The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be losing the “devil magic” that has fueled their success for years. The franchise has struggled over the past two seasons, finishing the 2024 season 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers after a disappointing 71-win season in 2023. Now, it appears the Cardinals may be considering a fresh start.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cardinals are open to trade offers for veterans like Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray. They’ve even informed other teams that Arenado and Gray could be available if they agree to waive their no-trade clauses. Miles Mikolas and Ryan Helsley are also reportedly on the trade block, making these veterans appealing to teams with playoff aspirations. However, Mikolas also has a no-trade clause, so any deal would depend on his willingness to relocate.
This approach signals that the Cardinals’ front office recognizes the need for a shake-up after two disappointing seasons. It suggests they might pursue a youth movement to build for the future. Arenado, Gray, and Mikolas are in their mid-30s, and trading them could provide valuable prospects to bolster the team’s farm system.
However, the Cardinals must balance getting younger with maintaining competitiveness. Arenado, Gray, Mikolas, and Helsley combined for 11.2 WAR last season (per Fangraphs), so replacing their production will be a challenge. Still, these players could bring back valuable prospects close to being major-league ready.
The Cardinals’ primary need is a younger pitching rotation, as last season’s starters averaged over 31 years old, with most over 34. Together, these veterans contributed 9.4 WAR (per Fangraphs), but their age raises concerns about future performance.
In trades, the Cardinals might seek pitching prospects. While top prospect left-hander Quinn Mathews struggled in Triple-A, he’s not far from the big leagues, and Tink Hence could soon join the roster after posting a 2.71 ERA over 20 starts at Double-A.
