Make Your Trades This Winter

[Bomber1]

1. Donovan for a SP. Must be a #3 or higher. May need to add someone to make it work.

2. Try to move Arenado to Philly for Bohm.

3. Sign a SP on a short term deal.

4. Sign a reliever.

That still leaves Nootbaar and Gorman on the roster. They both need to be gone.

[JuanAgosto]

1. Donovan for a SP. Must be a #3 or higher. May need to add someone to make it work.

2. Try to move Arenado to Philly for Bohm.

3. Sign a SP on a short term deal.

4. Sign a reliever.

That still leaves Nootbaar and Gorman on the roster. They both need to be gone.

They would get nothing in return for Gorman.
I think Bloom shops Nootbaar.

[Talkin' Baseball]

You can count on one hand the players who are not available to trade this winter. For the first time in a long time, it looks like to me that the Cardinals are in the right place at the right time, with possibly the right people calling the shots. It seems like even the ownership may be taking a different approach this offseason. We will see. It would be a great time to re-shuffle the deck.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

I believe the team needs some churn. And it's aim should be to contend again in 2027 (or 2028 if they believe there is a work stoppage coming).

Based on that there are few players I feel are solid core guys. I'd listen on literally anyone for the right return.

[Cusecards]

Well....one way or the other 2026 will be interesting:
*The rotation needs work!
*Even with Arenado traded the IF could be decent
with JJ likely at 2B with Gorman/Donovan/Saggese for 3B.
*The OF is a jumbled mess. Scott likely gets the nod in CF to start(at least he can handle it defensively). I would deal Nootbaar but can/will they? That leaves for the corners:
Burleson(good bat but fielding?)
Herrera(same as Burleson)
Walker who knows?
Donovan solid all around but is he needed to play 3B??

Cards desperately need at least one of Gorman/Walker to finally emerge!

[scoutyjones2]

I'm not normally one who believes that we should do a "Herzog" and have massive upheaval of the roster, but if there is a time for that, this is the time. The Cardinals should make their trades this winter because by next winters' Winter Meetings there will be a lockout. There will be no trades. I expect the looming lockout to even have some impact at the trade deadline next summer. If you are going to reshape the roster, do it now. Fans are expecting, and will accept major change this winter. Go for it.

You first.

Why do alot of you pull a Shady and ask these questions without providing your own answer?

Incompetence?

[Talkin' Baseball]

Scouty, why so unnecessarily nasty? The thread is a comment with no question posed to be answered.

[3dender]

I'm not particular about who they trade or which SP they get, but when ST starts two of Donny/Noot/Gorman/Burly need to be gone, and one of Crooks/Pages/Pozo too.

[CardsBest]

I'm not normally one who believes that we should do a "Herzog" and have massive upheaval of the roster, but if there is a time for that, this is the time.

I mentioned to someone the other day the only way they get me enthusiastic about watching next year is if they have an offseason where they are wheeling and dealing like Herzog did. They need to trade older players and trade redundant younger players. They need to bring in starting pitching and take some flyers on some under 30 cheap potential bullpen arms.

[kyace]

Saw somewhere where the Phillies interested in Donovan. If Nado is moved and Gray willing to go to Philly would the Cards do a trade of Donovan and Gray to Philly with Cards taking back Bohm and Walker to lessen the cost to the Phils. In exchange the Cards get Aidan Miller and Kerkering.
Miller could be the RH middle of the order power bat to play third base in 2027. Bohm and Walker would be trade pieces at the deadline. Kerkering could be the closer for the Cards and has 4 more years of control.
Wheeler is undergoing shoulder surgery and Nola underperformed in 2025. Phils are in a win now mode so Gray would fit that need. I’m sure Painter is off limits but maybe they are willing to deal Miller as he is most likely not ready to contribute till 2027.

[CorneliusWolfe]

1. Donovan for a SP. Must be a #3 or higher. May need to add someone to make it work.

2. Try to move Arenado to Philly for Bohm.

3. Sign a SP on a short term deal.

4. Sign a reliever.

I like your list. I like MacKenzie Gore as a trade target, but too bad the DBacks don’t need a second baseman.

[JuanAgosto]

1. Donovan for a SP. Must be a #3 or higher. May need to add someone to make it work.

2. Try to move Arenado to Philly for Bohm.

3. Sign a SP on a short term deal.

4. Sign a reliever.

I like your list. I like MacKenzie Gore as a trade target, but too bad the DBacks don’t need a second baseman.

Thank you. I think there will be multiple teams interested in Donovan. Bloom should be able to leverage a good return.

[renostl]

I've been calling for C. Bloom to DO a "1980/Whitey" complete overhaul of the roster for some time T.B.

I want to see DFA's...........players sent back to the minors where they belong.........and of course TRADES and Free Agent signings (within reason and that fit the long term goals)!

I want Bloom to reshape the roster in his image, expunging the stench left by Mo.

If it happens, then this could be one wild & fun offseason, just like 1980 when Whitey made over a morbid roster.

I pray the only similarity to Whitey is they are/were both GM's, and that's it. It's a different game, surface, and much different ballpark dimension. People can't come to grips with that for some reason. Whitey Ball was great...when you had 385-390ft power allies and 420 dead CF...and the Turf turned regular ground outs into singles and doubles. People have to swing differently in this day and age and ballpark layouts.

Watch out. You will be offending the folks who think VS2 needs to hit down on the ball opinion

[Stlcardsblues]

I'm not normally one who believes that we should do a "Herzog" and have massive upheaval of the roster, but if there is a time for that, this is the time. The Cardinals should make their trades this winter because by next winters' Winter Meetings there will be a lockout. There will be no trades. I expect the looming lockout to even have some impact at the trade deadline next summer. If you are going to reshape the roster, do it now. Fans are expecting, and will accept major change this winter. Go for it.

Here is how I see it playing out.

Arenado is traded for next to no return with the cardinals covering a large portion of his remaining salary.

I think Contreras is traded and the return is a prospect in the 10-19 range and a second prospect in the 25-40 range. Cardinals eat some money.

I think they deal Noot and possibly add Crooks or Bernal to get pitching close or already in the majors and a minor league OF.

I think they move Gorman in a change of scenery trade where they take back a pitcher or outfielder in a similar situation of needing a change of scenery to reset.

I think they hold onto Donovan and Walker.

On the pitching end, this is a bad area to deal from as there is next to nothing ready in the minors to step in. Several of their top pitching prospects are going to miss some or most of the year injured. Others missed most of last year and won’t be ready.

Matthews took a massive step backwards and is not ready. Way too early to plug in Doyle. Hence is still a distance away.

I think they try to move Gray but find teams not wanting to take on the money or deal prospects. I think he is in the rotation to start the year and is dealt at the deadline when a Matthews is closer to ready. This allows the financial hit to the other team to decrease.

I fully expect Mikolas to comeback on a cheap one year deal to eat innings buying time for the minor leaguers. I wouldn’t do it, but fully expect them to.

Romero will be traded at the deadline. Maton is back on a one-year deal and dealt at the deadline.

I see a rotation to start the year on Gray, Libby, Mikolas, McGreevy and Pallante battling trade acquisition(s) for the fifth spot.

[Poojols]

In 2028 season, my hope is that of all the starters playing today that Masyn Winn is the only position player remaining of the 8 starting positions.
That is my hope !

I hope for Herrera too as that may indicate he has sustained success without the injuries. If he turns out to be an .800 OPS DH though, you'd have to trade him.

[PadsFS07]

1. Donovan for a SP. Must be a #3 or higher. May need to add someone to make it work.

2. Try to move Arenado to Philly for Bohm.

3. Sign a SP on a short term deal.

4. Sign a reliever.

#1/2
I would like to see if we could get Jose Soriano from the Angels for Donovan or Nootbaar. With Christian Moore, they may not be inclined to add someone like Donovan though and Nootbaar can't be the main piece coming back.

Another Angel I like is Kikuchi as a high-priced return for Arenado. He lives 10 minutes from the ballpark there so maybe his no-trade teams could change.

#3
My favorite targets on the pitching side are Chris Bassitt and Tyler Mahle. Bassitt is a dependable vet that may get overlooked. Mahle could be a breakout after struggling with injury/surgeries, but he was effective when healthy and is only 30. Maybe a 2025 guarantee with a couple team options kind of contract.