The Cardinals reached the All-Star break in a tricky position. With about 40% of their season remaining, they're only 1.5 games back in the Wild Card and have a real shot at the playoffs. That's the case despite an offseason in which they did not attempt to improve the club, in what longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak termed a "reset." And Mozeliak will be navigating the July 31st deadline as a lame duck, given the club's stated plan to give his job to Chaim Bloom for the 2026 season.
Mozeliak put it this way nine days ago (Katie Woo of The Athletic reporting): "I do feel like where we are in the week leading up, or the 72 hours leading up to the trading deadline, may affect how we make our decisions." He further explained, "When we talk about all-in, I do think based on where the franchise is, based on payroll down and thinking more of the long view, we’re still trying to balance today’s success with ultimately having long-term success."
Record: 51-46 (28.5% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
Buy Mode
Potential needs: Right-handed bat, pitching depth
Regarding the transition to Bloom, Mozeliak said, "When we get closer to the deadline, if there’s something that could impact how the future looks, clearly we’ll take a look at in a more collaborative sense."
With relative stability on the pitching staff, Mozeliak's deadline focus on the buy side may be on an offense that ranks fifth in the National League with 4.58 runs scored per game. Within that respectable showing, however, is a team that ranks 10th in the NL with an 88 wRC+ against left-handed pitching.
Mozeliak acknowledged the deficiency but also said, "I do feel like where they’re going to be in a week or two is not a glaring hole in terms of trading deadline thoughts," given Ivan Herrera's July 13th activation and minor injuries affecting other righty bats like Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras.
Brendan Donovan has been an everyday player, generally at second base, despite consistent struggles against southpaws over the last three seasons. Alec Burleson, currently deployed in the corner outfield, has been similar. Center fielder Victor Scott II has sat against some lefties in the last month in favor of Garrett Hampson. Lars Nootbaar, on the IL for a left costochondral sprain, had been sitting here or there against lefties but often with Donovan or Burleson in his spot and Thomas Saggese getting the start at second base.
Given that Mozeliak said "I don’t think we’re ever going to take away from the guys we’re trying to see play," it may be difficult to find the ideal addition. An improvement over Hampson as Scott's platoon partner could be one answer. Perhaps a call to the White Sox regarding Austin Slater or Michael A. Taylor of the White Sox would make sense. A homecoming for Randal Grichuk could work, though he hasn't played much center in recent years. Maybe the Astros will find Chas McCormick expendable once he completes his rehab assignment for an oblique strain.
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I’m a Cardinals fan. If they don’t sell at the deadline, I’m going to be pissed.
Tough position in that there aren’t a lot of surplus value players from perspective of buyers that would compel them to give up much. Helsley is just a rental making decent money not having a great season. Best thing that can happen is clarity rest of July be it getting on a roll to make them a cautious buyer or hit the skids.
Cards aren’t selling as long as they are in it. Outfield help is a must. They mention a “homecoming” for Grichuck but Adolis Garcia makes sense here too. Pitching depth is something everyone needs so that may be a tougher task
Have you seen their schedule? August is tough, September is brutal.
No reason to sell. Ride it out and sign a Pitcher and a Right handed hitting OF.
They would have to trade for those players.
Its like last year. The team is probably not good enough but its good enough not to sell. And they don’t have a lot of valuable trade chips anyways. Helsley and Maton sure but not much else.
I don’t think they’ll beat any of the top five NL teams in the postseason so They should sell Or stand pat. They should do a dumpster dive with whatever is left at the deadline.
The playoffs are such a crapshoot though, all it takes is getting hot at the right time and all of a sudden you’re in the World Series
Why do they have so many meh prospects? That offense. Ooph. Is anyone developing them?
They are doing pretty good. and just need tweaks.
Sell what and why? They won’t get anything substantial from the pending free agents. It’s like they are getting a free shot at a championship. Yes, they will be the biggest underdog if they get in but if they make a run that’s a bunch of income for next years team.
Totally correct!
Just sell. Even if they somehow make the post-season, they’re going out fast.
Maton, Matz, Fedde, and Helsley should be moved, and all can benefit other staffs. Romero too. Will need to grab a few arms to replenish the bullpen on the fly though. Don’t see much happening on the position player side, and doubt they bother with a Taylor or Grichuk type. Also doubt there’ll be much interest in Mikolas.
I wonder if Sonny would be amenable to waiving his NTC at this time.
Nolan Gorman is from Arizona and needs a fresh start. Naylor and Gallen for Gorman is about right. I wouldn’t do a major trade but something involving Gorman or Walker makes sense. Both guys need a fresh start. And Crooks could also be dealt because the team has more than enough catching.
Lol Gorman doesn’t get you Naylor and gallen both. He probably doesn’t even get you Naylor on his own, and even gallen in a down year is a stretch 1 for 1. Dream on!
Naylor is a 2 win player making 12 million in 2025. Thats not very valuable. Gallen has upside but hes not pitching well at all. Gallen is also making big money. Money matters. Anyone who thinks either guy has a lot of trade value doesnt know what they are talking about.
Maybe Gorman and a low level prospect or Luis Robert and Adrian Houser would make more sense.
Roberts value is in his ability to play center and the Cardinals don’t need that. And Houser isn’t anything special either.
I think they could get a lot to set themselves up nicely for the next couple years if they choose to deal Helsley. Gorman and Walker could use a change of scenery so if they could find a team that has young guys in a similar rut, I would explore a deal with those two as well. With the infielders they have coming, I don’t see Gorman with a defined role on this team and Walker, although still very young, just hasn’t panned out after they told him to start trying to lift the ball.
You can’t make the playoffs without starting pitching! If you want to get a front line starter you will have to SACRIFICE! The only player that could be a centerpiece for a cost controlled starter is Donovan and as much as I would hat to see him go that is there only choice. Right now the Phillies, Astros, Yankees, Dodgers and other teams are desperate for a LH bat that can play multiple positions and the Cardinals have a lot of LH bats so Donovan packaged with Crooks, Victor Scott, Maton, Hensley, and Matz could bring back a cost controlled starter and a RH utility bat. This would likely need to be done via a three way trade. Can’t wait to read the replies.
What starter is worth giving up all those guys? Who???
Yes it will take most of those guys to bring back a front line cost controlled starter and a RH hitting utility player.I’m not sure there is one out there. The Dodgers have a lot of starters and may be willing to part with one. To get something like this done it will likely have to be a 3 way trade. I wouldn’t give Donovan up for a rental, it would have to be multiple years of control. Donovan value is extremely high right now and if Chain Bloom wants to compete next year then now I’d the time to strike.
They are going to try and cut every salary they can to give Bloom as much money and as many roster spots as he can to fill so it’s his team his way from the start. Mozaliak’s dead line job is to find new homes for as many of the pieces on the MLB roster as he can and Bloom’s job is to decide the return.
Yes and Donovan will likely do very well in arbitration this off season. He will likely be making $10 to $20 million next year and if they keep him that will be less money to spend on pitching.
Two great drafts in a row- selling at the end of july
Buy another ace starting pitcher or two. Good pitching always beats good hitting.
Teams tend to hang onto aces; they don’t trade them.
How much money do you think the Dewitts will spend on starting pitching? Remember last year when they spent big on Lynn and Gibson? That’s what the fand will get next year if they can’t find a starter in a trade. It’s doubtful Walker and Gorman could get a starter, maybe a good reliever.
Tony always said if you are at .500 at the all star break you have a chance . They are better than that so buy some players.
Reunion with Harrison Bader. Right handed hitter, plus defender in CF. Leave Walker in AAA rest of the year.
Bader and Coulombe for Crooks. Thats a trade that makes sense for everyone.
They are trending for a 4th place central finish at best. The current team is collapsing. They have to play harder than other teams play perfect to win to make up for the lack of high end talent. That’s exhausting.
There should not be a single person in the organization that isn’t available, they need a lot because there isn’t a lot in the minors that is going to sell tickets. Whetherholt is good, but he’s not enough. Helsley should fetch a good return. It’ll he minor leaguers the majority of Cardinal’s fans have never heard of, but he should get one if not two of another clubs top 10 prospects. Contenders look for defensive replacements at the deadline, so VC2 could get a high risk high reward kind of starter. Donovan and Nootbaar don’t have the power clubs search for now. They should focus on getting prospects that should be ready by 2027 and get as many prospects as they can and trade who ever it takes to help rise the boat. No major league acquisitions.
Until they get a real pitching coach, and a real manager that wants to put their name on this team and not have the management at the top trying to control it. It will not matter what they do. Ollie is not the guy. Neither is Dusty.
I believe Marmol is exactly the right guy for the organization at this time. The team isn’t good and there isn’t much hope for the next few years. so he’s learning on the job and taking his lumps now when it really doesn’t matter. He might not make it through, but he’ll be much better from this experience and much better in his next manager position.
Schilt proves your theory wrong. He left because he was not going to be controlled by the front office. Say, how is he doing?
Not great. Schildt’s supposedly superior team is just 1.5 games better than the Cardinals. They’re in a four-team battle with the Cardinals, Giants, and Reds for the final playoff spot.
Tough division