With the World Series wrapped up, the offseason is officially open for business, and the Cardinals are at the stage where the roster churn can start to take shape. St.
Louis spent the final month of its 2026 season getting a head start on 2027 planning, and now the movement around the league is beginning too. The first trade of the offseason already went down Thursday, when the Boston Red Sox sent speedster Nate Eaton to the Athletics.
For the Cardinals, that means it’s time to look at the players who may already be wearing a St. Louis uniform for the last time. Several names stand out as candidates to be on the move, and the list starts with Nolan Gorman.
Gorman’s story has become pretty clear at this point. The Cardinals have been waiting since 2023 for his bat to show up again in the majors.
That season, he delivered in a big way, launching 27 home runs and driving in 76 runs in his second year in the big leagues. Since then, though, he has not gotten back to that level.
Third base is still unsettled, so there’s technically a lane for him to keep getting at-bats there. Even so, the Cardinals would be better served if Blaze Jordan or Thomas Saggese got that playing time at the hot corner.
Another possibility is that St. Louis brings in a short-term answer and lets someone like Jesus Baez take over later.
The sense here is simple: the Cardinals have seen enough.
Ryan Stanek is another player who could be on the way out, even if a return would make sense on some level. He has a $6 million club option, and it does not look like that option is likely to be exercised.
If St. Louis declines it and Stanek reaches free agency, his next stop is anyone’s guess.
He should draw interest once he hits the open market.
Ivan Herrera also belongs on the watch list. This one is a little more surprising, but not unrealistic.
The Cardinals are crowded behind the plate, and Herrera is not strong defensively. His value is tied to the bat, but that raises another question: do the Cardinals want to keep using him at designated hitter?
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Cardinals will explore deals involving their catchers, Herrera included.
Then there’s Garrett Prieto, who at 27 is not someone the Cardinals necessarily have to move on from. But the production just hasn’t been there.
He appeared in 16 games and hit .079, going 3-for-38. That kind of line is tough to justify.
In 2025, he got into three games and went 1-for-6. Offensively, he still hasn’t found a way to get going in the majors.
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Stanek gave the Cardinals plenty of innings in 2026, working in 70 games and finishing with a 4.02 ERA after settling in following a rough opening stretch. Even so, the cost of bringing him back at the option number could make the club hesitate, especially if the belief is that he might return on a lower deal once the market resets. For a bullpen that will always be judged on both effectiveness and efficiency, this is the kind of move that can leave fans wondering whether the safe choice and the smart one are the same thing. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Lynn Just Framed A Cardinals Bullpen Fix Fans Will Debate
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The discussion centered on Evan Phillips, Pete Fairbanks and Jose Alvarado as possible prove-it targets, the kind of pitchers whose recent track records make them easy to debate in a front office room and among fans alike. Each brings a different profile, and each would represent a meaningful swing at stabilizing a bullpen that still looks like it needs another trusted option or two before anyone can feel settled. [Read more 🡒]