The Cardinals’ offseason is focused mostly on the players they’re trading away. Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras have already been shipped out, and it’s possible that each of Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado and JoJo Romero will also find themselves on the move. That doesn’t mean they won’t make some short-term pickups. They’ve added Dustin May on a $12.5MM deal in the rotation, and president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom identified a profile they’re pursuing on the position player side.
Bloom told reporters that the Cardinals would like to add an outfielder, ideally one who brings right-handed power (links via John Denton of MLB.com and Daniel Guerrero of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch). That’s an indirect consequence of the Contreras trade. Alec Burleson only made 38 starts at first base this past season. That’s likely to rise in 2026, as Bloom implied that Burleson could replace Contreras as the primary first baseman. Burleson made 72 starts in the corner outfield and 18 at designated hitter.
St. Louis has Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker as their projected corner outfield tandem. Nootbaar is down to two years of arbitration control and could be traded this offseason. Walker was a well below replacement level performer in 2025 and still has a minor league option remaining. A righty corner bat could also spell the lefty Burleson.
There aren’t a ton of options remaining in free agency. The Cards could kick the tires on a one-year deal for Miguel Andujar or Austin Hays, each of whom is coming off a big season with the platoon advantage. Old friend Tommy Pham is coming off a middling season against lefties but carries a .261/.368/.434 line in those situations over his career. Chas McCormick hasn’t hit in either of the past two years. He has a 20-homer season with a .273/.353/.489 showing in 2023 on his résumé.
The Cardinals could also look into a switch-hitting utility option like Willi Castro or Luis Rengifo. They’d have the added benefit of being able to fill in at second or third base if the Cardinals line up Donovan and/or Arenado trades. Nolan Gorman would be in line for the bulk of the third base playing time if Arenado is moved. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt should be up as the everyday second baseman at some point, assuming they trade Donovan, but the 23-year-old seems likely to open the season in Triple-A.
The Cardinals and everyone else.
@Bart Harley Jarvis:
Exactly. I am a Guardians fan and I was thinking that’s exactly what they need.
Indians*
Naps*
Napoleons*
Blues*
Spiders*
Castro makes sense. He can keep Wetherholt down to start the year while also backing up center. 1 year deal if he bounces back he can be traded at the deadline and Joshua Baez could take his place.
Wetherholt should be up from day one.
I loved Pham’s passion when he was first with the Cardinals. But please no. Not on a young team.
Well said Lefty. The last thing a really young team needs is a guy like Pham, they would be much better suited finding someone who practices and preaches professionalism as well as has the skillet to be a good mentor.
Don’t poopoo on the man’s omelet game now.
Old friends Tommy Pham and Harrison Bader are still available. Bader probably wants a multi-year deal so he’s not a realistic target, but Pham is in his mercenary years, he could fit.
Nick C. for a bag of balls and 10M dollars from the Phillies.
Casty isn’t worth the bag of balls let alone actual money, plus he hates the Cardinals so that wouldn’t work
First part was only stated Nick isn’t wanted by anyone because he showed how worthless he is as well as a cancer to any clubhouse lol. Beggars ya know can’t be choosers except no one picking Nick.
Actually the cardinals hate Castellanos more so it’s mutually unlikely. Pham ship sailed also, had literally one good moment (pinch hit grand slam) when he returned last year, then stunk big time and was sent packing.
Walker was below replacement level, even with dramatically improved defense, which just shows how truly bad he was. Belongs in AAA if he has any shot at being salvaged.
The options listed in this post are pretty terrible. Maybe overpay Bader just to throw the fans a scrap (not happening).
Rebuilding gonna suck after all these semi-fun trades to the Red Sox ware off.
Nick flexing on that woodford guy was the highlight of his reds tenure imo
Almost as bad of an idea as Pham
He was only the Pirates second best hitter last year.
Chicken,
That tells you how awful Pittsburgh’s offense was last year.
That would mean the Cardinals would be paying Castellanos $10M, which is way too much.
This would have to be $15M.
That’s a mets move
Cards were reported to be interested in Nicky the C but that was in 2019.
Trade you Ramos for Donavon, shoot, I’m sure we can throw in a pitcher or two. Lol
Donavan would be a good pickup, but trading Ramos would be a huge mistake. We’re not trading our first homegrown All Star in over 30 years, and the only RH hitter to ever be able to hit a splash hit in Oracle Park. That type of stuff is potentially literally a legend in the making.
Ramos is such a poor fielder though, future 1B?
No he’s not. He’s consistently been an above average defender in LF, other than for just a couple months this season, when the whole team was slumping, and he was pressing, trying to do too much. Growing pains are somewhat expected in young players, and this was his first full MLB season. He’s fine, it was just a result of the team slumping around him. Through May of this year some writers thought he might win a gold glove this year. Something happened in June, that caused the whole team to slump. I have numbers to back up what I’m saying.
:Cut and pasted:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
I watched Ramos all season, and at times he did carry the whole team. Love that he’s home grown, and believe that he’s better in the field than what he displayed last year. But he is replaceable. If we can find a package without him that’s fine too.
He slumped badly in the second half after the league figured him out. I’m not that big on Donovan like a lot of you are, but the Cardinals can do way better than getting Ramos for him.
Near-future part-time corner OF/first baseman
@Balk how do you replace the only RH MLB hitter in history capable of hitting a splash hit at Oracle Park? That’s some serious power.
“We’re not trading our first homegrown All Star in over 30 years”
Brandon Belt was an all star. MadBum, Posey, Brian Wilson. Sure it’s been a while but first homegrown all star in 30 years is crazy work
@isolatedpower If you’re going to use quote, at least include the whole sentence.
He is the first homegrown All Star OF for the SF Giants in over 30 years. Go look it up, since you don’t know.
@ramos splash hit
No where in the original quote does it say “home grown outfielder” it just says home grown
Yeah I just looked back and I see that mistake. It’s too late for me to edit it now.
Come on. Ramos had all of 1.2 bWar over 695 plate appearances. He’s not nearly as good as you think he is.
@Hammerin’ Hank Ramos is the only RH hitter in MLB history capable of hitting a splash hit HR at Oracle Park. He’s an All Star, has 30+ HR power, has played above average defense in LF the majority of his career. He’s not as bad as you think.
This year was the kids first full MLB season ffs.
The Giants would love that trade, Balk.
The Giants front office is not that obtuse, Hank.
I wonder if they could turn Jose Fermin into a left fielder to go along with his infield utility appeal.
He’s hit in the minors but hasn’t had a chance at the MLB level. What would it hurt ?
Saggese could be another option for that too.
I could see Fermin and Saggese playing a little left field, but they really need a right-handed hitter who plays centerfield. Vic Scott needs a platoon partner more than Burly.
I was surprised that they weren’t in on Refsnyder for a one year deal.
They very well could have been or planned to.
If you are a future ex-Yankee HOFer where would you play, 100ish games on a rebuild or 70ish on a contender, in your waning years?
He probably didn’t want to wait around comparing offers so he took the best offer a future ex-Yankee HOFer would get. Which will double his last 4 years of earnings so he did pretty good.
Birds wouldnt have got anywhere close to what he got anyways.
Of course he took the best offer. Rebuild/contender, it doesn’t matter that much to these guys. This might have been Refsnyder’s last chance to cash in. He’s not worried about what type of trajectory the team is on.
I’d like them to sign Hays.
They seem like serious suitors for Hayes although I bet he wants to be on a club that’s more ready to win now was much as u may hate to hear that
He will sign for whoever gives him the most money. You can bank on it. This will probably be his last chance at a good payday and he will get as much as he can, like any of us would.
K well st Louis won’t be the top bidder mark my words
Justin Henry Malloy just DNF from Tigers young, has a decent eye. Fielding not so much but passable in left. Tigers never really gave him a solid shot. Braves prospect once apon a time.
Cardinals cannot figure out if they are selling or buying…
lol can’t you read they have to still field a team. They are selling and going with a youth movement. Go be a homer somewhere else
They are left handed heavy. Trying to give the young players playing time. Burleson is playing 1st. Jordan Walker was abysmal in right field. He’s right handed. If he flames out again cards need a right handed batter. They have a plethora of lefties. They are in a complete rebuild…
That just need ball players that can compete at a major league level
I’m not a Cardinals fan so I’ll ask here: what are the chances of them moving Jordan Walker? Is it still a definite no or is there actually a chance of it?
I highly doubt they’d be eager to move him when his value is at its lowest, but if I’m another team I’d have interest in him while he’s still 23 and hope he just needs a change of scenery. Maybe Bloom would be more willing to move him than Mozeliak, but I recognize that they’re not going anywhere next year and probably have no issue giving him a full season of at bats to figure it out. That said, he at least still has some value and another year of this would eliminate whatever is left.
And yes, I know he has an option year left but spending it shuttling back and forth from Memphis would just mean we have this conversation next offseason instead of right now.
He’s still too young to give up on, especially when the next two years are projected to be non competitive. He will be put in RF to work through his issues, plus they don’t have anymore right handed bats to take his place until Baez gets up there in two years
Id agree but anoyher year of Walker is close to unbearable, Victor Scott also a dud.
Baez looks like a star, Jose Fermin looks like a potential starter. I think Nick Madrigal is a great fit for St. Louis and Id bet he could play a decent left field.
mlb.com/video/nick-madrigal-homers-1-on-a-line-dri…
What would a rebuilding team want with Nick Madrigal? He’ll be out of the league before long.
Madrigal could be this season’s Miguel Andujar. Doesn’t have the power to hit 30 HRs but he could post 10+ with a .285/.350/.425 slash.
Comedy gold. Just for your sake I hope the Cardinals do sign Madrigal to play LF.
I agree with Payne Train. Walker will get at least one more year. Everyone kept saying the kinds of changes he needs to make could only happen in the off-season. Walker is going to have all eyes on him this spring.
Baez may push Walker as early as 2027.
The trading isn’t done, so there may be other hitters to challenge holdovers like Walker, Gorman, Scott, etc.
Based on trajectories, Baez may push Walker in late 2026
He just doesn’t have any value
Mariners send victor Robbles and a prospect or two for Donovan!!!!
That’s amusing.
lol apparently once again youth movement and that the cardinals want pitching. Donavan is worth more than that lol
You’ve been smoking that funny stuff again!
Robles, along with Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Logan Evans would be fair.
What about a trade of reliever Riley O’Brien for Victor Robles, who is one year removed from a 3.1 WAR season?
In 2026 Robles is owed $5.25 million (plus up to $1 million in incentives) with a $500,000 buyout of a $9 million club option for 2027.
Why does a rebuilding team need an injury-prone outfielder who’ll turn 29 in May like Robles?
Actually, that is a sound trade. The salaries match. The production matches when Robles is healthy. Robles plays CF. Both players are due for a new contract in a year. Both players are 28 years old.
Herrera bats right?
Yes . Him , Winn and Walker that’s it. Aranado but they are trying to move him again . JJ is coming up to play 3rd ( probably) . He’s a lefty also . Heck I think the manager is too ..
Yeah, but he’s probably the only good right-handed bat in the starting lineup.
(I’m not counting Arenado. He’ll be traded with $30 million for a bag of balls sometime over the next month or two.)
Are there any teams that are not looking for a right handed outfielder?
Austin Hays or Harrison Bader
Problem solved…
What’s the next issue?
Those two are expected to sign for more than the Cardinals will want to spend. They’ll be shopping in the bargain bin for a right-handed hitting centerfielder.
Probably cost too much and will want multiple years, ill pass
@Floyd Rayford’s cat
Exactly. The Cards are probably just looking for a cheap, 1-year platoon bat, not a multi-year commitment
Hays is about to advance ever further into his decline. He only managed 0.8 bWar in his contract year after a -0.1 in 2024. And Bader will go back to being his old injury-prone self after his good walk year.
Bader has played his way back into an everyday job. While the Cardinals would love to have him as a platoon partner for Scott, Bader wouldn’t sign for that role.
Maybe if Bader would be willing to play RF versus righties while Walker sits against them, but I don’t think the Cardinals want to turn Walker into a platoon player at this point.
@Lanidrac
Good point. Bader wouldn’t take a platoon role, so the Cards will need someone willing to fill that righty spot vs. lefties. Hays fits that better.
Im giving Walker every chance to shine this season! Hes still very young and I still have hope for him
@eatonculo
Yeah, seems like the Cards are going bargain hunting. Hays or a similar RHB seems most realistic.
Nick C. and 10M is worth the risk. If he has a god 1st half the Cards can swing him at the deadline for a prospect.
He is a negative 1 plus WAR player that can’t play defense and has an awful attitude, the exact opposite player that the Cardinals are looking for.
Everyone expects him to be released from his contract and someone will pick him up at league Min as a DH
does he have an awful attitude? maybe, but the Phillies FO has now had public discord with Harper Strahm and Castellanos all within the past six months.
If they swapped Nado for Casty while sending back a Moises Chase then maybe but I still don’t see it.
The Cardinals would probably rather keep Arenado over trading him for Castellanos.
Right? I feel like there’s something more there.
If he does, it wouldn’t matter to the Phillies if he could still hit. It’s the lack of production that’s making him undesirable.
No it’s not worth the risk.
As long as it isn’t that cancer Tommy Pham I’m good with whomever.
He’s misunderstood. In his time in Philadelphia he had (1) bad interaction when the manager wanted to replace him defensively. I don’t think Nick is a bad guy, it was a humbling moment and he thinks he is better than that. He does work hard at his defense and offense. I think a midwest team is better for him. Less media, less scrutiny. He has a ton of baseball experience and I think his work ethic is good for younger players to see. The hard work might not be reflected in his defensive metrics but he puts in the effort. He carried the team through multiple playoff series.
Cambo, are you secretly Nick himself lol
And if the Phillies took on that Arenado contract….
this is actually a fun frame for a trade. Castellanos for Arrenado with Bohm prospects and $ balancing it out.
I’ve hated this so much over the past hour of talking about it that I actually am intrigued by it now if the prospect going back to the Cards is an actual good prospect ….
At this point, Phillies would much rather have Bohm than Arenado even without considering the difference in money owed. If it would come to Castellanos and Bohm, I could see a catcher coming back to the Phillies if the JT resigning falls through.
yeah but they’d also rather have anyone than Castellanos
Bohm> Arenado
Even if the cards were willing to take Nick it still doesn’t make sense.
Cards wouldn’t want Bohm either
Maybe Donovan to the Phillies makes sense. Or a catcher
I’d love for the Cardinals to trade a catcher (Crooks or Pages) to Philly or anywhere else.
Tyler O’Neil.
No, thank you.
Mountcastle might be an interesting add. Could thrive in a new league until the pitchers figure him out. Part of a deal for Romero maybe?
All the teams play each other now. What new league? Mountcastle is not good at this stage of his career and Elias made another of his mistakes in tendering him a contract.
Maybe a young outfielder will come back in one of the trades that are forthcoming. Malloy also got dfa’d. He might be worth a flyer
Think Walker and Gorman will be given every opportunity. Both have shown flashes of success. Pitch recognition is the key for both.
Walter has not shown flashes of success. He was worse in the league last year in many offensive numbers. He needs to go back to AAA and learn to lay off breaking balls out of the zone and to hit the ball off the ground when he does make contact. While he there he can work on that awful defense too. Im so tired of this guy getting a pass because of his age. Because of his age is a good reason to send him back down. He has alot to learn and he is wasting a major league roster spot trying to learn in St Louis.
Adell for Arenado and Romero, Angels take on the of rest of the Arenado contract
Not terrible.
lol. Not way the Angels do that.
not an Adell fan but there is zero reason for the Angels to assume Arenado’s bloated contract if all they get to offset the $ is Romero.
Even if they don’t trade Donovan, they could still use him at either 3B (in the event of an Arenado trade) or in the corner outfield, albeit as still a lefty bat. I’d rather play Donovan regularly at 3B than Gorman, who could possibly be traded himself. Or maybe Nootbaar is the one who gets traded and Donovan takes over as primarily an outfielder next year.
I’ll personally pay the cardinals to take Tyler o Neil back
Gorman is truly a bad fielder and he can’t hit the save his life anymore. He was the Mendoza line in over 378 bats. I think we move on from him.
he was a decent 2b. he had to relearn 3b and was brutal to start but got better. with an off season to practice 3rd he’ll be fine.
Mike Trout is rh.
Maybe a little outside the box, but how about Wenceel Perez? I feel like the Tigers would be open to moving him.
I’d even take a chance on Jhonkensy Noel on the waiver wire. He got his K rate down to 21% at AAA while keeping his power in 2024 before totally regressing this year. Only 10 months older than Walker. Maybe Cerfolio would be interested in reuniting.
Agreed. This is a waiver pickup situation. Every team needs a respectable RH OFer this offseason and few are available. Why would you sign with a bad team when they offer you the same role as a good team? Lots of time/movement left for 40 mans. They’ll grab a couple and hope one of them turns out better than Walker
Because they pay the most, youll get more PT, and will likely trade you to a playoff team at the deadline
Victor Robles, only 28 and a good right-handed hitter, is the Mariners starting RF and looked to finally have figured it (hitting at the MLB level) out before he made a circus catch into the netting in SF that are up most of his 2025 with an injury. Sooooo much talk about a Donovan trade, certainly the pieces match up (along with a good pitching prospect), no?
Probably not, they are looking to get high level prospects with Donny and will purchase an outfielder. They won’t water down the return for Donny for an outfielder that would be out of the system before the Cardinals competitive window opens back up
Taking Robles salary back in trade increases the Donovan trade return for Stl.
It’s equal to Stl sending Robles salary with Donovan, freeing up Sea budget space, which requires a better trade package back to Stl.
The Cardinals are not going to get many prospects for Donovan. It would have happened by now. They are asking for too much. Donovan is a good player. But he only provides 10 HR’s and 50 RBI’s per year. His main value is that he doesn’t strike out much, has a low dollar contract and while not great at any one position is good enough at several. If he had a $20M per year contract no one would be interested.
You just described Donovans surplus value, and yes, it’s very good. Take your 15mil difference, and apply that as cash for prospects. Nice haul.
don’t think anyone bails SEA out of that contract. he’s negative value in a trade for Donovan
He is Sea negative value. What ever it takes to help unlock the Sea prospect pipeline for Stl, should be on the table.
It’s only a $5 million contract with a club option for 2027.
No kidding. The Cardinals will just give the Mariners $5 million, if it means getting a better prospect haul.
It doesn’t matter what Bloom does. Cardinals fans with a desire to throw money down the toilet will be paying major league prices to watch a minor league team on the field.
I have watched 5 championship flags added to the STL total in my time, and I will continue to support the org when it struggles.
Hope that makes you feel good about yourself because the Cardinals certainly don’t care as long as you keep giving them money
My mlb investment has been well rewarded, thank you for your concern.
What about getting Teoscar Hernandez from the Dodgers in exchange for Brendan Donnovan and a minor leaguer or a draft pick
A rebuilding team isn’t going to trade their best trade chip for an expensive major leaguer in a year they will finish near or at the bottom just to round out their roster. How would that trade help the Cardinals even a little bit? This is going to be a bargain bin one year deal or cheap change of scenery roll of the dice type add.
Sign Kike and trade him to the Dodgers at the deadline. Done.
How about Harrison Bader?