The Cardinals will trade players, but they shouldn’t completely tear down their roster.
This upcoming offseason will be crucial for the St. Louis Cardinals.
After finishing with losing records in two of the past three seasons and missing the playoffs since 2022, the team is expected to make significant moves. These changes could involve trading away key players — possibly even some fan favorites — as they look to turn things around.
But just because they are rebuilding does not mean that they should completely tear apart their roster. In fact, there are a few players that should remain Cardinals despite the team’s new direction. Here are two players that should be off limits in trade discussions.
Willson Contreras
Since signing with the Cardinals before the 2023 season, Willson Contreras has been a key emotional and on-field leader for the team. Offensively, he’s been one of their most consistent performers, posting a .257/.344/.447 slash line with 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .791 OPS, and contributing 2.6 Wins Above Replacement.
A three-time All-Star and 2016 World Series champion, Contreras has also made it clear that he wants to remain in St. Louis and be part of the team’s rebuilding efforts.
“I’d like to be a part of a young team that needs to have some kind of experience around them,” Contreras said the final weekend of the season.
His contract runs through 2027, but he is correct to point out that a young team needs at least some veteran leadership. He can be a mentor for some of the younger players on the roster, especially some of the catchers such as Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages and Jimmy Crooks, having once been a catcher himself.
Much of the power in the Cardinals’ lineup currently comes from Willson Contreras, and losing him could set the team back significantly — potentially putting them in a similar position to 2023, when they finished with a disappointing 71-91 record.
Ivan Herrera
The Cardinals have long struggled to develop a reliable right-handed power bat since the days of Albert Pujols, and while their lineup leans heavily left-handed, Iván Herrera might be the answer they’ve been looking for.
Herrera brings much-needed right-handed pop, along with positional versatility. While he’s primarily a catcher, he’s also capable of serving as a designated hitter and even logging time in left field. At just 25 years old, he put together an impressive season, slashing .284/.373/.464 with 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, and an .837 OPS.
With the organization placing a strong emphasis on player development, Herrera is emerging as a foundational piece — someone the Cardinals can build around as they look to shape their future.
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