The Cardinals are sitting right in the middle of deadline chatter, and the next 48 hours could push them in a few very different directions. St. Louis has enough moving parts to make this a fascinating stretch, especially if the club decides to lean into the market instead of simply reacting to it.
One of the biggest names in play is Dustin May, and the expectation is that his time with the Cardinals is about to end. The question is what kind of return he brings back. There’s been plenty of debate about his value, but the Cardinals could end up doing better than they did when they sent Jordan Montgomery away a few deadlines ago.
That 2023 deal brought back Tekoah Roby, Thomas Saggese and left-handed reliever John King. At the time, it looked like a strong haul for St.
Louis. Roby came in as an intriguing pitching prospect with injury questions, while Saggese was rolling toward Double-A Texas League Most Valuable Player honors with his bat.
Even now, both still have time to turn that promise into something more.
The market itself may be helping the Cardinals. With the Twins, Red Sox and Astros all choosing to buy rather than sell, there are fewer starters available than expected over the last few months.
That kind of shortage can work in St. Louis’ favor, and it makes a stronger return for May feel realistic.
Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Phillies, White Sox, Mariners, Red Sox and Rays all had scouts in attendance for May’s last start with the Cardinals, which points to a busy market around him.
Ivan Herrera is another name worth watching, and while the Cardinals may not be looking to move him, the right kind of offer could change that fast. A club hunting for a bat or a catcher could force St. Louis’ hand if the package is strong enough.
Jen McCaffrey, who covers the Red Sox for The Athletic, predicted that Boston will use its pitching depth to chase another major bat after Curtis Mead fractured his wrist, and Herrera looks like a fit for that kind of move. The Red Sox have shown interest in Herrera before, and the Yankees and Rays have also been linked to him. In a tight AL East race, that kind of competition could be enough to spark a blockbuster.
If Herrera goes, the Cardinals would need a serious return. Hunter Goodman’s asking price is a clue that St.
Louis could be looking at a haul. If Boston gets involved, Franklin Arias or Anthony Eyanson would have to be the centerpiece.
If the Yankees make the move, Dax Kilby or Elmer Rodriguez could lead the package. And if Tampa jumps in, Theo Gillen or Nathan Flewelling would be the kind of names the Cardinals would want back.
There’s also a real chance St. Louis doesn’t stop with one catcher.
Moving two catchers at the deadline would be a bold step, but the demand is strong enough that it’s not out of the question. That could mean Herrera and either Jimmy Crooks or Pedro Pages, or it could mean Pages and Crooks both heading elsewhere.
Crooks is someone The Athletic believes the Cardinals are open to moving, and Pages has been a logical trade candidate for some time. Leonardo Bernal appears ready for his chance with St.
Louis, so the Cardinals wouldn’t be scrambling if they decided to reshape the catching group. They don’t need to clear space for him right now, but he’s there if they do.
In Other News...
Cardinals May Have Found The Deadline Partner Fans Were Waiting On
With the MLB trade deadline drawing closer, the Cardinals suddenly have a plausible match sitting across from them in the Phillies. Philadelphia is shopping for help in several areas, including an outfield bat, a starter and relief arms, and that kind of broad shopping list has a way of putting a team like St. Louis into the conversation if the fit is right.
Recent deals around the league have helped clarify the market, which makes a Cardinals-Phillies swap feel more realistic than it might have a few days ago. Nothing is done yet, but the overlap in needs is enough to keep this one on the radar as both clubs weigh whether the pieces they can move line up with what the other side is trying to add. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Tied To Four Deadline Names That Could Change Everything
The trade deadline always brings a little more noise than certainty, and the Cardinals are right in the middle of that familiar swirl. Four names have surfaced as possible fits if St. Louis decides to chase help with an eye on the future: Jackson Holliday, George Kirby, Marcelo Mayer and Reid Detmers. Each comes with a different profile, but the common thread is obvious enough for a club trying to balance present needs with long-term planning.
Holliday stands out as the sort of young talent that can reshape a roster timeline, while Kirby would almost certainly come with a steep acquisition cost if the Cardinals tried to make a serious run at him. Mayer and Detmers give the group more variety, and that is part of what makes this kind of deadline chatter so easy to follow and so hard to read. The Cardinals can dream on the upside, but as always with this time of year, getting from interest to actual movement is where the real uncertainty begins. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Made A Tough Call On A Fan Favorite Outfielder
The Cardinals spent the day reshaping their outfield picture with a move that signals both urgency and patience. Lars Nootbaar, long one of the more recognizable faces in the lineup, is on his way out after the club weighed his health concerns against the rise of younger outfield prospects in the organization.
In return, St. Louis added pitching depth, getting right-hander Daniel Eagen and left-handed reliever Sando Santana as part of a package that also includes a third player not yet reported. It is the kind of deal that can look sensible on paper for a team trying to balance present needs with future value, but the final shape of the return still has one more piece to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]