezuela and the Americans haven't won since 2017.
No Cardinals players were playing in the finals, but former Cardinal Matt Holliday was a hitting coach for Team USA. Former Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, dealt this offseason, played for Venezuela.
--The Cardinals will open up the regular season on March 26 at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is 3:15 p.m. CT.
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