Cardinals Add Noteworthy Starter With Ties to New Front Office Leadership
Welcome to St. Louis, Zach Plesac!
With the St. Louis Cardinals currently facing a shortage of starting pitching depth, the recent addition of former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Zach Plesac provides a potential boost. The team officially announced Plesac’s signing on Friday. While fans may remember his early success in Cleveland, his more recent struggles to maintain a spot in a major league rotation might raise some eyebrows. However, acquiring pitchers with recent performance issues midseason is often the only realistic option available.
Plesac Reunites With Familiar Faces in Cardinals’ Revamped Front Office
At 30 years old, Plesac first debuted with the Guardians in 2019, recording a solid 3.81 ERA over 21 starts. He followed that with an outstanding 2020 season, posting a 2.28 ERA over eight starts during the pandemic-shortened schedule. At the time, he appeared to be a long-term piece of Cleveland’s rotation.
Though the 2021 and 2022 seasons were less impressive, Plesac still provided value by making 49 starts and one relief appearance, with a 4.49 ERA over 274.1 innings. His FIP of 4.59 was consistent with his results, and he was effective at limiting walks and inducing weak contact—traits that could make him a useful depth option for the Cardinals.
While not a flashy addition, Plesac represents a smart move for a team in need of rotation support. His signing is further notable due to his previous working relationships with key members of St. Louis’ new front office. Rob Cerfolio, the Cardinals’ recently appointed assistant general manager for player development and performance, spent a decade with the Guardians and likely worked closely with Plesac. Similarly, Larry Day, the new director of player development for the Cardinals, also spent time with Plesac during their shared tenure in Cleveland.
Recent Struggles and Signs of Rebound
Plesac’s career has hit turbulence in recent seasons. After a rough start to 2023—where he struggled in five outings—Cleveland released him. He then signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024 but managed just three starts with a concerning 8.25 ERA. Seeking to regain form, Plesac joined the independent Long Island Ducks in April, where he pitched to a promising 2.84 ERA and averaged nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings.
Given his major league experience and background as a starter, Plesac is a logical and timely choice for the Cardinals as an insurance arm. While the big league rotation has remained mostly intact so far, there are few reliable options available in Triple-A. Michael McGreevy is currently the only viable depth starter in Memphis. Meanwhile, top prospects like Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence have dealt with injuries, Tekoah Roby remains in Double-A, and others—such as Cooper Hjerpe, Sem Robberse, and Brian Holiday—are unavailable for the rest of the season.
While the Cardinals would prefer not to rely on Plesac, his presence gives them an experienced option should the need arise, allowing them to avoid rushing young pitchers or conceding games unnecessarily.
This marks the team’s second depth-related acquisition this week, following the signing of left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek to a minor league deal. Both Plesac and Matzek will report to Triple-A Memphis with the aim of earning a potential spot on the major league roster later in the season.
