In early May, the St. Louis Cardinals had a 15-24 record and seemed poised to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. However, two months later, the Cardinals now reportedly have a roster advantage that could significantly benefit them as buyers.
Since their rough start, the Cardinals have climbed the MLB standings, boasting the third-best record (32-18) in baseball over the last 50 games. Their pitching has been strong, with a 3.74 ERA, and the team has performed well despite several key players being on the injured list.
This turnaround is partly due to the depth of the Cardinals’ roster and young players stepping up into bigger roles. Now that St. Louis is back in contention, this depth could provide a significant advantage in trade negotiations.
Fox Sports’ MLB insider Ken Rosenthal explained that the Cardinals will be buyers at the MLB trade deadline, with their major-league depth giving them an edge.
Rosenthal mentioned potential trade candidates like catcher Ivan Herrera and outfielder Dylan Carlson. With catcher Willson Contreras regularly in the lineup and 25-year-old Pedro Pages emerging as a reliable backup, Herrera could be expendable. Similarly, the impending returns of outfielder Lars Nootbar and utility man Tommy Edman might make Carlson expendable. The Cardinals also have some depth in pitching, which they could use in packages with prospects for upgrades.
Most importantly for St. Louis, the ability to pair major-league talent with lower-level prospects means they could keep their best young talent in the minor leagues. While this doesn’t guarantee the Cardinals will make the biggest move at the MLB trade deadline, their depth could lead to several trades that will strengthen the team.
