Alec Burleson spent the trade deadline week with his name swirling in rumors, and then he did the most convincing thing possible to quiet them: he went to the Bronx and hit three home runs.
That night against the New York Yankees felt like more than just a big game. It was a statement, and it came just hours after the deadline passed with Burleson still wearing a Cardinals uniform.
In a 13-7 St. Louis win, he finished 3-for-5 with six RBI and turned what had been a tense stretch into a showcase.
The rumors were real enough that manager Oliver Marmol brought Burleson into his office in New York to tell him he would not be traded as the deadline neared. National insiders and local reporters had both confirmed the Cardinals were listening, and Burleson had become a name other teams were chasing as clubs looked for bats.
The San Diego Padres were especially aggressive in their search for a left-handed hitter and were believed to be focused on either Burleson or Lars Nootbaar, who was eventually dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the buzzer.
Burleson didn’t need to say much with the bat, but after the game he made clear the rumors had landed. “I love St.
Louis. I love the guys," Burleson said following his three-home-run performance.
"My family loves St. Louis.
I want to be around for what this will look like for the next couple of years,” Burleson said. “Whatever was going to happen, at that point, was out of my control.
There is nothing I can do. I tried my best not to worry about it.
Obviously, it’s in your head all day. You are thinking about it a lot.
Try to get back the day and get ready for the game.”
The blast-filled night was only part of why Burleson landed so high on the Cardinals’ 2026 moments countdown. He put together a career season, hitting .279/.343/.473 with 26 home runs and an MLB-leading 116 RBI.
He also handled first base well in his first full season at the position, giving St. Louis a steady presence every day.
By season’s end, he was the only Cardinals player to earn an “S-Tier” grade from the Dealin' the Cards podcast in its player grades. Burleson has also said he is open to an extension and would like to get something done before the impending lockout.
While a trade can’t be completely dismissed if his value is at its highest, the sense around him is clear: he looks like a core piece, and he wants to be part of what comes next in St. Louis.
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