The Cardinals’ deadline picture just got a little murkier, and JoJo Romero is a big reason why.
St. Louis is sliding toward seller mode as July winds down.
Entering Friday’s games, the Cardinals were 8-12 this month, and a major upgrade at the trade deadline looks unlikely. If anything, this could be the third time in the last four years that they move pieces out instead of pushing in.
Romero had been one of the more obvious names to watch. The left-hander is on the injured list after surgery to address appendicitis, and Derrick Goold reported that St. Louis does not expect him back when he’s first eligible after 15 days.
"The Cardinals do not expect lefty JoJo Romero to return to the active roster when eligible after 15 days on the injured list, and that does somewhat disrupt their dealings at the trade deadline," Goold wrote.
That matters because the Cardinals may not get much of a chance to show him off before the deadline passes. Teams can still call, and interest isn’t going away, but the longer he’s sidelined, the more his trade value could slip.
Romero is recovering well from the surgery, but the timing is working against St. Louis. If he isn’t back before the deadline, the Cardinals could be stuck holding a trade chip that no longer brings the return they hoped for.
That could force them to look elsewhere if they want to maximize what they get back. Riley O'Brien stands out as a possible bigger sell, especially with the All-Star closer under control for three more years after 2026.
For now, Romero’s situation may have changed the board a bit. He might still draw interest, but he also might not be available in time to help the Cardinals do much with him at all. That leaves Chaim Bloom with a deadline decision that just got a lot less straightforward.
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