1:02pm: Though the Cardinals have indeed gotten several calls on Burleson, Nootbaar and Donovan, they’re expected to hold onto all three players, reports Katie Woo of The Athletic. Maton will almost certainly be traded, but that could be the final piece of business for St. Louis today.
8:32am: The Cardinals have already shipped out Ryan Helsley and Steven Matz, and there’s plenty of work for their front office to do between now and this afternoon’s deadline. They’ve talked Phil Maton with the Blue Jays (among other clubs), and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that they’re also fielding offers on outfielder Lars Nootbaar, first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson and utilityman Brendan Donovan (who’s reportedly been on the radar of the Dodgers and Yankees already — albeit before the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon).
Two of the clubs showing interest in Burleson, Nootbaar and Donovan are the Phillies and Astros, per the report. Philadelphia is known to be looking to realign its outfield, while the Astros have been looking for left-handed bats — ideally one they could plug in at second base. Donovan fits that bill, though there’s certainly room for a left-handed bat like Burleson or Nootbaar to join the team’s outfield mix. Houston currently has journeyman former top prospect Taylor Trammell and struggling young prospect Jacob Melton taking on notable outfield roles.
All three of Burleson, Nootbaaar and Donovan are controlled for multiple years beyond the current season. Burleson has the most remaining club control, with three full seasons still to go. Both Nootbaar and Donovan are controlled two additional years, through 2027. Nootbaar, notably, has been on the injured list since July 12 due to a ribcage injury, but he began a minor league rehab assignment yesterday and went 1-for-4 with the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate.
Burleson, 26, is in the midst of a career-best performance at the plate. The former second-round pick is slashing a .287/.341/.469 (127 wRC+) with 14 home runs, 19 doubles and just a 13% strikeout rate. That level of contact is nothing new, as he posted a matching 13% strikeout rate in 2023 and a 12.8% rate last season.
This year’s 7.6% walk rate is a career-best in a full season, however, even if it’s still a slight bit below average. Burleson’s power output is also at a career-high level. He entered 2025 with a career .402 slugging and .146 ISO (slugging minus batting average); he’s bumped that ISO considerably, up to .182. He’s also sporting career-high marks in average exit velocity (91.4 mph) and hard-hit rate (42.7%).
While Burleson’s bat has steadily improved as he’s gotten more experience in the majors, his glovework remains lacking. He’s split his time between the outfield corners and first base this season but drawn middling defensive marks. He’s been generally solid at first base in 443 career innings but has below-average grades in both outfield corners. Burleson’s arm strength is better than average, per Statcast, but he hasn’t been terribly accurate with his throws and has well below-average range — as one would expect for a player whose sprint speed sits in just the tenth percentile of big leaguers. The Phils and Astros would probably both use Burleson in the outfield, given the presence of Bryce Harper and Christian Walker at first base in Philadelphia and Houston, respectively.
Nootbaar is a cleaner fit for either team from a defensive standpoint but is more expensive — $2.95MM salary to Burleson’s pre-arbitration $778K — and comes with less club control. He also has some uncertainty surrounding him due to his injury. He’s batting .227/.332/.381 (104 wRC+) with a characteristically high walk rate (12.8%) but more strikeouts and less pop than usual.
The 27-year-old Nootbaar (28 in September) has long tantalized the Cardinals and other clubs alike. He’s regularly displayed many traits that give him the feel of a player on the cusp of breaking out. Nootbaar walks at an extremely high level (13.6% since 2022), strikes out less than the average player (20.2% strikeout rate since ’22) and routinely posts excellent batted-ball metrics. He’s averaged 91 mph off the bat and posted a 10% barrel rate and 45.5% hard-hit rate in that same timeframe. Nootbaar has been a bit grounder-heavy in the past but has been elevating the ball at career-high levels in 2025.
Defensively, he’s drawn strong grades in the corners and held his own with average marks as a center fielder. Nootbaar isn’t a burner but has average sprint speed and good arm strength. He could help with Philadelphia’s need in center field and could hold down center in Houston while Jake Meyers mends before moving to a corner.
Donovan, presumably, has drawn the widest interest of all. He’s a strong defender at second base and third base who can hold his own in either outfield corner and provide backup options at first base or shortstop. Like Burleson, he’s fanned in just 13% of his plate appearances across the past three seasons. Donovan doesn’t have huge power but has nine homers on the year and could reach or exceed his prior career-high (14) in the final couple months of play.
As with Nootbaar, this is Donovan’s first year of arbitration eligibility. He’s earning an eminently reasonable $2.85MM and would be owed raises in each of the next two offseasons. Given the fact that Donovan can play just about any position on the diamond and provide high-end contact skills with solid all-around offensive output, virtually any contender could fit him onto the roster. Even if he doesn’t have one specific position he mans on an everyday basis, Donovan could still slot into a postseason club’s lineup daily and rotate through multiple positions, helping keep the entire lineup fresh.
The Cardinals generally haven’t been viewed as likely to trade their long-term players, though Nightengale suggests that they’re open for business as of this morning. Whether that means they’re simply listening out of due diligence or there’s actual motivation to move a Burleson, Donovan or Nootbaar remains to be seen. But with the limited inventory of position players on the market and a slew of contenders looking to improve, the Cardinals could take advantage of market scarcity to secure a strong return on a controllable player that they may not have been looking to move even a few weeks ago.
Anyone for a top triple A prospect starting pitcher is fine to go. We are n need of a lot
If they trade any of those three, it’s time to start saying total rebuild, not retool or whatever term the FO insist on using today…Which is fine, just admit it.
Nah, you trade Noot. Worst of the 3. Burly is showing he can hit and play a bit of OF. Trading Donny would make the fan base even more disenchanted.
They shouldn’t trade any of those 3, you build a team around them.
If you want to get a decent starting pitcher then one of those guys are going to be the centerpiece unless you want to trade Herrera. The Cardinals have a lot of depth at 2nd and you don’t need 3 LH hitting corner outfielders. You could trade Arenado but it’s doubtful he brings back a decent starter.
I would not be opposed to selling high on Herrera if they can get a legitimate starting pitcher. I’m not sold on moving him to the outfield. They have too many 1B/DH types clogging the roster.
Herrera has been one of the few players on the Cardinals that has hit LH pitching this year. Next to Herrera, Donovan will bring back the best pitcher then Burleson and then Nootbat. The pitcher Mo/Bloom will get in a trade is relative to the player they give up. That’s the problem with Cardinal fans over the years the fan base has fallen in love with players like Bader or Edman and they get traded and the fan base cries like a bunch of babies and then they are out by July because they hold on to the fan favorites. This is why the Brewers have been beating them with less money.
Herrera could also be the next Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman …
His OPS for July was under .700 by the way. Could it be that the league has had time to study him?
We’ll see if Herrera will adjust. Keep in mind that Donovan has a 600 OPS for the 2nd half of the season. I’m not opposed at all to trading Herrera for the right starting pitcher. If they do then they will need to get multiple bats this off season to hit LH pitching.
I will be surprised if there aren’t a lot of trades this offseason to remake the team. Donovan and Nootbaar are not going to be part of the next competitive window. Winn and Weatherholt will be part of the next competitive window. Might as well keep Walker instead selling low. He’s cheap and may yet figure it out. Anyone else on the main roster can be traded. The veterans obviously control their own future.
I would hate to see Herrera moved. That said they do need to move a catcher. They are loaded at that position
They need to move someone. They all cannot play!
I completely agree, but it’s the usual S**tShow from the FO.
Donnie is the depth piece the team could afford to move, if the team is all in with JJ, but it’s risky and Donnie is a fan favorite (and my personal favorite).
If a team is willing to overpay for Donnie, then I’m possibly for it. But the slug and upside of Noot and Burly should be held onto, if possible. The verdict is still out on Noot, unfortunately. And Burly is feeling like our everyday right fielder, moving forward (?).
Can JJ play platoon third with Nado (and get enough playing time from the bench) if the team holds onto Donnie? Opinions are mixed.
Sure wish Gorman, Walker, and Noot had progressed more this year; they’re muddying the trade deadline by still being question marks.
Let’s go!
Nope. They are stacked in the IF and should move Burleson or Donovan.
I agree! Try explaining that to the other Cardinal fans. Donovan’s advanced metrics in the outfield aren’t much better than Burelson’s. Hopefully Weatherholt will be up next year and they can create some sort of platoon with Arenado and Gorman at 3rd as Gorman has hit RH pitching okay and Arenado has been okay against LH pitching. If they trade Donovan they will maximize their return.
Burleson would look good in a Red Sox uniform.
No you don’t. Im sorry, but that’s cards fans problem. We over rate talent. Burly would be the most attractive to build around imo. Noot can’t stay healthy and is streaky, and donovan is soon to be on the wrong side of 30. You build teams around young, superstar caliber guys and honestly none of these guys are even close to superstars. Right now, the cardinals would get a haul for noot and donovan especially.
I agree they need to trade for a starting pitcher. You do realize that Noot is on the IL and is a corner outfielder. So if they sell Noot they likely will be selling low. It’s doubtful Noot brings back a starting pitcher.
Cardinals have such a weak core and act like theyre studs who should be built around. Why exactly is Lars Nootbar someone you should build around? He’s a 27 year old outfielder who’s been a slightly above average hitter the last 2 years. Dime a dozen type player.
Nootbaar is horrible. No other team would build around him. He’s extremely overrated.
Cue Cashman giving up a Warren for a Nootbar…
If it was Donovan, that wouldn’t be so bad I think.
Hopefully this is the beginning of a new and exciting style of baseball that Chaim is putting his touches on!
Who will play outfield in St Louis if any of them are dealt? This doesn’t make any sense unless the Cardinals are planning to acquire outfielders through other trades or free agency.
I can see Nootbaar and Donovan being moved. I don’t see them moving Burleson unless someone blows them away. He has too many years of control left.
Church or antico. Both are having good years at triple A and are good defensive outfielders. Cut some redundancy to stock up for the future.
I’ll give you Church, but Antico is 27 years old and barely holding his own with a bat in AAA. I don’t see Antico as a starting MLB outfielder.
Well, first off, I don’t think they will deal all 3. Second, they have guys like siani (which is a defensive monster) already on the 40 man and not playing with the big club. Trust me, having enough outfielders isn’t an issue in stl
Quality outfielders are a problem. The team can’t afford both Scott and Siani in the lineup.
Outfielders who slug is what we don’t have enough of (in addition to starting pitching).
If we’re going to keep VS2 in center because of his great glove and concede that he’s probably not going to hit more than 12 dingers, we need outfielders who slug, especially since Nado (from a power position) doesn’t slug/hit, either.
Shortstop isn’t usually a power spot, but Masyn’s bat didn’t progress this year, unfortunately, adding to our need for slug.
Noot is continuing to profile as a bench player, especially if Herrera sticks in left field (which I think he will).
Noot’s stock is falling and Donnie’s value isn’t going to increase (undersized and 28). If the offer is right (mostly for a starter), it’s time to move Noot and Donnie. They’re fan favorites for a reason, but this team has needs and we need to trade from places where we have some depth, sorry to say.
Would be a mistake moving Donovan or Burly. Noot thrives in a winning atmosphere.
See ya Noot.
Why is MO making the trade decisions? He’s gone after this year, Why would you trade away Burleson and Donovan? they are two of are best players, its not like MO will get anything in return for them , he obviously hates the Cards, he traded Helsley and got some POS prospects in return..
Helsley is gonna get paid next year not by us. Anytime you get a 3 for 1 I think you take it. Baez was number 5 prospect in Mets farm I believe.
Yeah think we got 2 of their top 20 and a lotto ticket arm
There’s only 50 games left and helsley isn’t cheap. He may pitch 20 innings the rest of the year and they got 2 top 15 organizational prospects and a top 40 organizational prospect. Not sure why people expected the cards to get more for helsley when he’s a free agent to be and has been just good not great
Mo isn’t making the moves yesterday or today.
All three should be moved. None of those guys should be long term extensions and now is the time to extract the most value while they have the most team control.
Blow it up and then see if you can get Nolan, Contreras, and Sonny to waive their NTC.
Couldn’t agree more. Also 3 years from now, cards have zero guaranteed contracts. Rebuild for 2027(only 1 guaranteed contract)or 2028.
We have to remember Bob posted the story so probably not true… 🤡 😂
Lead w/Donny for a good return and bait and switch Gorman for who they offered. Let them whittle down their offer for Donny, to Gorman level, and trade Gorman who has a bench role.
Hopefully Nootbaar to the Phils is the next headline.
Donovan is this years Edman. Please Mo, do not make the same mistake again. The other two, fair game. See what’s out there. I think Burleson is a DH only even though he’s looked ok in the outfield. But Donovan is a winning player and unless they get an out of this world offer (meaning a top 100 type prospect), I don’t even think about dealing him.
Edman has had 1 full season of an OPS+ over 100, the 2022 year when the team had a shot at a playoff run, until the Helsley/Pallante meltdown in the 9th in Gm1 against the Phillies. Cards were not going to resign him, mainly because of Donovan. I think Saggese can fill Donnie’s future role fairly well, especially if Herrera can pull off the move to LF. Wetherholt is coming up in Sept at 2B for the next 6 years at least.
Burleson is horrible in the OF and is passable at 1B, but with Blaze on-board 1B may not be needed after Contreras is done (hopefully a future 1B/DH platoon with Gorman/Blaze).
They could go outside the box and sign DJ for the league minimum for at least this year and next as the Yankees are already paying him $15 mil next year. RH bench bat to cover the right side and help JJ with any adjustments to the show and give Contreras a breather, plus it would possibly make Arenado happier to finish out the contract.
The Cards seem on the edge of competing, so if moving Donovan+ is what it takes to raid the Dodgers farm, then I say do it. Quinterro (#79) and Ferris (#96) are both in the back half of the Top 100 prospects , see what it takes to get them both.
I like the sound of that. Great post.
Are you all serious with what ol boy just posted about thinking that the cards seem as if they are on the edge of competing again by winning the central or even sneaking into the playoffs?
PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE NOT CARDINAL FANS & ARE TRULY BELIEVING THAT NON SENSE? Cardinal fans are alot more intelligent about this game of Baseball then to think such BS! Our team needs a lot of different things & players before we as a team are on the edge of having a team good enough to think they are close to being good enough to beat most if not all teams that we play against in a season. Talk about trading players who will play for league minimum salary for the next 3 or so yrs is complete non sense. Imho. What they need to do is to finally get up to speed with the rest of MLB on how to transform these prospects with so much god given talent into legitimate Baseball players & who knows maybe even a super star or two like they already could,woulda, but most definitely didn’t.do to the Dewitt’s & Bozo wanting to try taking Short cuts & saving money at the same damn time. Nolan Gorman shouldn’t be traded or Jordan Walker Imho! They both have to much potential there to just give up on. Because if this Cardinals team lets either of those players go for pennies on the dollar. You might as well say to hell with this team until new ownership can come in to provide what the Dewitt’s clearly will not!..Just saying is all…you cards fans think about that for a few. Oh 1 last thing the reason we can’t develop pitching anymore is mainly due to us not having that pitching laboratory built yet where we play our spring training games up in Florida because the ownership keeps putting it off why’ll other MLB teams already have & use theirs
We have to catch up with the here & now when it comes to developing these prospects into MLB players! Because if the cardinals can’t or won’t every other team will.believe that!
Edman’s 2022 had MVP WAR up until the AS break–as good or better than Arenado or eventual MVP Goldschmidt. But as you say, he is otherwise a middling offensive player who brings value because of his defense and versatility.
“unless they get an out of this world offer (meaning a top 100 type prospect)”
DUMBrowski won’t make the trade with you unless you take two Top 100 prospects from the Phillies.
DUMBo loves the attention he gets from other GM’s on deadline day, he isn’t going to damage his reputation with them.
Have you checked Edmans stats this year? He’s got an OPS+ of 89. That’s 11% below league average. The Cardinals have enough glove first players and are in desperate need of pitching and trading for pitching is always expensive and risky.
I swear to all that is holy to baseball, if any of those guys get traded I may as well just defect from a lifelong Cardinals fan and pick up some other team. I don’t live in St. Louis or MO anymore and haven’t for a long time. My dad is dead and he’s the only reason I got into baseball or the Cardinals.
If they’re that dead set on turning the team into the A’s and just running everyone out of town when they start to make money, that’s it for me. I can pick up the Mets or the Phillies instead. Or just give up on baseball and go for soccer entirely.
Sounds like you’ve already got one foot out the door. Enjoy your soccer.
Aside from the World Cup, soccer is so meh. Let me get excited for this 90-minute match that ends 0-0 and for this corner kick that never works. Sorry, that’s my soccer rant!
I gave up the NBA when all my guys retired. I gave up the NFL when the Rams left St. Louis. Giving up that angst is the best thing I ever did.
I’m a Cardinals fan, but I don’t let it rule my life like I did when I was younger. I like all three of these players mentioned, but it’s not going to bother my real life if any (or all) of them are traded.
The Cardinals don’t care about you. You shouldn’t care so much about them it affect your life. JMO
They may be turning into the A’s. I’m hopeful they’re turning into the Brewers and selling high on players to fill needs like starting pitching.
Couldn’t agree more with you sir. If only these other fans would see things the way things truly are. But, everyone is a expert these days huh?..NOT!..lol..
This has got Royals all over it.
Noot, Donny and Burly hit 1, 3 & 5; they don’t need a position player for them. If they find a Liberatore type or + (4yrs control), take your pick, one for one. No, on any three for one, watered down return. Not an easy trade to find.
And we still cannot score
26′ will have the same issue as 25′, down by 6 runs after 4 IP, maybe worse. No-ones lineup can cover that long term.
I would buy a Nootbaaar jersey
Letting Burly go would be just another stupid feather in the cap of Mo. He has only been compared to Hall of Famers since he’s been in StL. So let’s trade him for an unproven prospect and a bag of chewed sunflower seeds. I’ve heard Bloom isn’t much better.
I don’t think Burleson will be dealt, at least not right now, maybe in the offseason after they have an idea of what Herrera can become in LF.
Noot has been overrated by the organization and fans for a long time. I’m sure he’s going to be great, but he can’t stay healthy. You can’t build around that. Clearly. Trading him for a pitcher that would be ready to start next season would be fine.
Trading Donovan is interesting. I’m not particularly against it because I know the asking price has to be very high, but I have trouble imagining what would even be worth it, that other clubs would go for.
Going back to Noot… People always go on about him being on the verge of breaking out but that song and dance only lasts so long. Yeah, his hard hit % is great, best of his career this year, same with line drive % and exit velocity… yet it isn’t converting into extra hits or power. Maybe he’s really just a 230 hitter with mediocre power and fragile. Until he goes to Houston and bats 300 with 30 HRs next year.
Noot, even not on all star level, is an upgrade to what we, Phillies, have in the outfield if it’s a strong but reasonable trade. We need a contact guy who can drive pitches bc most of our guys swing out of their shoes for the fences. And we need a lower strikeout guy for the same reason.
The Cards FO conservative approach to transactions reflects how easy it is for a franchise to trade away so heavily that it takes years to recover. St. Louis’s fans may not appreciate how long other fans suffer through rebuilds that never seem to end.
Obviously in a down year trading short-term vets for prospects makes sense. But all those clamoring to burn it all down may not get much from the ashes.
They overvalue their assets. This rebuild will take forever.
The organization won’t spend in free agency in 2026. Not to mention the FA class is pretty horrible. Donovan and Contreras are the only leaders on this team, so looks like the Cards are going to walk it back and patch together a starting rotation with no closer for 2026.
Cards are in a weird place. They probably just were not getting the return they were looking for.
Dodgers with questions all over the infield
1B – Freeman has 2 homers in 2 months
2B = Edman hasn’t hit since May and has a banged up foot
3B – Muncy didn’t hit for half the season, started raking and got injured.
SS – Betts hasn’t hit since April
Could use Donovan
Gotta give up the goods to get him. Dodgers said no.
If the Cardinals are selling, I guess that means that the Reds (3 games behind Padres) are the only currently not-in-line for the playoff team to be a contender in the NL.
Yes, I am writing off the Giants who are one game under .500 and 6 games behind SD.
Yes, the Cardinals could conceivably remain in the race even after selling off a few pieces.
TBH I don’t care much for the “this player” is not going to be traded updates. Lets just roll with the updates about those still on the watch list for being traded. Thanks!
I mean, knowing who’s available and NOT available gives a more complete picture of the trade deadline.
But it isn’t anything new. We knew that the asking price is extremely high for those players and they were not motivated to move them.
Why isn’t Gorman on any of these lists? Is his value too low?
Yes. Inconsistent and currently injured.
His clock is running out, but there’s more value in seeing if he’ll turn it around than in moving him. Plus, he still has remaining minor league options.
I’m shocked…Mo doesn’t have the ability to make trades
It’s a little early in the game to fold. Gutless spineless – see ya Mo.
Should move Noot/Burly, just avg of.
Donny depends on if you think he’s going to block JJ.
Whitey Herzog said,
It’s not what or who you trade It’s,
“WHAT YOU GET IN RETURN”.
and remember it’s still Pitching Pitching Pitching Pitching
Nootbaar is overrated. I was hoping they would trade him. Only reason the fans like him is for his name. He would be a 4th or 5th outfielder on any other team.
This is such a ridiculous take. He’s been at least 12% better than average offensively every single year of his career, plays above average defense in the corners, and has decent speed on the basepaths. That’s a starter on almost every team in the majors.
Mo is overplaying his hand on the LH hitters after giving Helsley and Matz away
Gotta laugh at Arenado wanting to move to a contender…he had his chance with the Astros but nixed it. Glad the Astros got the better third baseman sub for Paredes in Urias. Yes trolling that jackarse Arenado.
Nolan has taken this trolling personally and is very upset with you. Your plan worked!