Thompson dropped some weight last offseason, believing it would help better prepare him to compete for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation. A Sonny Gray injury allowed Thompson to break camp as part of the rotation, but the slimmed-down lefty struggled with his velocity and mechanics and was sent down to Triple-A Memphis by late April and remained there for the rest of the season. He was able to close out the year strong in September and, because he's out of minor-league options, Thompson should crack the Opening Day roster in 2025 either in the rotation or bullpen. However, he has a lot to prove before fantasy managers can trust him. Read Past Outlooks