The St. Louis Cardinals are a reminder this season that you shouldn’t make assumptions too early. According to an ESPN report, one MLB general manager had been eyeing the Cardinals as a potential source of bullpen help ahead of the trade deadline. But with the team’s unexpected turnaround, they’re no longer looking to offload talent.
“It sucks,” said the unnamed GM, as reported by Jeff Passan in the ESPN article.
That’s where the Cardinals stand now. Rather than being a team looking to trade veterans for prospects, they might actually shift into buyer mode as the deadline nears. Thanks to a low-spending offseason, the team has some financial room to make a notable move if they choose to.
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak now faces a tough call with less than two months until the deadline. If this is indeed his final season with the team, it could be quite the conclusion.
Mozeliak recently told MLB.com he’s embracing the complexity of this deadline, and who can blame him? Had the team been struggling, the path would’ve been clear: sell off valuable assets. But now, he must evaluate what the club needs to keep pushing toward a wild card berth. Interestingly, even after a quiet offseason and putting faith in a young roster, Mozeliak isn’t shocked they’re in the playoff hunt.
There’s growing confidence in the Cardinals’ young core. It seems Mozeliak may have had a long-term vision all along, and now he has a chance to put a bold finishing touch on his time with the franchise. Trade deadline worries about dealing Nolan Arenado or cutting ties with Jordan Walker are now irrelevant.
Those were real concerns when the season seemed doomed from the start. But things have changed. There’s renewed hope — not only in the current lineup’s performance but in what the right deadline acquisitions could add to a team with fresh momentum.
So, if you were expecting St. Louis to be sellers and had your eyes on potential trade targets, it’s time to reconsider. The Cardinals are proving they’re still in the mix — and if they do go shopping, they could become even more dangerous.