The Trade deadline: might not be what you think…

[ecleme22]

First off, let’s be real: This team doesn’t have 5-6 impactful, tradeable veterans that will see Bloom blow up the roster and leave the team a shell of itself post-deadline.
So let’s say it’s May and JoJo, possibly Noot but he hasn’t even played yet, so as of now, not a big loss. And darkhorse: O’Brien. Though he could stick around until the end of the year. Remember…O’Brien still has a TON of team control left, so no need to trade him at the 2026 deadline.

Second, the trade-deadline return, assuming we are sellers: I can see us getting mostly prospects, but maybe also receive a current MLBer that could help the roster. So there may be a SLIGHT return help on the MLB level.

Third—and this is the most important—what AAA players will be ready by August? If you look at who we could add by then (Dobbins being the most obvious), this team could be ‘sellers’ at the deadline, and still be able to compete for the Central or WC through the end of the year.

Either way, go back to my #1 point. Because the Cardinals are one of the youngest teams in the majors, being ‘sellers’ at the deadline won’t create the roster crater that many other sellers experience.

[Cusecards]

Like most I’m enjoying the direction so far and I can see Bloom being opportunistic.
Doesn’t need to force anything.

[Talkin' Baseball]

The next round will be more controversial than the first. The first round was fairly obvious. The next round is more discretionary. It would be easy to make a case for Romero, May, or maybe even Nootbaar, but when you talk about O' Brien, Pages, Burleson, Gorman, Pallante, etc... There is a wide range of thought about what is best with them- thus more controversial than what has already been done. Throw in the fact that the team is doing well and you have a recipe for disagreement, if you make more than the obvious surface moves.

[2ninr]

The next round will be more controversial than the first. The first round was fairly obvious. The next round is more discretionary. It would be easy to make a case for Romero, May, or maybe even Nootbaar, but when you talk about O' Brien, Pages, Burleson, Gorman, Pallante, etc... There is a wide range of thought about what is best with them- thus more controversial than what has already been done. Throw in the fact that the team is doing well and you have a recipe for disagreement, if you make more than the obvious surface moves.

If and when they trade that second tier of guys, that means they think the guys in aaa are ready. And I'm positive they aren't bringing them up until they are. So that's a good thing.

[renostl]

First off, let’s be real: This team doesn’t have 5-6 impactful, tradeable veterans that will see Bloom blow up the roster and leave the team a shell of itself post-deadline.
So let’s say it’s May and JoJo, possibly Noot but he hasn’t even played yet, so as of now, not a big loss. And darkhorse: O’Brien. Though he could stick around until the end of the year. Remember…O’Brien still has a TON of team control left, so no need to trade him at the 2026 deadline.

Second, the trade-deadline return, assuming we are sellers: I can see us getting mostly prospects, but maybe also receive a current MLBer that could help the roster. So there may be a SLIGHT return help on the MLB level.

Third—and this is the most important—what AAA players will be ready by August? If you look at who we could add by then (Dobbins being the most obvious), this team could be ‘sellers’ at the deadline, and still be able to compete for the Central or WC through the end of the year.

Either way, go back to my #1 point. Because the Cardinals are one of the youngest teams in the majors, being ‘sellers’ at the deadline won’t create the roster crater that many other sellers experience.

Even if they do have 5-6 players that they could deal, the number that they would deal
is less, maybe the 2 or 3 range.

Health will have a large influence both Cards players and that of the other teams.
Soft buyers if they stay close?

I'd add Gorman or any of the UT guys as dark horse possibles. The health of other teams
provide the influence here and however the Cards view NG.

Pitching down the stretch, Dobbins sure, maybe Mautz, and BP pieces can come from Memphis
or Springfield. Rajic, Gastelum probably lead the list right now.

[Jatalk]

First off, let’s be real: This team doesn’t have 5-6 impactful, tradeable veterans that will see Bloom blow up the roster and leave the team a shell of itself post-deadline.
So let’s say it’s May and JoJo, possibly Noot but he hasn’t even played yet, so as of now, not a big loss. And darkhorse: O’Brien. Though he could stick around until the end of the year. Remember…O’Brien still has a TON of team control left, so no need to trade him at the 2026 deadline.

Second, the trade-deadline return, assuming we are sellers: I can see us getting mostly prospects, but maybe also receive a current MLBer that could help the roster. So there may be a SLIGHT return help on the MLB level.

Third—and this is the most important—what AAA players will be ready by August? If you look at who we could add by then (Dobbins being the most obvious), this team could be ‘sellers’ at the deadline, and still be able to compete for the Central or WC through the end of the year.

Either way, go back to my #1 point. Because the Cardinals are one of the youngest teams in the majors, being ‘sellers’ at the deadline won’t create the roster crater that many other sellers experience.

This discussion makes me nervous. I’m enjoying the season too much. Some of the guys you mention are key players for the success of this team. My question is what kind of impactful return would you get for any of these guys you’re discussing? Will the return be a greater value than letting them play out on a competitive team this year?

[BrockFloodMaris]

First off, let’s be real: This team doesn’t have 5-6 impactful, tradeable veterans that will see Bloom blow up the roster and leave the team a shell of itself post-deadline.
So let’s say it’s May and JoJo, possibly Noot but he hasn’t even played yet, so as of now, not a big loss. And darkhorse: O’Brien. Though he could stick around until the end of the year. Remember…O’Brien still has a TON of team control left, so no need to trade him at the 2026 deadline.

Second, the trade-deadline return, assuming we are sellers: I can see us getting mostly prospects, but maybe also receive a current MLBer that could help the roster. So there may be a SLIGHT return help on the MLB level.

Third—and this is the most important—what AAA players will be ready by August? If you look at who we could add by then (Dobbins being the most obvious), this team could be ‘sellers’ at the deadline, and still be able to compete for the Central or WC through the end of the year.

Either way, go back to my #1 point. Because the Cardinals are one of the youngest teams in the majors, being ‘sellers’ at the deadline won’t create the roster crater that many other sellers experience.

I'm looking at the pending free agents: May, Urias, Stanek, JoJo and the guys in their fourth service year: Noot, Pallante and Burleson. Bloom might get some good prospects in return for some combination of these seven.

[JohnnyMO]

Agree with OP. Selling doesn’t mean giving up on the season.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Agree with OP. Selling doesn’t mean giving up on the season.

Your level of happiness with the situation will hinge on how you define giving up on the season. The season was supposed to be about letting young players play and develop, evaluation, improvement, improvement, improvement. If you are happy for them to not give up on those goals, you will be very happy. If you are looking for something different than that, I guess we'll see how that goes. When talking about the goals for the season, I don't recall the front office in any instance talk about making the playoffs.

We are early to the party (rejoice). The cake is only half baked (be patient).

[ecleme22]

Agree with OP. Selling doesn’t mean giving up on the season.

Your level of happiness with the situation will hinge on how you define giving up on the season. The season was supposed to be about letting young players play and develop, evaluation, improvement, improvement, improvement. If you are happy for them to not give up on those goals, you will be very happy. If you are looking for something different than that, I guess we'll see how that goes. When talking about the goals for the season, I don't recall the front office in any instance talk about making the playoffs.

We are early to the party (rejoice). The cake is only half baked (be patient).

What?

[StlMike1969]

In no scenario do I see the Cards being any kind of a buyer no matter their place in the standings. The only way they acquire a big club, ready now player is if they do a package deal of guys like Romero, Noot, Pages etc. and it will be only to acquire pitching. It will most likely need to be a controllable, young upside type with no contract issues. Otherwise everything else will be them selling to get prospects. Everything else can be upgraded via Memphis. They just have to want to.

[10CWilliams]

I'm ok with trading just about any reliever, but especially Romero. He's been great for us, but most of the time relievers are very up and down in their careers and we've had the up. Trade him on a high note.

If Mays keeps pitching like he has, he could bring a small haul, but he could also help us next year.

Gorman and Noot could both be beneficiaries of a change of scenery.

Just as others have stated, I don't think we have to do anything, but if we are in a strong position (and I don't mean 3 games out of the WC), I hope we make some trades that benefit the team in the LR or are strictly rentals. This has the feel of a special season and if it keeps feeling that way, I'd like to see some support from the top.
This is exactly the kind of season where MoRon would come out and say, "We really like our current team." when the real answer should be the typical lawyer response: "It depends."

[Ozziesfan41]

Hopefully they trade those pieces for a good outfield prospect and good third base prospect and a few pitching prospects

[cardstatman]

For sale: May, Romero, Stanek, Nootbar, Urias

May ---> Dobbins or Mautz or Hansen
Romero ---> Gastelum or Shuster
Stanek ---> Racjic or Fernandez
Nootbar ---> Church (who has already replaced him)
Urias ---> Torres or Mendoza


Available to avoid blocking potentially better players: Pozo, Gorman, Scott

Pozo or Pages ---> Crooks
Gorman ---> Jordan or Mendoza
Scott ---> Baez or Velazquez to LF; Church to CF

IMHO: We would miss Romero from our shallow BP but otherwise none of these swaps would seriously hinder a potential surprise 2026 playoff push.

All of these players' values may rise or fall over the next 10 weeks.

This will be an unusual offseason with a potentally extended lockout. Trades may not be possible in the upcoming offseason.

[kyace]

There is a player who might be worth a look and the Cards match up well with. Royce Lewis with the Twins. Former top pick in draft just got sent down to the minors. He had one great year a couple of years ago but has struggled the last couple of years and is injury prone but is still just 27 years old.
Twins need a catcher now and Jeffers will be a free agent at the end of the year. Their top catching prospect is in A ball at age 19 so is still 3 years away at best.
Lewis needs a fresh start and offers the right hand bat that can play third base.