The Cardinals’ trade deadline picture is starting to come into focus, and it’s not a clean one. After blowing a 7-0 lead against the Diamondbacks, the message looks pretty clear: this is a club that should be selling. The harder part is figuring out how far they go, especially with two weeks left before the deadline and Chaim Bloom still weighing the market.
Some of the names that once seemed obvious as trade pieces aren’t so simple anymore. Dustin May and Ryne Stanek were supposed to be the easy chips when they were added, but recent outings have changed that conversation. At the same time, a couple of other Cardinals have surfaced as more intriguing options.
The clearest trade candidate now appears to be Riley O'Brien. He’s under team control for three more years after 2026, has already saved 25 games this season and was just named an All-Star.
That kind of profile gives him real appeal, and his value only climbs because of the control attached to him. He’s also leaned on his changeup more often and more effectively, which only helps his case.
His 3.35 ERA adds another layer to the package, even if the return won’t match what the A’s got for Mason Miller last year.
JoJo Romero also looks like a strong bet to move. He’s an impending free agent making $4.26 million this year, and he’s posted a 3.35 ERA in 44 appearances.
The appendicitis that landed him on the injured list could ding his market a bit, but it may not change the bigger picture. Since the issue isn’t arm-related and he’s expected back at full strength soon, a contender could still be willing to pay a little extra for a rental bullpen arm.
There’s a real chance his last innings in a Cardinals uniform have already been thrown.
As for May and Stanek, the feeling here is that both stay. That’s not because they’re untouchable - quite the opposite.
The problem is value. Stanek hasn’t inspired much interest, and May’s recent struggles have taken a bite out of what the Cardinals might have hoped to get for him.
Still, May remains a serviceable arm, and with starting pitching being a weakness, it may make more sense to keep him around than sell low. If O'Brien and Romero bring back younger, major league-ready starting pitching or arms close to it, May becomes useful depth for the stretch run and maybe even a wild card push.
Lars Nootbaar is another name that’s been floating around, but trading him would be a mistake in this view. The argument for moving him is that it could open a path for Joshua Baez, but there’s another way to make that work: send Nathan Church down to Memphis.
Church has really struggled at the plate lately, and that move would let Nootbaar slide to center field while Baez handles left. Beyond the roster fit, Nootbaar brings something this clubhouse needs - a veteran presence who can keep things loose.
That makes him more of an extension candidate than a trade chip.
Stanek, meanwhile, feels like a player the Cardinals are stuck with for now. Teams will have interest in May and Nootbaar, but the sense here is that May’s value has slipped and moving Nootbaar would be the wrong call. He’s also been productive since returning, and May still has value because of his veteran experience.
That’s the read on how this deadline could shake out: O'Brien and Romero out, May, Stanek and Nootbaar staying put. It may not play out that way, and the Cardinals have been unpredictable before, but Bloom’s approach over the next two weeks will tell the story.
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