For the "trade everybody" crowd

[ScotchMIrish]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

[JuanAgosto]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

[alw80]

What the 2028 roster looks like is more important.

[3dender]

You keep Winn, Herrera, Wetherholt, Bernal, Mathews and Doyle, and trade whoever else in a package to get at least a #2 pitcher.

It's impossible to say what the lineup will look like bc it's impossible to predict a) which players will be valued most by other teams and b) which package of players will be preferred for a big haul. So kinda pointless to try guessing the lineup at this point.

[alw80]

You keep Winn, Herrera, Wetherholt, Bernal, Mathews and Doyle, and trade whoever else in a package to get at least a #2 pitcher.

It's impossible to say what the lineup will look like bc it's impossible to predict a) which players will be valued most by other teams and b) which package of players will be preferred for a big haul. So kinda pointless to try guessing the lineup at this point.

Why not try and trade for a #1? Too expensive?

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

[CCard]

If Noot plays like he has in the past few days then I don't trade him. Walker definitely has to play, not bench. Donny, Winn, Herrera, Contreras and Scott all have to play unless a better alternative comes up. Pitching is the big obstacle. We've got Gray, Libertore, McGreevy and a bunch of question marks.

[rockondlouie]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

Hererra
&
Libby

JJW + Doyle when called up.

I'd deal anyone else in the right trade.

2026 Rotation:

-Gray
-Libby
-McGreevy
-ACQUIRED STARTER via trade
-Leahy

[Ozziesfan41]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

lol if you are building a team around any of the players currently on the team your team is in trouble. The team is filled with complementary players at best none of them are players you build around. I like herrrera a lot and think he will continue to get better but if someone is willing to trade a lot for him do it

[moose-and-squirrel]

You keep Winn, Herrera, Wetherholt, Bernal, Mathews and Doyle, and trade whoever else in a package to get at least a #2 pitcher.

It's impossible to say what the lineup will look like bc it's impossible to predict a) which players will be valued most by other teams and b) which package of players will be preferred for a big haul. So kinda pointless to try guessing the lineup at this point.

Why not try and trade for a #1? Too expensive?

who is trading a #1 pitcher?

[JuanAgosto]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

[Cardinals4Life]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

No offense Juan, but that lineup SUCKS!!!

[rockondlouie]

who is trading a #1 pitcher?

The Pirates will one day soon.

But we don't have the players to acquire him or the owner who will pay him $45+M AAV.

[RunSup]

Keep: Wetherholt, Winn, Herrera, Libby

Open and listening on everybody else.

Target competitive season: 2028.

I'm just assuming 2027 will be mostly list to CBA work stoppage.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Don't know anyone that said trade everybody. So that is a false flag start.

Some of us are willing to trade ANYBODY for the right return with an aim at contending (really contending not just for a wild card) in 2027. As to who would you play in 2026 not really as important as you seem to think. Cards are unlikely to be serious contenders then anyway.

Keep an eye on the real prize. The real prize is a WS title. I realize it is really hard to achieve but worrying about rosters for years they won't be close to a contender is a non-starter for a team building a real roster. 2027 is the nearest year in which STL has a legitimate chance at being a contender and even that requires a financial investment by ownership AFTER building through smart trades to get low cost controllable players that can produce now and next year.

[JuanAgosto]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

No offense Juan, but that lineup SUCKS!!!

It is what they have and will stick with. DeWitt isn't signing a top free agent bat. And they have too many with low trade value.