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3 Cardinals players who aren't as safe as we think with the trade deadline approaching
Here are three fan favorite players that may be on the move for the Cardinals at the trade deadline.
The St. Louis Cardinals certainly aren't known for making the flashiest moves at the trade deadline, but they can make some surprising ones. The Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader trade most recently comes to mind. John Mozeliak isn't afraid to get creative with some deals that aren't necessarily being talked about amongst Cardinals media and national baseball rumors. Here are three players who might not be as safe as we'd think.
Ivan Herrera isn't as safe as we'd think
Ivan Herrera has been brought up in trade talks surrounding the Cardinals for a while now, but with the emergence of Pedro Pages as a viable backup catcher, it may be the perfect time to trade Herrera. Herrera seemed poised for a breakout in 2024 as one of the best catching duos in the league with Willson Contreras, at least from an offensive standpoint. He's slashing .273/.340/.378 with a 103 OPS+, which would certainly be good enough to start for many teams at the catcher position.
However, when Willson Contreras went down with a fractured arm, Pedro Pages was called upon to be the team's backup catcher. Herrera's defense left a lot to be desired, and Pages' framing ability and strong arm impressed the Cardinals enough to demote Herrera instead of Pages upon Willson's return. He's torn it up with Triple-A Memphis, and with the Cardinals' need for right-handed bats, it's possible he'll be recalled soon, but he may be more valuable in a trade package.
Since Herrera's skillset is a bit of a redundancy on the Cardinals' roster, moving on from him might make a lot of sense if another team is willing to give up a starting pitcher. A team like the Seattle Mariners, in desperate need of any offense, could be a good fit for Herrera, and given the way the Cardinals have treated him after the emergence of Pages, it wouldn't be surprising at all if they dealt him for more pressing needs.
Lars Nootbaar isn't as safe as we'd think
Just like the Harrison Bader trade, if the Cardinals moved on from a fan favorite in Lars Nootbaar, it might not be popular at all at first. However, it may be prudent to sell high on an outfielder with a few glaring red flags rather than holding onto him this time. The Cardinals once again have question marks in their outfield, but it's safe to say Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson have cemented themselves as everyday staples in the lineup.
However, Lars Nootbaar is once again going through a frustrating injury-riddled season. He's been fine in the time he's been healthy, but with Tommy Edman eventually returning, Michael Siani's electric defense, and Jordan Walker waiting in Triple-A, Nootbaar could be a trade candidate should the Cardinals get the right return. If Nootbaar suffers another injury and misses more time this season, his Cardinals career may be shaping up to be a lot more like Tyler O'Neill rather than the star fans are hoping he could become.
Nootbaar has been slightly above league average with a 105 OPS+, and while he hasn't had much consistent time to get into a groove, he's definitely not performing at the level most would expect from him. He still hits the ball very hard, boasting much better-expected numbers than his actual results, but with a Cardinals lineup needing offensive firepower against left-handed pitching that Nootbaar doesn't provide, moving on from him in favor of a starter could be wise.
While he has been seen as an untouchable player in years past, the Cardinals may finally be learning from a mistake of holding outfielders for too long. Tyler O'Neill net them very little in return, and Dylan Carlson will certainly get them even less. Nootbaar is still playing at the level to get the Cardinals a massive haul of talent, and though fans won't like it, myself included, the right package could make it one of the smarter moves of the trade deadline.
Ryan Helsley isn't as safe as we'd think
With the Cardinals firmly in the race for both the NL Central and a Wild Card spot, surely they won't deal their lone All-Star and one of the best closers in all of baseball, right? Well, no. The precedent has been set for contending teams to deal high-leverage relievers in the past, and as of right now, Ryan Helsley's value has never been higher. The Cardinals could get a massive return for Helsley from a prospect-rich team such as the Dodgers or Orioles, and they could still add other big pieces at the deadline.
With only one year left on Helsley's contract and a strong bullpen, it's unlikely he will remain in St. Louis longer than 2025 given the massive deals closers such as Josh Hader and Edwin Diaz have received in recent years. So, maximizing Helsley's value by offloading him for prospect capital could be the best allocation of resources for the Cardinals. If they could receive a prospect like Andy Pages or Heston Kjerstad who's close to Major League ready, their lineup could receive the boost it needs with Goldschmidt and Arenado underperforming massively.
The Cardinals bullpen, while weakened, wouldn't be crippled without Helsley either. After all, the combination of JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge, and the under-the-radar Rule-5 pick Ryan Fernandez have contributed in making the St. Louis bullpen one of the best in all of baseball. Selling high on Helsley isn't necessarily a losing move if the Cardinals get it right. If they can replace him with a solid high-leverage option, get a massive prospect haul, and add the right pieces at the deadline, they could be put in an even better position to make a World Series run even without an All-Star closer.
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