What’s Next for the St. Louis Cardinals?
The St. Louis Cardinals have been struggling to find their footing on the field, leading to a lackluster performance that has left fans feeling uninspired. As a result, the team is now facing the possibility of a soft sell. However, despite their recent struggles, the Cardinals still have a wealth of valuable trade assets at their disposal. The question is, will they be willing to part with them?
According to a team source, there has been interest from other teams in players such as Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar. However, the Cardinals have not yet entertained any offers for these players. This could change as the trade deadline approaches, but for now, the team seems content to hold onto their assets.
The Cardinals have a history of making shrewd trades, and with the right moves, they could turn their season around. But will they be willing to take the risk? Only time will tell. In the meantime, fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for their beloved team.
What’s Next for the St. Louis Cardinals?
An Uninspiring Brand of Baseball Forces the Cardinals into a Soft Sell
The St. Louis Cardinals have been struggling to find their footing lately, leading them to adopt a less than impressive style of play. As a result, they are now considering a soft sell approach. However, despite their current struggles, the Cardinals still have a number of valuable trade assets that they could potentially use to their advantage. The question is, will they?
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals’ remaining deadline approach is expected to include Phil Maton as their final trade. While other teams have expressed interest in players like Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar, the Cardinals have not entertained any offers for them so far, according to a team source. In fact, President of baseball operations John Mozeliak has stated twice in July that if the Cardinals do decide to sell, it will likely be limited to players on expiring contracts, similar to their approach in 2023. This includes players like Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton, who are all pending free agents.
Donovan, Burleson, and Nootbaar are all under team control for several more years, with Donovan’s contract lasting until 2027 and Burleson and Nootbaar’s until 2028. Despite their current record of 55-55 and being 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Central lead, the Cardinals could potentially make a run for the third Wild Card spot. However, even if they were able to close the gap, their chances of making a significant impact in the postseason are slim.
With Helsley now a New York Met and Maton seemingly on his way out of St. Louis, a full sell-off may appease some fans who feel that the franchise has been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. However, keeping players like Donovan, Burleson, and Nootbaar could give the Cardinals a better chance at bouncing back in the 2026 season. Donovan, in particular, could bring in a significant return with his impressive stats, including a .285 batting average, .774 OPS, 119 OPS+, and a 39:58 BB:K ratio, as well as his versatility on the field. Despite this, the Cardinals still have other valuable players in their lineup, such as Willson Contreras, Iván Herrera, and Masyn Winn, and sacrificing a core group of players like Donovan may not align with the traditional “Cardinal way.”
For now, it seems that the Cardinals will continue to play out the rest of the season in a rather mundane fashion and shift their focus towards next year. Only time will tell if this approach will lead to a successful bounce-back season for the Cardinals.
