The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t used to being in this situation.
Once a perennial contender, the franchise now finds itself at a crossroads — aging, inconsistent, and in need of a reset. To usher in a new era, major roster changes could be on the horizon, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Two of the most likely trade candidates? Sonny Gray and Nolan Arenado.
Gray remains one of baseball’s top right-handers and could draw interest from teams firmly in the playoff hunt. However, his contract presents a challenge. “Gray is one of the finest starters on the trade block, but he’s also earning $35 million this year and has a full no-trade clause,” Nightengale wrote. “He has a $30 million club option in 2027. The Cardinals will have to eat some of the contract if they want to move him.”
Arenado’s situation is similar. While no longer the MVP-caliber player he once was, the veteran third baseman still provides solid production both at the plate and in the field. “He rejected deals to the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels a year ago,” Nightengale noted. “This time around, he may not say no to anybody and will be willing to waive his no-trade clause to get out of town. The Cardinals will have to pay down some of the remaining $31 million left on his contract through 2027.”
In both cases, money stands as the biggest obstacle. Any deal would likely require St. Louis to absorb a chunk of the salary to make a trade work.
But for a franchise determined to turn the page and move toward the future, that might be a necessary price. If the Cardinals want to start fresh, using financial flexibility to facilitate these moves could be the first step toward building the next contender in St. Louis.