Masyn Winn didn’t leave much room for interpretation when asked about the Cardinals’ trade deadline outlook.
Speaking during this week’s series against the Cubs at Busch Stadium, the St. Louis shortstop made it clear he expects the front office to act like a seller, no matter how the final stretch plays out.
"We could win every game for the rest of the year, and [Chaim Bloom] would still trade guys."
That’s the kind of line that lands because it feels blunt, and because it fits where the Cardinals are right now. They’ve stayed on the fringes of the National League wild-card race even after going 2-8 in their last 10, but that hasn’t changed the bigger picture for Bloom, who took over for longtime executive John Mozeliak last offseason.
The organization’s direction appears set, and Winn’s quote reflects that reality. Bloom was brought in to restore the steady, familiar standard the Cardinals had for much of the last three decades, and a decent first half isn’t enough to erase the flaws in this roster or make it look like a true contender.
A few names are already circulating in trade chatter. Dustin May and Ryne Stanek are among the players being discussed, and there could be a wider sell-off depending on how aggressive Bloom wants to be. As Redbird Rants noted, Ivan Herrera, Alex Burleson, Lars Nootbaar, Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante could also be available.
For Cubs fans wondering whether St. Louis could become a trade partner, the answer right now looks like no.
There are no signs the Cubs and Cardinals are working on a deal, even though May has had an uneven season and could still appeal to clubs looking for pitching depth. Jed Hoyer is searching for arms, but a deal with St.
Louis doesn’t appear to be on the table.
Still, if the Cardinals do move pieces, it could matter beyond their own clubhouse. A bigger sell-off would add more pitching to the market, and that could help Hoyer as he tries to bolster a staff that has been pushed through injury after injury ahead of Aug.
- So even if Winn’s comment doesn’t change much for Cubs fans on the surface, it’s a line worth filing away.
In Other News...
Cubs Roster Squeeze Is About To Claim Some Familiar Names
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With the trade deadline also looming, the front office may not be done adding pitching help, which means there will be fewer places to go around. That puts a handful of current Cubs in a vulnerable spot, with Aaron Civale, Tyler Ferguson, Trent Thornton, Andrew Wantz, Pedro Ramirez and James Triantos among the names most exposed if the club has to clear room for the reinforcements coming down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Catching Depth Just Took Another Hit Fans Will Notice
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For Chicago, the departure is another reminder that organizational catching depth can change quickly, especially when a player with big league experience becomes available elsewhere. Bethancourt had been part of the mix at Iowa, and his exit leaves the Cubs with one less experienced option in the upper minors while the Yankees keep searching for a right-handed-hitting catcher and continue sorting through trade possibilities. [Read more 🡒]
Jed Hoyer May Have Just Shown His True Cubs Deadline Plan
Tarik Skubal is still the loudest name on the pitching market, and the Tigers are expected to move him before the deadline with a long list of contenders circling. The Cubs have been floated as a possible fit, but the broader picture around Chicago has pointed in a different direction, one that values a starter who can stick around beyond this season rather than a short-term swing at a premium arm.
That preference says plenty about how Jed Hoyer may be approaching July. Chicago is willing to part with prospects for the right pitcher, but the club seems far more likely to chase a controllable arm than a rental with free agency looming, which is why names like Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano, Emmerson Hancock and Sandy Alcantara keep surfacing as more realistic paths if the Cubs decide to make their move. [Read more 🡒]