The Cardinals are heading toward the trade deadline as sellers, and that reality has them weighing more than just the obvious names.
Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Riley O'Brien and Ryne Stanek are the most straightforward candidates to move, and Lars Nootbaar has even been mentioned as a possible trade chip. But Will Leitch of MLB.com took the conversation a step further by putting first baseman and Silver Slugger Alec Burleson in the mix as well.
That kind of move would not land well with everyone, but it is the sort of possibility St. Louis has to at least consider. The Cardinals are open to listening on players not named Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt, and Burleson could bring back a significant return after earning Silver Slugger honors last season.
There is also a roster fit argument behind the idea. St.
Louis has plenty of left-handed bats, so moving one or two of them could help balance things out. It could also create room at first base for someone else.
One possible wrinkle is Ivan Herrera. If first base ends up being his long-term home, the Cardinals could also ease the organizational logjam behind the plate and create an opening for Leonardo Bernal to push for a big league role.
Still, the case against dealing Burleson is just as strong. He is well-liked in the clubhouse and has grown into a leader for the younger players. He is also an important part of the lineup, and taking him out of it would hurt the offense.
Beyond that, Burleson looks like a real part of the Cardinals’ rebuild. He has the kind of profile that fits a long-term plan, and keeping him around would help St. Louis as it tries to build forward.
Yes, a Burleson trade could bring back a haul. But that does not automatically make it the right move. He has become a fan favorite, and any deal involving him would almost certainly be a tough sell to the fanbase.
For now, the smarter play may be to treat Burleson like one of the core pieces of the future. Based on where things stand, he looks like someone the Cardinals should be building around, not shipping out.
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