The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the most active teams on the trade front this offseason, and it doesn’t look like they’re done yet. After already parting ways with big names like Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Brendan Donovan, there could be another move coming - this time involving left-handed reliever JoJo Romero.
According to a proposal floated by ESPN’s David Schoenfield, the Cardinals could send Romero to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for 27-year-old outfielder Davis Schneider. On paper, it’s a one-for-one swap: a high-leverage bullpen arm for a young, right-handed bat with upside. But let’s dig a little deeper into what that actually means for both teams.
The Fit: Why This Trade Makes Sense - At Least in Theory
Chaim Bloom, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, has been clear about one thing: he wants a right-handed outfield bat. With Austin Hays now off the board after signing with the White Sox, the free agent market doesn’t offer many appealing options. That puts teams like the Blue Jays - who have some outfield depth - in a position to deal.
Enter Davis Schneider. He’s coming off a season where he posted a .797 OPS in 82 games, showing flashes of the offensive potential that made him a breakout story in Toronto.
While his 2024 campaign wasn’t quite as strong - he hit just .625 OPS over 135 games - Schneider is still just 27 and under team control through the 2029 season. That kind of cost-controlled talent is gold in today’s MLB landscape.
From the Cardinals’ perspective, adding Schneider would bring a much-needed right-handed bat to a lineup that’s leaned heavily on lefties. His ability to play multiple outfield spots and provide some pop makes him a valuable complementary piece - especially if the Cardinals are looking to retool rather than rebuild.
The Catch: Control, Value, and Reality
Here’s where things get tricky. JoJo Romero had a standout year in 2025, finishing with a 2.07 ERA and establishing himself as a reliable late-inning option. But relievers - even good ones - don’t typically fetch position players with Schneider’s upside and years of control in a straight-up deal.
Romero is only under team control for one more season, which makes him more of a rental than a long-term asset. Schneider, meanwhile, is locked in for four more years. That kind of disparity in control usually means the team acquiring the longer-term piece - in this case, the Cardinals - would need to sweeten the pot.
So while Schoenfield’s proposal is intriguing, it’s probably a bit optimistic from St. Louis’ point of view. For Toronto, it’s hard to imagine giving up four years of Schneider for one year of Romero, unless they’re really high on his ability to anchor the back end of their bullpen.
What It Would Mean for the Cardinals
If, somehow, this deal were to go through as proposed, it would be a major win for the Cardinals. They’d be turning a one-year bullpen piece into a controllable, versatile outfielder who still has room to grow. For a team looking to reshape its roster without diving into a full rebuild, that’s the kind of move that threads the needle.
Schneider isn’t a star - at least not yet - but he’s got the kind of profile that teams love: young, cheap, and with just enough offensive upside to dream on. For Bloom, who’s already pulled off several bold moves this winter, adding Schneider for Romero would be another savvy play in what’s shaping up to be a transformative offseason.
Final Thoughts
This trade proposal may not be the most realistic scenario, but it speaks to the kind of creative thinking the Cardinals need right now. They’ve made it clear that they’re not afraid to shake things up, and targeting a player like Schneider - even if it takes more than just Romero - makes a lot of sense.
If nothing else, it’s a reminder that St. Louis isn’t done dealing. And with the market thinning out, trades like this one might be their best shot at filling key holes before Opening Day.