Had St. Louis been comfortably above .500 or well below it, the front office’s direction would be much clearer. A contender would naturally look to buy, while a struggling club could focus on selling. Instead, the Cardinals sit at 50-45 through 95 games, just five games over .500—the exact same record they held at this point last season.
The difference, however, is the context. Few expected the Cardinals to contend after they traded away several veteran players during the offseason and officially turned the page to a new era under first-year president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Yet St. Louis has remained competitive and now faces a difficult decision.
Over the next couple of weeks, the Cardinals must determine whether to make small additions, move a few veterans, stand pat, or pursue a combination of those strategies.
There isn’t a clear-cut answer, and a case can be made for multiple paths. If the Cardinals choose to sell around the margins rather than conduct a major teardown, these are the players who are trade candidates.
JoJo Romero — Reliever
If St. Louis decides to move pieces before the deadline, Romero stands out as one of the most logical trade chips.
The Cardinals aren’t expected to dismantle the roster, meaning any moves would likely be designed to keep the team competitive while improving for the future. Romero fits that mold because the club has internal bullpen options available at Triple-A, and he’s also scheduled to become a free agent after the season. Expiring contracts are often the easiest assets to move at the deadline.
Dustin May — Starting Pitcher
May has been a valuable addition since signing with the Cardinals in free agency.
Trade speculation has followed him since he arrived in St. Louis, and while he does have a mutual option for the 2027 season, those types of options are rarely exercised. With free agency appearing to be the more likely outcome after the season, dealing May before the deadline could be a practical move if the Cardinals decide to capitalize on his value.
Ryne Stanek — Reliever
Stanek is another veteran bullpen arm who could attract interest from contenders.
Although the Cardinals hold a $6 million club option for the 2027 season, it’s viewed as unlikely to be exercised. If St. Louis opts to move veteran relievers while replacing them internally, Stanek could become one of the more realistic names available.
Yohel Pozo — Catcher
Pozo isn’t currently on the major league roster, so he wouldn’t command a significant return in a trade.
However, clubs searching for experienced catching depth could have interest, and any return would likely be considered a positive outcome for the Cardinals.
Players such as Lars Nootbaar and Riley O’Brien are also expected to surface in trade rumors. Still, if St. Louis intends to balance competing for a playoff spot with making selective moves, trading controllable players like those two while sitting above .500 would seem to run counter to that strategy.
