The Cardinals’ search for a long-term answer at third base has a name that’s impossible to ignore: Jackson Holliday.
Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat wasn’t reporting that St. Louis is gearing up for a full-court press on the Baltimore Orioles infielder, but he did say there are people in the organization who would “move heaven and earth” to get him. That kind of speculation lands differently when the player in question is the son of Cardinals Hall of Famer Matt Holliday and a former No. 1 prospect who could fit a glaring need.
Holliday has been a hot topic because ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Baltimore has talked about him in trade negotiations. That naturally put him on the radar for a Cardinals club with a clear opening at third base. From there, the fit starts to make a lot of sense.
At 22, Holliday is still young enough to carry plenty of upside, and he’s showing more of it this season. He’s hitting .252/.359/.397 with five home runs and four stolen bases for the Orioles, good for a 116 wRC+.
He’s mostly played second base, but there’s little reason to think he couldn’t slide over to third and handle the job in St. Louis.
That’s why the idea has real appeal for the Cardinals. If Baltimore were willing to talk seriously, Holliday would be the kind of major-league talent that fits the club’s long-term timeline. He’s not just a short-term fix; he’s the sort of player who could matter in 2027, 2028, 2029 and beyond.
Jones made it clear he was speculating, not reporting, when he suggested the Cardinals might be willing to go big for Holliday. In that scenario, St.
Louis would not be looking to give up Jordan Walker, JJ Wetherholt, or prospects such as Rainiel Rodriguez. But the organization does have the kind of farm depth that could support a real swing if the Orioles ever decided to move him.
And that’s the balancing act here. The Cardinals already have one of the better farm systems in baseball, and they just had one of the best drafts in the sport.
They also have more pieces they could move this offseason, including Lars Nootbaar and Riley O’Brien, while Dustin May and Ryne Stanek are expected to be dealt for prospect capital. The front office wants future assets, but it also wants cornerstone young talent.
Holliday would check both boxes.
If St. Louis were to land him, the long-term infield picture would suddenly look a lot more interesting, with Holliday alongside Wetherholt, Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson.
Of course, there’s another side to this. The Cardinals already have several young players coming who could fill some of these same future needs.
Joshua Baez is close to an MLB debut, though he still has swing-and-miss issues to clean up. Jesus Baez, acquired from the Mets in the Ryan Helsley trade last trade deadline, is having a breakout year and has already slugged 26 home runs, making him a possible future third baseman.
Rainiel Rodriguez, meanwhile, remains one of the best-hitting prospects in the sport and could be in the mix by the end of 2027 or early 2028.
So the Cardinals’ decision, if Holliday ever truly becomes available, would come down to one question: do they wait for their own young talent, or do they make a bold move for a player who could change the shape of the lineup for years?
In Other News...
Angels Selloff Just Took A Turn Fans Were Dreading
The Brewers are opening a three-game set against an Angels club that has spent most of the season near the bottom of the standings, but the bigger backdrop here is the deadline. Los Angeles has already started moving pieces, dealing catcher Logan O'Hoppe and reliever Chase Silseth to the Rangers for prospect Angel Arredondo, a sign the selloff is underway as the calendar turns toward August.
For Milwaukee, the timing matters because the front office has its own work to do while trying to hold first place in the NL Central. Both clubs are expected to stay active in the trade market, and the Brewers have been tied to pitching help as they look to protect a division lead that can change quickly if the deadline reshapes the roster around them. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Could Finally Make The Bullpen Move Fans Have Waited For
The trade market is already starting to move ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, and the latest ripple has only intensified the bullpen chatter around Milwaukee. With the Mets beginning a fire sale and relievers changing hands, the Brewers have been linked to one of the more attractive arms on the board, a pitcher whose season has made him one of the more intriguing names available as contenders look for late-inning help.
There is, of course, a catch, because the price for that kind of impact is never just about talent. Any team stepping in would have to weigh the prospect cost against a hefty salary commitment, which is exactly the sort of calculation that can slow a deal even when the fit makes sense on the field. For a Brewers club that has been watching the relief market closely, the question now is whether the front office decides this is the moment to pay up. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Made A Pitching Move That Raises Deadline Questions
The Brewers shuffled their pitching staff again by reinstating left-hander DL Hall from the 15-day injured list, a move that gives Milwaukee another arm back as it keeps sorting through the back end of the roster. To make room, the club moved left-hander Thomas Pannone off the active picture after a brief stay that included a spot start, part of the constant churn that tends to follow a team trying to stay flexible on the mound.
Pannones outing Wednesday was serviceable enough to keep the door open for more pitching decisions, but the bigger question is what this latest move says about Milwaukees thinking as the deadline approaches. The Brewers 40-man roster now sits at 38, and with Hall back in the mix, the club is still in a position where every pitching move can hint at a larger plan still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]