������Ƶ

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals on Friday finalized one good move that could become two for a pair of former first-round picks turned friends.

Congratulations to Zack Thompson. Go be a starter until Sonny Gray returns and forces a conversation about what’s next. Thompson earned this. He doesn’t need to look over his shoulder. Just let him pitch.

As for Matthew Liberatore, how he sees his new situation and goes about maximizing it will determine if the second part succeeds. Liberatore’s reaction to Friday’s news, first that Thompson won their competition to become the Cardinals’ fifth starter as long as one is needed, and second that Liberatore made the opening-day roster as a member of the bullpen, was a very encouraging sign.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “I said from the get-go this spring that I wanted to be part of the team and contribute in whatever way that is, and I’m going to get that opportunity.”

OK, that’s the right answer for any player. You don’t vent after getting an opening-day roster spot, if you are smart. But this wasn’t Liberatore being a public relations All-Star. This was Liberatore licking his chops.

“I want the bottom of the ninth if I can get it,” he said. “I want the most leverage position I can get. All games are decided by, really, two or three pitches. I’m ready to pitch whenever, as often as they want me to, and to go out there and compete.”

With big free-agent rotation addition Gray (hamstring) on the injured list to start the season and likely unavailable to pitch in a game until the Cardinals host the Phillies, the Cardinals will plug the left-handed Thompson into the fifth spot and, hopefully, leave him alone.

Meanwhile left-handed Liberatore is headed to the bullpen with the most clarity he’s had since he was a Rays turned Cardinals prospect, back when everyone assumed he would one day help anchor the rotation. Hasn’t worked out that way. But that’s his old story. Here’s a chance to pen a new one.

Liberatore is not joining the relievers to be some no-role long reliever who hangs out and waits to see if Thompson or another member of the rotation stumbles. He’s not one of those middle relievers a manager calls upon only if leads or deficits bloat. He’s a reliever now, one with an invitation to carve out a big presence. Remember: Gray isn’t the only veteran hurt. So is free-agent bullpen addition Keynan Middleton.

In a perfect world, Jordan Montgomery would be in this Cardinals rotation instead of still twiddling his thumbs in free agency. But that’s not happening. One, because the Cardinals feel the ask from agent Scott Boras is too high. Two, because they are confident in Gray being at full strength after what should be a relatively brief absence. Three, because they feel better about depth, an area that betrayed them a season ago.

Thompson, who did more than any other young pitcher to take advantage of last season’s last-place finish, is an example of improvement in that depth area. Among the options the Cardinals limited themselves to here, I like this decision. For both Thompson and Liberatore.

Thompson didn’t always have his best stuff this spring but he battled and showed a starter’s resiliency and grit. Grapefruit League stats don’t matter for every player, but they did in his case, and he crafted a 2.81 ERA in four starts (16 innings) while striking out 14 and walking six. Opponents averaged just .190 against him.

Meanwhile, evidence continued to grow that suggests Liberatore is best used in relief.

Effective relievers don’t need as many always-on pitches, and Liberatore’s curveball is wicked. So, maximize it. His arm bounces back well, meaning he can be used often. His velocity plays up in the bullpen and sustains better there. He’s hard on fellow lefties, too. And he’s found out he kind of digs the change of pace.

Part of that could be results-based. Last season in the majors he had a 5.88 ERA as a starter; opponents averaged .300 with a .372 on-base percentage and a .470 slugging percentage against him through 11 starts. Same season, he had a 2.84 ERA as a reliever while limiting hitters to a slash line of .146/.245/.317 through 11 relief appearances.

“My favorite thing was just the simplification of it,” Liberatore said. “There is still game-planning that goes into it, and obviously preparation. But there is a chance to contribute every day. You don’t have to live or die with your last outing for the next five days. I do like that aspect of it, and I like feeling like I can contribute to the team on a more regular basis. I’m definitely ready to take on this role.”

Better late than never, it’s time to get Liberatore a role more meaningful than fringe starter. It’s time to move on from hoping he flourishes into an ace who forces a regrading of the front office’s regrettable Randy Arozarena trade. It’s time to tell the 24-year-old to go out there an let it eat, then see what he makes of it.

We may be pleasantly surprised. Liberatore seems relieved when talking about being a reliever. Some guys lean into this shift and smash the gas pedal.

“He embraced this,” manager Oli Marmol said. “He knows he has value in that bullpen because of how he’s built. He likes it.”

The 2023 Cardinals were too wishy-washy. They tried to change too much too fast while scrambling to stop what became a last-place slide. When a team tries to convince itself an All-Star catcher needs a position change, imagine how uncertain things can seem for young players on the cusp of the roster and in between roles.

The 2024 Cardinals seem to be trying to minimize uncertainty where they can. Smart.

Some examples: Gray isn’t going to make a Cardinals debut until he can pitch without restrictions. Marmol has expressed a desire to have a more static defense and lineup, though injuries will challenge that early in the season. Thompson is a starter, and forget that six-man rotation stuff. Liberatore is a reliever.

Clarity, what a concept.

“You’re not saving or holding anything back,” Liberatore, the reliever, said. “Which is nice.”