The Cardinals may not be in position to do much at this trade deadline, but the offseason picture already has one intriguing lane: Seattle.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert as the Cardinals’ “dream match,” even while noting Seattle has “zero intention” of moving him. The appeal is easy to see on paper.
Gilbert’s club control is shrinking, and that could eventually push the Mariners toward a different kind of conversation with St. Louis once the winter arrives.
For now, though, the Cardinals don’t look like a team ready to chase a headline move in July. If they stay in the mix, they could ask for more in return before dealing Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, or another possible trade chip.
But the odds of them bringing in a major addition still feel slim. Passan also mentioned Giants starter Robbie Ray as a fit, though that doesn’t sound like the kind of route St.
Louis would likely take.
The more natural connection is between the Cardinals and Mariners themselves. That pairing keeps coming up because the fit is obvious: St.
Louis has cost-controlled bats and position-player prospects Seattle could want, while the Mariners have young pitching the Cardinals would love to get their hands on. The problem has always been finding a deal both sides can live with.
There’s another layer now, too. Matt Pierpont, the Cardinals’ director of pitching, came over from Seattle after working there in different roles as a pitching coach and pitching coordinator. That only adds to the sense that these two clubs are built to keep talking.
Still, Gilbert may not be the cleanest target for St. Louis.
Passan pointed out that he’s entering his final year of team control, which could make him more available for Seattle. But that same detail also makes him less appealing for the Cardinals if they’re going to pay a meaningful price.
If the two teams do get serious, other Mariners starters feel like more realistic targets. George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock all come with between two and four years of club control, and that kind of runway would matter if St. Louis is going to move real talent.
Seattle also appears ready to lean on top prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, so those names probably aren’t part of the discussion. Even so, the Mariners have plenty of pitching depth beyond Gilbert, and dealing from that group could make sense if they want to chase prospects or position players in return. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has also mentioned Luis Castillo as a possible name to watch.
If Lars Nootbaar is still in St. Louis after the deadline, he could become a useful piece for Seattle. He would be a clear upgrade over Luke Raley in right field or Victor Robles in center, and that kind of fit could help build a package for one of those younger arms.
Seattle’s catching situation could also open the door to a smaller piece in a larger deal. Cal Raleigh has had an awful year after finishing second in American League MVP voting in 2025, and while the Mariners are not looking for a replacement, Jimmy Crooks or Leo Bernal could be appealing as options to lighten Raleigh’s load.
Then there’s the possibility of something bigger. Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson both have rising offensive value and would likely reduce the amount of extra talent St.
Louis would need to include. None of these arms would come cheap, and none of these names would be easy to pry loose.
A Nootbaar-for-Gilbert type of deal could be one path, but the price would have to make sense for the Cardinals, especially if they’re looking at an arm with just one year of control. For now, the idea is more winter speculation than immediate reality.
There’s still a lot of baseball left, plus the MLB Draft, the trade deadline, and even a potential lockout before this turns into a real conversation. But as an offseason fit, Mariners pitching - even if not specifically Gilbert - is worth keeping on the Cardinals’ radar.
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