The Cardinals are hanging around the playoff picture, but the last week-plus has not been kind to them. St.
Louis has dropped three in a row and six of its last 10, leaving the club at 51-48 and just three games over .500. Even with that skid, the Cardinals would still be in the postseason field if the season ended today, sitting in the No.
3 National League Wild Card spot.
The problem is how crowded things are getting. The Marlins and Pirates are tied with St.
Louis in the standings, the Diamondbacks are only a half-game back, and the Nationals are just one game behind. With less than two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Cardinals are in a tricky spot: still in the hunt, but also dealing with obvious issues, especially in the bullpen.
That makes a major move feel unlikely. Chaim Bloom has already said the Cardinals won’t take any “shortcuts” this summer.
That’s what makes the latest name linked to St. Louis so unexpected. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel listed the Cardinals as one of the best fits for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
“No. 24.
Seiya Suzuki, OF, Chicago Cubs,” McDaniel and Passan wrote. “Chance of being traded: 15 percent.
Rest-of-season impact: Moderate. Years of control: Just the rest of 2026.
The buzz: Chicago wants to get creative to fill its pitching issues, and that means at least listening on Suzuki, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Considering the paucity of impact outfielders available, Chicago could try to take advantage of the market and lean into its depth with Michael Conforto and Kevin Alcantara. ...
“Best fits: Rays, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, Phillies, Yankees, Diamondbacks, Cardinals.”
On paper, Suzuki would be a real boost. He’s hitting .273/.357/.476 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs.
But the fit still feels off for a few reasons. He’d be a rental, which runs against the Cardinals’ stated approach of avoiding shortcuts.
And it’s hard to picture St. Louis and Chicago, both chasing playoff spots, lining up on a deal this big in the middle of the season.
There’s also the simple roster question. The Cardinals already have Jordan Walker, Nathan Church and Lars Nootbaar handling the outfield, and if they needed another option because of injury, No. 3 prospect Joshua Báez would be the next name in line for a larger role.
For now, the idea of Suzuki landing in St. Louis looks more surprising than realistic.
In Other News...
Cardinals Deadline Picture Just Turned Into A Bullpen Gut Check
With the trade deadline closing in, the Cardinals are sorting through a bullpen market that could force some uncomfortable choices. The club has a few relievers who would draw interest from other teams, and the front office is weighing value against the need to keep the current group intact for a stretch run. It is the kind of deadline setup that leaves little room for sentiment, especially when the roster has to be judged against both present needs and what the market might return.
Riley O'Brien and JoJo Romero sit near the center of that conversation, while the rest of the picture is less dramatic but still important. St. Louis also appears inclined to ride with Dustin May, Ryne Stanek and Lars Nootbaar despite uneven stretches, which suggests the Cardinals are trying to balance short-term stability with longer-term roster planning. The final call is still unresolved, and for a team trying to navigate both its bullpen and its bigger deadline picture, that uncertainty may be the story. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Sent A Strong Message About Top Pick Rocco Maniscalco
The Cardinals have locked in one of the more intriguing names from their latest draft class, agreeing to terms with 17-year-old shortstop Rocco Maniscalco after taking him No. 50 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. St. Louis went well above the slot value with a $3.2 million signing bonus, a clear sign the organization wanted to make sure the young infielders path led straight to pro ball rather than somewhere else.
Maniscalco had been committed to Mississippi State, so the Cardinals were not just buying talent, they were beating back a possible college route for a player they clearly view as a priority. The bonus and the age alone tell part of the story, but there is also a reason the club pushed so hard to get him signed now, and it starts with what he can already bring to the field. [Read more 🡒]