Playing "shop, listen to offers, or keep" on the St. Louis Cardinals' young bats
By Josh Jacobs
![Jun 17, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jordan Walker (18) and Jun 17, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jordan Walker (18) and](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4226,h_2377,x_0,y_110/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/33/01h5mzqxnh4s2253xssp.jpg)
Listen to offers: Lars Nootbaar
I really like Lars Nootbaar, but if he is the piece that stands in the way of the Cardinals getting starting pitching with club control, I'm exploring that option.
I wouldn't be quick to trade Nootbaar by any means, but I think it's unrealistic of the Cardinals to say he can be had in a trade. Take for example Logan Gilbert. FanGraphs has him ranked as the 33rd most valuable player in baseball, while Nootbaar is the 47th most valuable.
Honestly, even for how much I love Nootbaar, I can see this being the sell high point for him if it means bringing back someone like Gilbert. Nootbaar could continue to develop as a hitter and be a very good piece for a team like the Mariners, but it is still probably worth the value you are getting from Gilbert.
If there isn't a young MLB arm available for Nootbaar, then sure, I am not going to be parting ways with him. But I do think he's the guy that can get St. Louis the kind of arm they need badly, and I don't think it would hurt as bad as giving up Walker or some of the other names on this list.