The Cardinals got a needed win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, but the bigger picture in St. Louis still hangs on what happens over the next week-plus. With the trade deadline now just over a week away, the club’s recent slide has made every game matter in the buyers-or-sellers conversation.
St. Louis entered the All-Star break at 50-45, then stumbled to a 3-6 mark over its last nine games. If the Cardinals decide to add, the clearest path appears to be lineup help - but only “within reason,” and only for a player who can stick around beyond this season.
That’s where Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle comes in. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller pointed to Doyle as a buy-low target who could make sense for St. Louis.
“Speaking of guys who have been on the IL since mid-May, remember Brenton Doyle? All trade deadline eyes fixated on Colorado have been on All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, but Doyle was pretty great two years ago, amassing 23 home runs and 30 stolen bases while securing his second consecutive Gold Glove in center," Miller wrote on Sunday. "Granted, he had a .900 OPS at Coors Field compared to a .636 mark everywhere else, but he looked like a star in the making.
"Unfortunately, he took a big step backward (with even worse home/road splits) in 2025 and has missed most of this season to oblique and groin injuries. He just started a rehab assignment on Thursday, though, so he could be back in the majors just in time for the trade deadline.
That isn't to say they're eager to give Doyle away for nothing, but he is already one of their 10 highest-paid players, in a position group where they arguably have a surplus of viable options. If either the Cardinals or the Orioles are buying, Doyle could be a great fit there."
Doyle is in the worst season of his four-year career, hitting just .207/.279/.270 with one home run and four RBIs in 43 games. Still, the 28-year-old has enough upside to keep him on the radar, and he remains under team control through the 2029 season.
What St. Louis ultimately does at the deadline is still up in the air.
But Doyle fits the kind of gamble the Cardinals could make if they want help without paying a massive price - and if he gets back on track after the injury, he could be part of the mix in St. Louis for years.
In Other News...
Cardinals May Already Have Their Next Late-Inning Answer
The Cardinals used the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft to add UCLA right-hander Cal Randall, a power arm who fits the kind of profile teams often dream on when theyre hunting for late-inning help. His appeal starts with the fastball, which gives him a chance to move faster than a typical draft pick if everything clicks, and St. Louis has already locked him in with a full-slot deal.
What makes Randall especially interesting for the Cardinals is the timeline. Some evaluators think he has the stuff to climb quickly through the minors, but his exact starting point has not been set yet, leaving the organization to map out just how aggressive it wants to be. With bullpen roles never staying quiet for long in St. Louis, the next question is whether Randall becomes part of that conversation sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Moved On From Another Bullpen Arm Fans Noticed
Scott Blewetts brief stop in St. Louis ended the way so many bullpen auditions do, with the Cardinals sending him off after a quick look and another roster shuffle. The right-hander, who has already bounced through multiple organizations in his career, was designated for assignment earlier in the week after being selected from Triple-A Memphis, then found a new landing spot when Oakland stepped in.
The Athletics acquired Blewett from the Cardinals for cash considerations, giving St. Louis a little roster flexibility while moving on from a pitcher who had just worked two scoreless relief innings in Tuesdays 5-1 loss to the Angels. For a Cardinals bullpen that has been in constant motion, it was another reminder of how thin the margins are for a reliever without much room to maneuver. [Read more 🡒]