These 18 former Cardinals could help shape the 2026 postseason

The St. Louis Cardinals failed to make the postseason for the fourth straight year, a number not equaled since their eight-year playoff drought from 1988 to 1995. But that doesn't mean that the 2026 postseason will be bereft of player with Cardinals ties, as 18 former Cardinals are expected to lace up their spikes in their hunt for a title.

Cardinals fans may grimly recall Randy Arozarena's postseason exploits in 2020, and there's no telling who could pop off this year and emerge as a hero down the stretch. To cover all the bases, let's do a team-by-team look at each former Cardinal who looks primed for postseason work. Note that the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres don't feature any former Cardinals.

These 18 one-time Cardinals are likely to play a part in the 2026 playoffs

Boston Red Sox: Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray

In his first full season after a trade from the Cardinals at the deadline in 2025, Willson Contreras had what may be the best season of his career. As a full-time first baseman with the Boston Red Sox, Contreras hit .275 with a .901 OPS and hit a career-high 27 home runs. A hand injury sidelined him for eight games at the end of the season, but if healthy, Contreras could continue to feast on opposing pitching while hitting in the heart of Boston's lineup.

Sonny Gray has also seen a drastic uptick in performance since leaving St. Louis. The starting pitcher who struggled in high temperatures while with the Cardinals held a sparkling 2.72 ERA and tied for the major league lead with 18 wins. Gray performed like an ace while no longer being under the pressure of serving as a No. 1 starter, and he will be chasing his first championship in 2026. It may be his only one, as Gray has stated that he is willing to retire if his family wants him at home.

New York Yankees: Paul Goldschmidt

The 39-year-old Paul Goldschmidt showed that he still has something left in the tank in his second season in pinstripes. Now four years removed from his MVP 2022 season with the Cardinals, Goldschmidt has found himself in more of a part-time role, hitting primarily against left-handed starters. He hit an impressive .299 with a .967 OPS against southpaws this season, although his .213 average and .590 OPS against right-handers left plenty to be desired. The Cardinals couldn't bring home a championship with Goldschmidt in tow, and he remains in search of his first title.

Tampa Bay Rays: Steven Matz, Richie Palacios, Ryan Vilade

An oft-injured starting pitcher for most of his time with the Cardinals, Steven Matz pitched out of the bullpen for the Tampa Bay Rays from early June through the end of the year after struggling to a 5.48 ERA in 10 starts to begin the season. Matz was equally mediocre in relief, amassing a 5.50 ERA in 34.1 innings, but after coming off of the injured list in August, he had a 2.45 ERA. If he makes the playoff roster, he's likely to pitch in low-leverage postseason roles (if those exist).

Richie Palacios was one of the few standouts for the Cardinals in the second half of their awful 2023 campaign. Solely an outfielder with St. Louis, Palacios has played mostly second base with the Rays, and while he hit just .235, his strong 11.5% walk rate boosted his OPS to .704. A strong September that saw Palacios show more aggressiveness at the plate to pitchers who attacked him in the zone could pay dividends in the postseason.

Ryan Vilade was virtually a non-entity in St. Louis, getting just one hit in 13 at-bats in 2025 before they placed him on waivers in June. After a one-game stint with the Cincinnati Reds, Vilade became a recipient of Rays magic, as he hit .245 with a .750 OPS in 278 plate appearances, with Tampa Bay utilizing him mostly in a short-side platoon role against left-handers. He had a 128 wRC+ against lefties and should continue to serve in that position during his first taste of the postseason.

Chicago White Sox: Erick Fedde, Randal Grichuk, Jordan Hicks, Tommy Pham

Erick Fedde bounced back nicely from his nightmare 2025 season where he pitched to a 5.22 ERA with the Cardinals, who dumped him onto the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations at last year's trade deadline. This season, he pitched mostly as a starter and bulk reliever, owning a 3.83 ERA but a less glamorous 5.01 FIP. With the recent injury to White Sox starter Luis Castillo, the team is likely to use Fedde as one of their starters in the Wild Card series if necessary.

The White Sox played Randal Grichuk in a platoon role for much of the season, and he responded with one of the best seasons of his career, as he led the major leagues in slugging percentage against left-handed pitching, at .655. His time with the Cardinals feels like a lifetime ago, as they traded him prior to the 2018 season to make room for up-and-coming outfielders Harrison Bader and Tyler O'Neill. Grichuk has played on eight different teams but has yet to win a championship.

Jordan Hicks felt like a perennial tease while in St. Louis, routinely throwing triple-digit heat but not amassing the number of strikeouts one would imagine from that type of velocity. That changed this season, as he reached a career-high 29.6% strikeout rate and found a new level in the second half, as he fanned 33.7% of opposing batters after the All-Star break. He credited his resurrection to a new arm slot, and with his still vicious fastball, he should be a key cog in the White Sox bullpen.

Tommy Pham continued his nomadic journey across the major leagues when the White Sox purchased his contract from the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 31 as they sought outfield depth. Pham came up through the Cardinals system and originally played with St. Louis for parts of six seasons. He later returned to the Cardinals at the trade deadline in 2024 and hit a grand slam on July 30, marking one of the signature moments of St. Louis' season. Pham could play a bench role, and his fiery personality will be welcomed in the postseason.

Cleveland Guardians: Shawn Armstrong

Shawn Armstrong was a blink-and-you'll-miss-him relief pitcher whom the Cardinals acquired for one-time top prospect Dylan Carlson in 2024. He pitched 12.2 innings and held an ERA of 2.84 with St. Louis. Now with the Cleveland Guardians, Armstrong was reinstated from the injured list on Sept. 23 after spending two months out of action because of a calf injury. He'll look to join Cleveland's bullpen for the postseason and provide better results than his 4.58 ERA illustrates.

Houston Astros: Nelson Velázquez

The Houston Astros claimed Nelson Velázquez off of waivers from the Cardinals when St. Louis cleared a roster spot for Everson Pereira in August. Velázquez had a dynamite spring training with the Cardinals, leading many to clamor for him to break camp with the major league club. That didn't end up happening, although he did find his way into 34 games with St. Louis, mustering a .216 average and a .722 OPS. He had only three hits in 27 at-bats with Houston, but two of those were home runs. The Astros could have a spot for him on their bench.

Philadelphia Phillies: Edmundo Sosa

Edmundo Sosa was a versatile player for the Philadelphia Phillies this season, playing left field, third base, shortstop and second base while hitting .247 with a .712 OPS. It was a disappointing fall offensively from his strong 2024 and 2025 seasons, but the player whom the Cardinals traded straight up for JoJo Romero in 2022 has carved out a nice career and added the outfield to his toolbox this season. A minor groin injury provided a scare on Sept. 27, but Sosa said he is ready to go for the postseason.

Chicago Cubs: Carson Kelly

One of Yadier Molina's many starving backups over the years, Carson Kelly only managed a .154 average and a .415 OPS when the Cardinals provided him with table scraps over three seasons, but he has found a home with the Chicago Cubs. Kelly hit .258 with a .713 OPS this season and received mild trade buzz at the deadline, but the Cubs opted to keep him as their starting catcher. With a 103 wRC+ this year, Kelly is a solid all-around catcher who should capably guide the Cubs' veteran pitching staff in the postseason.

Milwaukee Brewers: Dustin May, JoJo Romero

Dustin May pitched out of his mind with the Cardinals over the course of four starts from May 27 to June 15, holding a minuscule 1.30 ERA and striking out 33 batters in 27.2 innings, peaking with a shutout against the San Diego Padres. During that stretch, some fans were begging for President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom to keep May around for a postseason push. Luckily, Bloom stayed the course and dealt May, who faded down the stretch with the Milwaukee Brewers and scuffled to a 5.65 ERA in 10 starts after the deadline. May might have lost his grasp on a rotation spot with his struggles and could be forced to pitch out of the bullpen in the playoffs.

JoJo Romero should be a left-handed anchor out of Milwaukee's bullpen after a Cardinals career that spanned five seasons and saw him pitch well in that role. In 249 innings with St. Louis, Romero had a 3.51 ERA, and he didn't miss a beat after being traded to the Brewers along with May, as he had a 3.38 ERA in 13.1 innings to finish the season after being sidelined until September because of an appendectomy. With Romero seemingly at his best following his return, he could be a beast in the playoffs.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Nolan Arenado

Fresh off of a Player of the Week award, Nolan Arenado has been on a scorcher with the Arizona Diamondbacks and may have solidified his Hall of Fame case in a strong comeback season after departing St. Louis. One of the best defensive third baseman of all time saw his bat rejuvenated in the desert, hitting 30 home runs for the first time since his third-place MVP finish with the Cardinals in 2022. In September, Arenado hit a robust .349 with a 1.154 OPS and whacked nine home runs. He's still searching for his first World Series title, and he may still have the ability to play a pivotal role in a deep playoff run.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Tommy Edman

Because of offseason ankle surgery, former Cardinals utility player Tommy Edman didn't make his season debut until June 17, but he didn't miss a beat once he returned, rebounding well from a down 2025, as he hit .247 and held a .714 OPS. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Swiss Army knife, Edman appeared at five different positions in the field in 2026. He'll look to play a supporting role as the Dodgers try to claim their third championship in as many years.

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