The St. Louis Cardinals have exceeded expectations this season, making their approach to the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline on Aug. 3 anything but straightforward.
If St. Louis were firmly in playoff position or well out of contention, the decision would be much simpler. Instead, the Cardinals sit just five games over .500, matching last year’s 50-45 record through 95 games. Even so, the circumstances are far different. Few expected the club to be in this position after it traded away several veteran players during the offseason and ushered in a new era under first-year president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
Now, the organization faces a difficult choice before the deadline. The Cardinals could look to strengthen the roster with a few complementary additions, move some expendable pieces for future value, stand pat, or pursue a balanced strategy that combines buying and selling.
There is no obvious path forward, and a strong case can be made for multiple approaches. If the Cardinals ultimately decide to move players before the deadline, several names could emerge as realistic trade candidates.
JoJo Romero — Reliever
Romero has to be at the top of the list if the Cardinals do end up trading pieces. St. Louis certainly doesn’t seem likely to completely blow up the roster. If the Cardinals trade guys away, they’re surely still going to try to win games now. Romero is someone who could be replaced with an internal piece from Triple-A. Plus, he’s going to be a free agent after the season. Rentals should be what is considered.
Dustin May — Starter
Dustin May has been a valuable addition for the Cardinals this season after joining the club as a free agent. From the moment he signed, there was speculation that he could eventually become a trade candidate, especially if St. Louis found itself in a difficult position at the deadline.
Although May’s contract includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, those types of options are rarely exercised by both sides. As a result, the expectation is that he will test free agency after the 2026 campaign. If the Cardinals determine they are better served by acquiring future assets, moving May before the trade deadline would be a logical decision rather than risking losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
Ryne Stanek, Reliever
Stanek has a $6 million club option for the 2027 season that would be a surprise if it got picked up. For St. Louis, he could be another veteran reliever to deal away and replace from within.
Yohel Pozo — Catcher
Pozo isn’t on the big league club and wouldn’t bring a ton back to St. Louis, but there are teams out there that could use a veteran catcher. If the Cardinals could get anything back, that would be a win. Guys like Lars Nootbaar or Riley O’Brien surely will be in trade speculation, but if the Cardinals want to walk the thin line between trying to win games and trading pieces away, it wouldn’t make sense to flip either with control left and St. Louis above .500.
