Masyn Winn can breathe easy for now as Cardinals turn down trade interest

The Hot Stove figures to be sizzling for the next couple of weeks until the baseball world stands still. The rumors will be flying around free agency, job openings, and of course the trade market. In a year where the St. Louis Cardinals look to repeat last year's plan, opposing teams are still checking in with Chaim Bloom about making a deal.

Since the Cardinals' major league team is full of young, controllable, and affordable players, it makes sense that rival GMs would call Bloom to test the market. With Bloom being comfortable copying and pasting last year's roster into 2027, he is letting other teams know the Cardinals are not expected to be legitimate postseason contenders next year. Because of the complacency with mediocrity, other teams that are looking to compete see St. Louis as a team that could continue to subtract from their MLB roster and supplement the farm.

While the Cardinals have plenty of MLB assets that may be more valuable elsewhere, their current middle infield still has the makeup to hold their spots for the future. Even though JJ Wetherholt fell short in the Rookie of the Year voting, he showed the ability to handle second base at an elite level and be a force as a leadoff hitter. His double-play partner, Masyn Winn, was unable to repeat as the Gold Glove winner at shortstop, but his snub should not take away from the magic he can do up the middle. Fans still want more out of the bat, but apparently at least one rival GM saw enough upside in Winn's future to check in on his availability this offseason.

Cardinals fans should breathe easy knowing Masyn Winn is not going anywhere

As we continue to hope for an offensive jump for Masyn Winn, there is no doubt that he is one of rht premier fielders in all of baseball, regardless of position. With the athleticism to get to any ball and the rocket arm to get outs no other shortstop could get, we have been spoiled with Winn shoring up the infield defense to support a pitching staff built on allowing contact. That type of defensive prowess is desired on any team and according to Derrick Goold, Winn's name has come up in trade chatter, only for Bloom to quickly shut down the move.

"A source with one team aware of a conversation with the Cardinals said they quickly rejected an overture from a team wondering if they’d trade shortstop Masyn Winn."

Derrick Goold

Fans of any team should expect their main decision-maker to overturn every stone in the offseason, including all free agents who fit a need and any trade candidates on the market. The Cardinals are keeping that possibility open for them to add long-term pieces, but the price has to be right. As of now, Winn is too valuable to the future of St. Louis to make available.

Of course, that could change in the near future, especially if Winn's bat continues to hold steady or decline as it has in the past couple of seasons. Injuries could be to blame for the offensive decrease, but Winn is now entering his fourth full year in the bigs, and the Cardinals do need to see some progress as the shortstop will go into the arbitration process at the end of next season. While Winn is working to gain a stranglehold on the future of the position, Jesus Baez will attempt to prove his ability to stick at shortstop at the next level. That type of internal competition could make the 2027 season a sink-or-swim year for Winn.

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