The St. Louis Cardinals have a lot of difficult decisions ahead of them, but it appears like things are already becoming a little trickier.
With all of the trade talk going on around the organization, outfielder Lars Nootbaar has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate. This makes sense. He does not have a no-trade clause, unlike a few other players on the squad, therefore it would be easy to move him. Furthermore, he is not set to become a free agent until 2028. However, the entire calculus has altered.
The Cardinals have scheduled procedures for Brendan Donovan, Iván Herrera, and Lars Nootbaar. It was stated that Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels to correct Haglund’s abnormalities.
At first glance, it may not seem like much. However, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat noted that this is “not minor” and might have an influence on the outfielder’s 2026 season.
“Haglund’s deformity refers to a bony growth on the back of the heel that can develop and cause discomfort over time, risking damage to the Achilles tendon,” Jones pointed out. “Prior to Nootbaar, the most visible public example of the ailment among MLB players was Yoenis Cespedes, who underwent surgery to repair calcifications in both heels in 2018 and did not return to the majors until an eight-game stint in 2020.
“The Cardinals have declined to comment further on Nootbaar’s problems, and based on the facts given, it is hard to tell how his medical state compares to others’. What is evident is that Nootbaar’s treatment was not small, and considering the rarity of this surgery among players who return to play, it may cause some concern in the trade market.”
Cespedes battled with more than only the heel issue, so the situations cannot be compared directly, although Nootbaar underwent surgery on both of his heels.
So where does this leave the Cardinals?
Let’s look at some of the most common trade candidates:
The Cardinals have a lot to sort out
Lars Nootbaar
A well-known name in trade speculations, although his future is absolutely uncertain following surgery. He is eligible for arbitration. whether the Cardinals do not believe he will miss a significant amount of time, it may make sense to offer him a contract and then see whether he can play well enough to assist in the long run or be a summer trade possibility. His operation and uncertain recuperation appear to have a negative impact on his trade worth at the moment. St. Louis does not need to be moved right away. Waiting makes more sense than flipping him for pennies on the dollar.
Brendan Donovan
The Cardinals fan favorite can play anywhere on the field. He just had his greatest season and is only a couple years away from free agency. If you look at the current roster, Willson Contreras is at first base and Masyn Winn at shortstop. Second and third base are up in the air, depending on how deals go. JJ Wetherholt should be a candidate for one of the positions. That leaves Donovan and someone like Nolan Gorman or Thomas Saggese for the other.The Cardinals should consider keeping Donovan as a leader for this young club, which appears to be rebuilding. However, if the Cardinals want to return value in trades, it’s difficult to argue against Donovan as the best choice, especially given Nootbaar’s surgery.
If Nootbaar isn’t traded, the outfield will likely consist of Victor Scott II, Jordan Walker, and Nootbaar, with some depth behind. Donovan can play anywhere, but there aren’t enough positions. It may be argued that they should keep him. However, it appears that he is someone to keep an eye on.
Sonny Gray/ Nolan Arenado
Nothing has changed. These two remain trade aspirants with no-trade agreements. Arenado appears to be the most probable of the two to go. However, both are trade options and are unaffected by the Nootbaar announcement.