After entering the season with relatively low expectations from many, the St. Louis Cardinals have put together a solid 2026 campaign. They currently sit at 61-61 and are 3.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the National League’s final wild-card spot.
Considering the Cardinals parted ways with several key players during the offseason, their performance this year has been a pleasant surprise. As a result, it would not be surprising to see St. Louis look to strengthen its roster this offseason. That could be especially true if they can acquire a player who remains under team control, as the Cardinals are still keeping an eye toward the future.
Because of that, the Cardinals are already being mentioned as a potential destination for one of baseball’s top offseason trade candidates.
In a recent article for CBS Sports, Mike Axisa identified the Cardinals as the top potential landing spot for Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers this offseason.
“Reid Detmers and Zach Neto remained despite significant interest in both, and it stands to reason that interest will continue into the offseason,” Axisa wrote. “The Angels did nice work in a seller’s market at the deadline, and they figure to clean up if they move these two over the winter. Super early possible landing spots: Cardinals, Cubs, Nationals for Detmers.”
With the Cardinals in need of long-term help in their starting rotation, it makes sense that they are being considered a potential suitor for Detmers. He could be an intriguing addition for a St. Louis team that remains focused on building for the future.
Angels’ Reid Detmers Would Give the Cardinals a Fascinating Pitcher With Good Upside
If the Cardinals were to acquire Detmers, he could potentially provide a significant boost to their pitching staff. The 6-foot-2 left-hander has appeared in 24 games for the Angels this season, posting a 4.00 ERA with 156 strikeouts. That comes after he went 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA and 80 strikeouts across 61 appearances as a reliever during the 2025 season.
Overall, Detmers has experienced stretches of success during his time in the majors with the Angels. Still, it is reasonable to wonder whether a change of scenery could help the 2020 first-round pick take another step forward. At just 27 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop and has shown considerable promise. With that in mind, it would make sense for the Cardinals to consider paying the necessary price to acquire him this offseason.