With Relievers Flying Off the Market, Cardinals Need to Strike While JoJo Romero’s Value Is High
While the starting pitching and position player markets have moved at a methodical pace this offseason, the reliever market has been anything but slow. In fact, it’s been a sprint - and the St. Louis Cardinals are now sitting at a pivotal crossroads.
They’ve watched the bullpen landscape shift rapidly in recent days. The Mets, after losing Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers, wasted no time locking in former Cardinal Luke Weaver on a two-year deal. Weaver is expected to slot into a key setup role in front of new closer Devin Williams, giving New York a formidable late-inning duo.
Not to be outdone, the Phillies made a move of their own, signing Brad Keller - who quietly had a standout year as the Cubs' most reliable high-leverage arm in 2025. He’ll now be tasked with bridging the gap to flamethrower Jhoan Duran in Philadelphia’s bullpen.
Neither Weaver nor Keller were likely to land in St. Louis, but their signings still impact the Cardinals in a big way. With two major contenders now likely out of the market for late-inning help, the urgency ramps up for the Cardinals to make a move of their own - not by adding, but by dealing.
JoJo Romero: The Trade Chip St. Louis Can’t Afford to Sit On
Enter JoJo Romero. The 29-year-old lefty isn’t just one of the better bullpen arms still available this winter - he might be the best left-handed option on the market, period.
Just look at the numbers. Romero posted a sparkling 2.07 ERA and 3.28 FIP over 61 innings in 2025, holding left-handed hitters to a paltry .211/.287/.244 slash line.
He didn’t just dominate - he evolved. After taking over as the Cardinals’ de facto closer in the second half, Romero looked every bit the part of a shutdown arm capable of anchoring a contender’s bullpen.
And yet, he’s still under team control for one more year, with a projected arbitration salary somewhere in the $4 million to $5 million range. In a market where comparable relievers are fetching multi-year deals and significant dollars, Romero’s affordability only sweetens the pot for interested teams.
Now, with the free-agent pool for lefty relievers drying up - think Danny Coulombe and Sean Newcomb as the top remaining southpaws - the Cardinals are in a prime position to leverage Romero’s value. He’s better than anyone left on the open market, and that gives St. Louis a rare edge.
Time Is of the Essence
Of course, there’s a flip side. As teams like the Mets and Phillies fill their bullpen needs, the list of potential trade partners narrows.
That’s why timing is everything. The Cardinals can’t afford to wait and hope a bidding war materializes later in the offseason.
The window to maximize Romero’s value is open right now - and it might not stay that way for long.
Chaim Bloom and the Cardinals’ front office have a real opportunity here. Romero won’t fetch a franchise-altering return, but in a market where even mid-tier relievers are commanding attention, a controllable, high-performing lefty like him could bring back a meaningful piece - whether it’s a young bat, a controllable arm, or a prospect with upside.
The Cardinals have already made noise this offseason by reshaping their rotation. Now, they have a chance to flip a bullpen asset at peak value. With the reliever market moving as fast as it has, standing still isn’t an option.
JoJo Romero’s stock is high, the demand is still there, and the supply is thinning by the day. For St. Louis, the message is clear: make the move - before someone else beats you to it.