8 Cardinals who weren't traded at the deadline but could be moved this offseason

The St. Louis Cardinals aren't out of the weeds just yet.

Despite trading Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz at the deadline, the club still has several positional logjams that need to be solved. Their farm system could also use more reinforcements despite gaining six new prospects at the deadline as a result of the trades.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the club could be looking to clear space at second base and in the outfield. Katie Woo of The Athletic reported after the deadline that the team received plenty of calls on their left-handed bats, but the organization wasn't "blown away" by the offers.

When it comes to the keystone position, the Cardinals have primarily used Brendan Donovan this year. He was named an All-Star at the position due to his plus production there. Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese could also be regulars there. Behind these three major leaguers is JJ Wetherholt, the club's top and most prized prospect. Wetherholt could be ready as soon as September for a promotion.

In the outfield, the Cardinals have been playing a combination of Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Brendan Donovan, and Victor Scott II. Scott is likely safe since he's the team's best center fielder and a potential Gold Glove candidate. That leaves Nootbaar, Burleson, Walker, and Donovan as potential surplus.

The Cardinals traded away several players on expiring contracts at the deadline, including closer and two-time All Star Ryan Helsley, veteran lefty Steven Matz, and veteran righty Phil Maton.

There was ample chatter around the league of the Cardinals exploring trades and listening to offers on players like Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, and Alec Burleson. While these players with team control weren't moved by Thursday's deadline, their market may not be done as of yet.

Part of Chaim Bloom's job over the last two years was to vet and revamp the farm system and player development model. He's done just that by increasing the staff with executives like Larry Day and Rob Cerfolio. The changes made to pitching development alone this year have been significant for the Cardinals.

With Bloom just weeks away from officially taking over as the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, he's now focused more on the major-league roster. Bloom has been in and around the clubhouse all year according to reports, so he's gotten to know several players. He's also been able to gather two years' worth of data on players like Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and others.

Therefore, Chaim Bloom may have an idea of which "runway" players he wants to keep for the long term.

There are ample redundancies and surplus throughout the major-league roster and 40-man roster. Part of Bloom's job this offseason will be to trim the fat, so to speak. He'll have to trade some major leaguers to fill holes in other spots of the roster, particularly in the rotation. The Cardinals have plenty of interest in their position players; the odds of them landing a mid-rotation starter (or better) are high this offseason with the controllable players that they do have on the roster.

These 8 players weren't traded at the deadline by the St. Louis Cardinals, but they could still be moved this offseason.

3B Nolan Arenado

It's a real shame that the Cardinals couldn't find more success with both Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt on the roster these past few years. While the latter was no longer with the Cardinals in 2025, Arenado remained.

Over the last four seasons, Nolan Arenado has seen his OPS fall from .891 in 2022 to just .660 this year. He's rarely hitting for power anymore, and his batting average has also plummeted. He's currently slashing .235/.294/.366 with 10 home runs for an OPS+ of just 86.

Despite Arenado's lackluster offensive output of late, he's still one of the game's best defenders. As of trade deadline day, Nolan Arenado had committed the fewest errors among third basemen, he was sixth in Defensive Runs Saved (5 DRS), and he was eighth in Outs Above Average (2 OAA). He could stand to be a finalist for the National League Gold Glove at third base.

For a moment before the deadline, the rumor mill surrounding Arenado was spinning. The Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and others were all rumored to have interest in the eight-time All Star. However, Arenado's contract — he's owed $31 million over the next two years — and his no-trade clause likely halted any progress in discussions.

During this past offseason, the Cardinals and Astros had a deal in place that would send Nado and cash to Houston for an unknown return. Arenado declined the trade due to uncertainty surrounding the Astros' future. He could be more open to a trade this upcoming offseason, and his list of teams he would be willing to go to could expand slightly.

The Cardinals will probably have to throw in cash once again in a deal involving Nolan Arenado, but there's a chance he can be moved. St. Louis has ample motivation to move him as well. Clearing his contract off the books is probably a desire of ownership, and having Arenado off the roster opens up playing time for Nolan Gorman and top prospect JJ Wetherholt in 2026.

The Cardinals fielded interest at the deadline on their 34-year-old third baseman, but a deal could not be had. They'll likely shop him this winter once again.

OF Lars Nootbaar

Once again, there were whispers throughout the final week leading up to the trade deadline that Lars Nootbaar could be on the market; however, the Cardinals instead opted to hold onto their corner outfielder.

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, teams were inquiring about Lars Nootbaar (along with other players on this list) in the moments leading up to the deadline, but St. Louis has "not entertained that up to this point." It's reasonable to assume that interest will remain in Nootbaar this coming offseason.

Lars Nootbaar's calling card throughout his career has been his underlying metrics. A look at his Baseball Savant page through the years will show a lot of red in key categories such as exit velocity, expected statistics, chase rate, and other key metrics. The struggle for Nootbaar is that he has never been able to fully put those tools to practice, and he's had some injury concerns throughout his career.

Nootbaar has a career slash line of .241/.344/.416 for an OPS+ of 112. He's playing below his career norms this year in every major statistical category, and he was even removed from leadoff duties before his most recent IL stint. If the Cardinals had traded Nootbaar at the deadline, they may have been trading him at a low point.

Before the season, Lars Nootbaar was briefly mentioned as a runway player by the organization. At this point, we should know what we have in Lars Nootbaar. He's a solid corner outfielder who will often produce at a level above league average on the offensive and defensive sides of the game, but his inability to log more than 500 at bats in a season will remain.

The Cardinals certainly shopped Noot at the deadline, but the returns they received may have been underwhelming to them at the time. They could revisit these talks in the offseason, particularly if Nootbaar gets back on track in the final two months of the year. With the glut of outfielders, the Cardinals will have to trade at least one this offseason to offer enough playing time for everyone. The number of teams needing an outfielder this offseason will be large, and Chaim Bloom could capitalize on Nootbaar's (hopefully) rising value and trade him.

1B/DH/OF Alec Burleson

Alec Burleson is in the midst of his best season of his young career. The lefty outfielder (first baseman/designated hitter?) has a .287/.341/.469 slash line for a 126 OPS+. He's been the club's best hitter outside of Ivan Herrera all year.

Burleson has hit a team-leading 14 home runs this year to go along with 48 runs batted in. He's entrenched himself into the heart of the lineup with his offensive output this year.

Trading Alec Burleson at the deadline would have been a clear opportunity to capitalize on his value. He's young (26), having a strong year offensively, and under ample team control. (He's not a free agent until 2029.) All of these reasons to trade Burly are the same ones the front office will use to keep him on the roster for the future.

There's a strong chance Alec Burleson is a core piece of this team in 2026 and beyond. He's gotten better offensively each year, and it's possible that his his 126 OPS+ is not his peak. The downside to Alec Burleson would be his defensive abilities. He's primarily a corner outfielder (as is Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker...you see my point) who can play first base on occasion.

He's essentially a neutral defender at first for his career (+2 DRS, -2 OAA), but he's a negative defender across the outfield for his career (-3 DRS and -8 OAA in left field, -7 DRS and -12 OAA in right field). A power-hitting corner outfielder who is a defensive liability shouldn't be a core piece a team should build around unless their offense is otherworldly. Burleson isn't to that level.

The Cardinals don't need plus defenders and average offensive players at every position. They're already fielding defense-first players at catcher, shortstop, third base, and center field. However, there is something to be said for defensive viability, and I'm not certain Burleson provides that in the outfield. A team can have a negative defender in the corner outfield, but he'd better hit exceptionally well to offset his shortcomings in the field.

Alec Burleson is a strong offensive player, but his defense liabilities and lack of positional versatility make him an expendable player this offseason. He and Ivan Herrera are teetering towards similar defensive profiles, and Herrera is certainly the better offensive player. If Chaim Bloom's goal is to reset the system, trading Alec Burleson for a mid-rotation starting pitcher would go a long way.

SP Sonny Gray

The St. Louis Cardinals signed starting pitcher Sonny Gray two years ago in hopes of him leading the rotation and being a guide for young pitchers throughout the system. He's done well in that role so far, but his time with the Cardinals could be nearing an end.

Once again, there were rumors that Sonny Gray would be shopped at the deadline, but the Cardinals left their dealings with the 35-year-old righty still on their roster.

Gray is still under contract for 2026 with a team option for 2027. He's owed $35 million in 2026, and the club option is worth $30 million with a $5 million buyout attached. That's a steep price to pay for a pitcher well past his age-30 season and likely in his decline years.

Sonny Gray has a 10-5 record with a 4.38 ERA through 121.1 innings this year. He's done well with strikeouts (9.9 K/9 this year) while limiting walks, but he continues to be plagued by the long ball. Gray has allowed 15 home runs this year. He gave up 21 long balls last year.

Over his last five starts, Gray has an 8.44 ERA. He's allowed five home runs during that stretch, and he has a 1.875 WHIP. He has simply not been good during the month of July, and that's starting to affect his season numbers heavily.

Trading Sonny Gray will be a bit of a difficult situation. He has a no-trade clause, he isn't cheap, and he's declined each of these last two years following his second-place finish in the American League Cy Young in 2023. If he is open to a trade this offseason and if Chaim Bloom is willing to explore a trade, expect Sonny Gray to be dealt.

The free agent pitching market is a bit thin this winter, with Dylan Cease being the headliner. If Gray can finish the year strong, he could be a top pitcher available in the offseason. Additionally, getting out from under Gray's onerous contract may be in ownership's best interest. Even with Gray on the payroll next year, the club's payroll will be under $100 million. Trading him offers the team more financial flexibility (and the DeWitts less money to pay out).

Any catcher

The St. Louis Cardinals not only have a logjam of sorts at second base and corner outfield, but they also have a plethora of talented catchers. Yohel Pozo and Pedro Pages are now in a timeshare at the majors. Ivan Herrera could feasibly return to the position next year once he distances himself from his injuries of this year. Willson Contreras's catching days are likely behind him.

In the minors, the Cardinals have three viable future catchers in Jimmy Crooks (#5 prospect in system), Leonardo Bernal (#3 prospect in system), and Rainiel Rodriguez (#4 prospect in system). Their catching depth is quite strong.

In the final hours of Thursday afternoon, the San Diego Padres acquired catcher Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers, both of whom have major-league experience. Fermin, 30, has a .255/.309/.339 slash line for an OPS+ of just 81. Fermin is an exceptional defensive catcher, though. The Cardinals' major-league catchers in Pages and Pozo don't necessarily measure up to Fermin's output, but one of the two could have been appealing to the Padres.

I'm not advocating for a catching prospect to be dealt this offseason; the club is still in a rebuild mode. However, the depth at catching in the minors should allow the front office to trade its major-league catchers for pitching or other areas of need.

Manager Oliver Marmol and the organization have always had a preference towards Pedro Pages over Yohel Pozo and Ivan Herrera, though Herrera's days behind the plate are likely over for this year at least. His game calling and framing, likely a dying art with the Automated Ball-Strike System on the horizon, are frequently touted as reasons to play him every day. However, the Cardinals need a more competent offensive catcher. Trading Pages while he has some defensive value still may be wise, and capitalizing on a surprisingly good offensive year from Yohel Pozo would be wise as well.

Trading these two major leaguers would force Jimmy Crooks up, but he could be ready if he finishes the year strong in the minors.

Clearly, AJ Preller of the San Diego Padres was in need of a catcher, and clearly he was willing to trade MLB-ready pitching for a catcher. Not capitalizing on the catching market at the deadline didn't go well for the Cardinals. They should try and move some of their catching surplus this offseason one way or another.

2B/OF Brendan Donovan

This one might hurt.

Brendan Donovan embodies what it means to be a St. Louis Cardinal. He grinds out at-bats, he puts others first, he does whatever it takes to help the team, and he is a leader in the clubhouse. However, there's a chance Brendan Donovan won't still be around for the team's next competitive window.

Brendan Donovan is a wanted man throughout the league, and the deadline chatter proved that. The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and several other teams expressed interest in the Cardinals' utility man, but the price was quite high for the organization's favorite player.

Donovan is in the midst of his best year yet with a .285/.358/.416 slash line and nine home runs. He's driven in 42 runners and scored 55 times himself. Donovan's 119 OPS+ is the highest of his career so far, excluding his rookie season, when he also won a Gold Glove. He has been the club's leadoff hitter for a couple of months now, and he's also the de facto clubhouse leader.

Trading Brendan Donovan would be devastating to the team. He's a solid contributor on both ends of the ball, and he's great in the clubhouse. Fans also love his hard work. However, if Chaim Bloom doesn't want to extend Brendan Donovan and if he doesn't see the team being truly competitive in 2026 or 2027, trading Brendan Donovan this offseason may be the team's best choice.

Donovan by himself could net quite the return, be it prospects or a major leaguer. Regardless, trading him could help fill holes elsewhere on the roster. Donny is the heart and soul of this team. Seeing him traded away this offseason will hurt, but it could be necessary to fill other holes in the lineup. The Cardinals have JJ Wetherholt behind Donovan who can play multiple positions, though Wetherholt isn't quite the same as Brendan Donovan.

If Chaim Bloom isn't willing to sign Brendan Donovan to a multi-year extension to be a leader for the next core of Cardinals, he should consider trading the utility player. There's plenty of value in having Donovan around during the team's next competitive window even if he regresses and 2025 is his peak in on-field performance. Bloom can't continue to let Donovan play without intentions of extending or trading him.

LHP JoJo Romero

Trading JoJo Romero began gaining steam with about a week to go before the deadline. Bernie Miklasz first posited the idea, and I agreed with Bernie, though trading Romero would have been a bit surprising. After all, Mozeliak made it clear that he would primarily be shopping players with expiring contracts like Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton.

However, JoJo Romero could have brought back a pretty decent haul of prospects this year.

In 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals opted to be soft buyers, trading Tommy Edman for Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham. This helped offset some shortcomings of the team without sacrificing the future. Ryan Helsley could have been traded at last year's deadline with maximum value and a year and a half of control remaining. Instead, the Cardinals opted to hold onto Helsley. They did the same this offseason despite Helsley being extremely attractive to opposing teams.

John Mozeliak is repeating that failure once again with Romero.

JoJo has a 2.04 ERA through 35.1 innings of relief this year. He's struck out 8.92 batters per nine innings this year, a solid number for the southpaw. He's generated ground balls at a 52.7% clip, and he's allowed just one home run all year. He was exceptional in the month of July, as he didn't allow a single earned run in 9.2 innings while also striking out 15 batters.

With another year of control left after this year, JoJo Romero would have been an appealing trade candidate at the deadline. The Seattle Mariners were reportedly looking for left-handed bullpen help. The Los Angeles Dodgers could have used another reliever for the postseason. However, John Mozeliak and the front office instead opted to hold onto a reliever, the most volatile position in baseball, instead of trading him at his peak once again.

It's totally possible JoJo Romero continues to pitch well and enters the closer role for the Cardinals. This could raise his value for an offseason trade. However, it's equally as possible that Romero takes a step back in a higher-leverage role and he loses value over the final two months of the season.

2B/3B Nolan Gorman

Nolan Gorman certainly received interest at this year's trade deadline according to reports, but like the other position players on this list, he remains on the team after the trade deadline.

Gorman is currently working his way back from the injured list due to some back pain, a recurring theme for his young career so far. He's appeared in just two games for Double-A Springfield, and he's recorded two hits: a home run and a double. He could be back with the team by the end of the weekend series against the San Diego Padres.

Gorman was identified early on in the offseason as a clear "runway" player with fellow youngster Jordan Walker. The club needed Gorman to get a full slate of games this year to see if he could make the necessary adjustments to be an everyday infielder with significant pop from the left side. Injuries and underperformance to start the year hampered these plans.

Gorman has logged only 226 at bats, but he's seen some growth in important areas. His two primary struggles at the plate throughout his career have been fastballs up in the zone and breaking balls down and away. He's made much better swing decisions this year with a career-high 11.9% walk rate. He's also striking out right around 30% of the time, another career-best mark.

However, Gorman has sacrificed some power for this approach. His ISO is down to just .189, and his slugging percentage is a mere .408. He's slugged only nine home runs so far this year. For a player whose value is tied to his ability to crush baseballs, these power numbers aren't sufficient enough. The Cardinals haven't had a true power bat in the lineup for many years, and Gorman was supposed to be that guy along with Jordan Walker. So far, neither has been able to fill that role for the club.

Gorman's calling card is his offense, and the club hasn't been able to see enough of him to really be sure if he can be a power bat in the middle of a playoff-worthy lineup. They'll need these next two months of a healthy Nolan Gorman to really see if he can provide pop in the heart of the order. If he can't produce down the stretch, he could be a trade candidate this offseason.