It’s trade deadline day, and the Cardinals aren’t just looking to unload pieces for prospects. They’re also in a position to swing for a player with control who can matter well beyond this season, and there are a few names on the market that fit that kind of thinking.
The odds of St. Louis landing one of these players are probably slim.
Still, the possibility is real enough that the Cardinals could seriously chase any of them today, or at least start building toward a deal later on. These are four players who could help shape the next Cardinals core.
Jackson Holliday stands out as the biggest name on the board. The son of Cardinals Hall of Famer Matt Holliday, he was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and is putting together a strong season in his third big league year. In 60 games, Holliday is hitting .252/.356/.387 with five home runs and five stolen bases, while handling second base well and posting a 113 wRC+.
There are even people inside the Cardinals organization who would "move heaven and earth" to make Holliday a Cardinal if they could. He’s only 22, younger than Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt, and he’s still growing into his frame and his bat.
With a long-term hole at third base, Holliday could eventually answer that need. The price would be steep, but his club control runs through 2030, which fits the Cardinals’ timeline.
George Kirby is the pitching name that would really change things. The Cardinals and Mariners have been connected in pitching talks for years, and while Emerson Hancock is interesting, Kirby is the kind of starter who would make a much bigger impact in St. Louis.
He’s also going to be expensive. Kirby has less control than Holliday and would likely cost more, but that’s the tradeoff for a controllable front-line starter.
The Cardinals have plenty of promising arms in the system, but there’s something to be said for locking down a long-term rotation answer now. Kirby has a 3.61 ERA in 133 career starts and has been a steady innings-eater for Seattle.
Some around the league believe there’s another level he can reach, and maybe St. Louis could be the place where that happens.
Marcelo Mayer is the buy-low play. A former first-round pick from Chaim Bloom’s time in Boston, Mayer still hasn’t gotten comfortable at the major league level, and if the Red Sox are willing to move him for less than top value, he becomes an intriguing target.
As a prospect, Mayer drew praise for a near double-plus hit tool and above-average power, the kind of profile that can turn into a serious bat over time. He’s 23 and under club control through 2031, which gives the Cardinals a long runway to develop him into their third baseman of the future. He could also come back in a deal involving prospects or as part of a package for someone like Riley O'Brien or Ivan Herrera, if the price lines up.
Reid Detmers makes sense if John Mozeliak wants to work with his former club. Of the Angels’ options, Detmers looks like the cleanest fit for St.
Louis. He’s broken out this season after years of inconsistency, striking out 28.3% of the hitters he’s faced and putting up a 3.35 FIP in 22 starts.
Detmers still has two more years of club control after 2026, which would give the Cardinals a valuable rotation arm for several seasons and a possible extension candidate down the line. He isn’t as established as Kirby, so the cost should be lower, and if the Angels are willing to talk at a reasonable number, St.
Louis should be in the mix. The Angels already moved Jose Soriano to the Blue Jays, a sign they’re open for business.
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In return, St. Louis added pitching depth, getting right-hander Daniel Eagen and left-handed reliever Sando Santana as part of a package that also includes a third player not yet reported. It is the kind of deal that can look sensible on paper for a team trying to balance present needs with future value, but the final shape of the return still has one more piece to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]