As the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to be active in some capacity.
The Cardinals have performed well enough to justify exploring additions to strengthen the roster. If the season ended today, St. Louis would hold a playoff spot, and the club has continued to prove that its success is no fluke. Led by a talented young core, the Cardinals appear capable of sustaining their strong play throughout the season.
When the Aug. 3 deadline arrives, the front office will have several paths it can take. St. Louis could pursue smaller upgrades to address specific needs, or it could attempt a more significant move, though that scenario seems less likely. At the same time, the Cardinals may decide to part with certain players or prospects despite the team’s current success.
With that in mind, here are four Cardinals who could be on the move before the trade deadline.
Nolan Gorman — Third Base
Gorman was a runway guy last year for the team, but has been demoted down to Triple-A. The Cardinals are rolling with Blaze Jordan at the hot corner and the struggling Gorman is down in Triple-A trying to figure things out offensively. At this point, it’s hard to imagine Gorman going back and being a consistent member of the Cardinals’ starting lineup any time soon. At this point, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to see if another club out there wants to roll the dice on the slugger.
Victor Scott II — Center Fielder
Scott is in a similar situation to Gorman. He’s down in Triple-A trying to figure things out offensively. At least he is elite defensively. If the Cardinals don’t think he can be a consistent member of the organization, it wouldn’t hurt to look around.
JoJo Romero — Reliever
The lefty has been a great member of the Cardinals’ organization, but he’s going to be a free agent after the season. If the Cardinals want to try to add a piece or two, Romero could be an easy trade chip.
Ryne Stanek — Reliever
Stanek has a 5.22 ERA in 32 appearances. The ERA number isn’t great, but he has been able to get into a lot of game for St. Louis. He’s a veteran of 10 seasons and is another guy to try to flip.
