The Cardinals have put together back-to-back series wins against playoff-contending teams, a stretch that has helped steady things after a rough run of series losses. That improvement has them in a tricky spot as the trade deadline approaches: they may be looking to add, but not in the usual rental-heavy way.
St. Louis is expected to target players with multiple years of club control if it makes a move at all, with pitching standing out as one area that could draw attention. At the same time, the club could have several players generating interest from other teams, and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Chaim Bloom could be willing to listen.
“Rival clubs also are likely to show interest in right-hander Dustin May, closer Riley O’Brien, left-handed reliever JoJo Romero and outfielder Lars Nootbaar. All are vital to the success of the 2026 Cardinals. But Bloom at least holds the option of maneuvering creatively and turning one or more of them into pieces for now and the future.”
O’Brien and Nootbaar each have at least one more year of club control after 2026, while May, Romero and Ryne Stanek are all on expiring contracts. Nootbaar would be the toughest name for fans to swallow, but moving him would also open the door for Joshua Baez to come up and take over a starting outfield job.
O’Brien, with four years of club control left, could fetch a strong return in prospects. Even with the Cardinals still winning, there’s a case for them to lean into the future and cash in on some of that value.
May and Romero also fit as trade candidates, since they probably won’t be back in St. Louis in 2027. Dealing them now would prevent the Cardinals from losing them for nothing beyond draft pick compensation.
How Bloom handles the deadline will be worth watching. The Cardinals have to keep one eye on the future, but there may be room for them to buy and sell at the same time as they sort out what this roster still needs. They remain in a rebuilding phase, though they’ve played better than expected and could still be in position to pursue upgrades.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Will Love Where This Oli Marmol Feud Is Headed
A familiar name is set to leave the umpiring ranks after the 2026 season, and for Cardinals fans, the timing may bring a little extra satisfaction. CB Bucknor is among seven Major League Baseball umpires who have informed the league they plan to retire then, closing the book on a long run that began in 2000 and made him one of the sports most experienced officials.
For St. Louis, Bucknors departure carries a little more edge because of his history with Oli Marmol, a relationship that has not exactly been defined by warmth. The two have crossed paths in moments Cardinals followers remember well, and Bucknor has also been part of a few recent St. Louis games, though not nearly as often as in the past. With his retirement now on the horizon, it adds another layer to a feud that has lingered long enough to become part of the backdrop around this team. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Sent Cardinals Fans A Surprising Midseason Message
ESPNs midseason report cards offered a pretty encouraging snapshot of where the Cardinals stand relative to expectations, and the grade reflected a first half that has felt better than many around the club might have predicted in April. Breakout showings from Jordan Walker and rookie JJ Wetherholt helped drive that positive view, giving St. Louis a couple of young building blocks to point to as the season moves into its next stretch.
Still, the praise came with some caution attached, and it is the kind of warning that tends to linger for a team trying to prove its staying power. ESPN flagged the Cardinals success in extra innings and raised questions about whether the pitching staff can keep this pace, especially with a bullpen that has been ordinary and a rotation that has not piled up strikeouts at a high clip. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Finally Turn To A Bullpen Answer Fans Have Wanted
With the bullpen thinned by injuries, the Cardinals are turning to a fresh arm ahead of their doubleheader against the Brewers. The move gives the club another option in a relief group that has been forced to absorb some recent hits, and it also opens the door for a pitcher who has climbed quickly through the system after spending 2025 in Double-A and this season in Triple-A.
The reward for that rise is a long-awaited major league debut, and the timing could hardly be more important for St. Louis. He has been effective in Triple-A this year, posting a 2.27 ERA across 36 outings, and the Cardinals will now see whether that production can carry over when the games start coming fast and the margin for error gets even smaller. [Read more 🡒]