The St. Louis Cardinals Stay Put at 2025 MLB Trade Deadline
In a surprising turn of events, the St. Louis Cardinals chose to stand pat at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Despite speculation and rumors leading up to the deadline, the Cardinals did not make any unexpected moves.
This decision comes in the final deadline for John Mozeliak as the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. After 15 years with the organization, Mozeliak will be stepping down at the end of the season.
However, the Cardinals did make three trades, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. These trades were not the big moves that many fans were hoping for, but they did address some areas of need for the team.
One of the biggest names on the trading block for the Cardinals was starting pitcher Sonny Gray. However, Gray, along with fellow starter Miles Mikolas and first baseman Willson Contreras, all had no-trade clauses in their contracts. Despite the Cardinals’ desire to move them, all three players chose to exercise their no-trade clauses and remain with the team.
While some fans may be disappointed by the lack of big moves, the Cardinals are confident in their current roster and believe they have what it takes to make a push for the playoffs. Only time will tell if this decision will pay off for the Cardinals in the long run.
The St. Louis Cardinals Fail to Make Any Moves at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline
The St. Louis Cardinals, known for their strategic moves and trades, surprised fans by not making any unexpected moves at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. This was the final deadline for John Mozeliak as the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, and he made three trades in total. However, there were three other deals that he had hoped to make, but they did not come to fruition.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cardinals had their sights set on trading away starters Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas, as well as first baseman Willson Contreras. However, all three players had no-trade clauses in their contracts and refused to waive them, ultimately staying with the team.
In contrast, the Cardinals were able to successfully trade away three relievers, Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz, who were set to become free agents after the season. Since they did not have no-trade clauses, their deals were much easier to complete.
Despite the Cardinals’ desire to trade away Contreras, Mikolas, and Gray, they were unable to do so due to their no-trade clauses. All three players could have been valuable assets for teams in need of starting pitching and first base help.
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Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the trio of veterans exercised their right to use their no-trade clauses and remained with the team. This is not the first time that the Cardinals have been unable to make a trade due to a player’s no-trade clause. In fact, just recently, they were unable to complete a deal with the Houston Astros to send Nolan Arenado to Houston because he invoked his no-trade clause.
Now, with Arenado on the injured list and unlikely to be traded anytime soon, the Cardinals have missed out on a potential package for him. This outcome is frustrating for the team, as they were looking to get younger and retool their roster. Both Contreras and Gray could have brought in a strong return on the market, but their no-trade clauses prevented any deals from happening.
The Cardinals had hoped to move all three players, but their no-trade clauses ultimately shut down any chance of a deal. While it is within their rights to use these clauses, it is still disappointing for the team to miss out on potential returns.
