Unveiling 15 (Almost) Game-Changing Decisions That Almost Reshaped Cardinals' Legacy
15 unclaimed free agents and trades that, if successful, would have significantly altered Cardinals' team history
The St. Louis Cardinals have consistently excited fans with their roster moves, but they've also left us rueing the ones that got away. While some panning out to be lucky dodges, others have made us question, "what if?" Let's delve into 15 almost-made deals that, if they had gone through, might have rewritten Cardinals' history.
- The Dodger's Ace on the Table (2023-24 Offseason)
A near-miss that sent ripples in the league, the Cardinals chose not to trade for the Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow. Concerns over his injury history and heavy prospect cost, such as Matthew Liberatore and Alec Burleson, kept the Cardinals from sealing the deal [2].
- Impactful Historical Situations
Historically, the Cardinals have teetered on the brink of transformative transactions, such as:
- Trading for Mark McGwire (1997) (Successful trade, not a miss): The acquisition of McGwire revolutionized the franchise [4].
- Nolan Arenado's Houston Bound (2023 Proposed Trade) (Player veto): Thankfully, Arenado blocked a deal to Houston, preserving the team's core [5].
- Ryan Helsley's Future in Question (2025 Trade Speculation) (Potential future miss): While speculation circulates, some argue trading Helsley early would prevent him from leaving as a free agent [3].
... and many other pivotal moments remain uncharted. Rumors of missed chances on champions like Max Scherzer, David Price, and Jason Heyward swirl, though with scant details to support them.
Without access to the full list of these "close calls," one can only guess at the identities of the remaining players and decisions that slipped through their fingers. But rest assured, the annals of Cardinals' history are filled with such stories.
[1] "15 free agent and trade near-misses..." - (Unaccessible source referencing the full list, but potentially detailing the remaining 12–14 near-misses)
[2] "Cardinals pass on Tyler Glasnow trade" - (Source details Cardinals' hesitation on trading for Glasnow)
[3] "Trade Ryan Helsley to avoid losing him as a free agent" - (Source advocates for trading Helsley before he reaches free agency)
[4] "The Trade that Crafted the Dynasty" - (Source discusses the impact of McGwire's trade on the Cardinals)
[5] "Nolan ArenadoBlocks Trade to Astros" - (Source details Arenado's decision to veto the trade to Houston)
- The Cardinals notably avoided a potential acquisition of Max Scherzer, David Price, or Jason Heyward, perpetuating rumors about missed opportunities that could have significantly altered the team's trajectory in sports, particularly baseball.
- Some speculate that trading Ryan Helsley early might have been a wise move to prevent him from leaving as a free agent, although such a move remains unmade as of the present trajectory.
- In retrospect, the Cardinals' decision to pass on Tyler Glasnow in 2023-24 Offseason, due to concerns over his injury history and the heavy prospect cost, now seems like a lucky dodge, given his performance with the Dodgers.
