The Cardinals are heading toward a deadline that could shape the next stretch of their season, and the clearest sign of where this is going has already come from Chaim Bloom. St. Louis does not appear ready to part with prospects for a quick fix, which makes selling the more natural path as August 3 approaches.
That puts Dustin May squarely in the conversation.
The right-hander is one of the Cardinals’ most obvious trade pieces, and the market around him could get interesting fast. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Detroit Tigers are now hesitant to move Tarik Skubal, and if that holds, it could change the entire starting-pitching landscape.
Skubal is the best arm available, and if he comes off the board as a rental, the ripple effect could be real. Suddenly, May’s value rises because teams still looking for rotation help have fewer places to turn.
May, 28, is 5-6 with a 4.55 ERA in 18 starts. He has not been quite the same since throwing a complete-game shutout against the San Diego Padres, but that does not mean the market will view him lightly. In a deadline where rental starters can bring back a strong return, the Cardinals could find themselves in a position to cash in.
There are other names out there, but they may be tougher to pry loose. Pitchers with multiple years of control, such as Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers, could be difficult to acquire because the Los Angeles Angels do not usually like to sell at the deadline. That could leave May sitting near the top of the rental market.
If that happens, St. Louis has leverage. And with leverage comes the chance to turn a veteran arm into prospects that fit the next wave.
What the Cardinals should be looking for, ideally, is major league-ready starting pitching help. That kind of return would give them insurance if injuries hit and keep options open as they move forward.
Selling does not have to mean waving the white flag, either. The Tigers showed that in 2024.
Sometimes a team gets better after dealing pieces away. If the Cardinals move May at the right price, they could strengthen the future and still leave themselves with better choices later this season.
For now, the priority in St. Louis is the long view.
They should only buy if an affordable player clearly fits what comes next. Otherwise, the smart play may be to sell high on May and take advantage if Skubal is no longer in the mix.
In Other News...
Cardinals Lose Another Young Prospect As Key Return Raises New Questions
The Cardinals got a bit of movement on the prospect front, but not all of it was the kind that brings relief. The club activated outfielder Tai Peete off the seven-day injured list and right-hander Alan Reyes off the 60-day injured list, giving the system a couple of young names back in circulation as the organization keeps trying to restock its pipeline.
Peete, one of the more closely watched pieces in the group, arrived in St. Louis in the Brendan Donovan trade and has been viewed as a notable part of the clubs future. The broader picture is less tidy, though, after the Cardinals also announced that 23-year-old infield prospect Christian Martin has retired from professional baseball, a reminder of how quickly the path can change for players still trying to establish themselves in the minors. [Read more 🡒]
Joshua Bez Just Turned Up The Pressure On The Cardinals
Joshua Bez wasted little time reminding the Cardinals why he sits near the top of their prospect list. In his first Triple-A game after the All-Star break, the 2026 No. 3 prospect delivered a grand slam and kept building on a season that has already turned heads in Memphis. It was the kind of power display that fits the profile of a player who has spent his first year at that level forcing the issue.
Bez now has 29 home runs, which leads the International League, and his overall production has been strong enough to keep him squarely in the conversation as St. Louis pushes for a Wild Card spot. The Cardinals have plenty of moving parts ahead of the trade deadline, and Bez's rise only adds another layer to the roster picture as the organization weighs what it needs now against what it may need soon. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Finally Completed The Chris Roycroft Trade But Fans Will Debate It
The Cardinals long-running Chris Roycroft move finally got the rest of its paperwork done, and it came with a familiar kind of deadline-day aftertaste. St. Louis picked up right-hander Trey Pooser from the Rays, while Roycroft was sent to Tampa Bay in a deal that will bring the Cardinals either a player to be named later or cash, the sort of return that leaves plenty of room for fans to argue about what the club really got out of it.
For Tampa Bay, the roster shuffle continued immediately, with Roycroft heading to Triple-A Durham and catcher Dom Keegan designated for assignment to clear space. From the Cardinals side, the trade now reads as one more small but complete piece of business, even if the final value of it will not be settled until the return package is fully known. [Read more 🡒]