Eight Roman Catholic clerics who remained undealt with during the seasonal trading cutoff, yet may find themselves transferred during the upcoming offseason.
St. Louis Cardinals Eyeing Major Offseason Roster Shifts
The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up for a potential reshaping of their roster this offseason, with several key players being considered for trades. According to reports, third baseman Nolan Arenado remains the highest-profile veteran who could be moved to help shape the team for the future. Arenado's contract runs through 2027, and despite his status as a cornerstone player, the Cardinals are open to trading him due to his trade value and salary.
Infield prospect Nolan Gorman could also be on the move, depending on his performance in the second half of the season. Gorman, who is under team control through 2029, has underperformed offensively this year and could be utilized as a trade chip if he fails to improve.
Starting pitcher Erick Fedde is also noted as a possible trade candidate, with a moderate chance of being dealt. While Fedde has regressed compared to 2024, he is still keeping himself in the rotation and could fit the needs of teams like San Diego, Toronto, or Houston.
The Cardinals' outfield and second base positions are also facing positional logjams. While there were calls on left-handed batters at the deadline, the offers were not compelling enough. This suggests that some of those outfielders or second basemen could become trade candidates in the offseason if the front office seeks to clear roster space and continue the rebuild.
Chaim Bloom, the incoming president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, has been gathering data on players like Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and others for two years. Bloom will have to trade some major leaguers to fill holes in other spots of the roster, particularly in the rotation.
Brendan Donovan, an All-Star at second base due to his plus production, is likely safe from trade discussions. Victor Scott, the team's best center fielder and a potential Gold Glove candidate, is also likely to stay.
The Cardinals' farm system could use more reinforcements, and the arrival of Bloom further indicates a willingness for significant roster changes. Changes to pitching development alone this year have been significant under Bloom's leadership, with the promotion of top prospect JJ Wetherholt potentially coming as soon as September.
The Cardinals have also traded away several players on expiring contracts, including closer Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton. The odds of them landing a mid-rotation starter (or better) are high this offseason, given the team's interest in their position players.
In summary, the most notable potential offseason trade candidates for the Cardinals are Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman from the infield, Erick Fedde among pitchers, and possibly some left-handed bats in the outfield or second base to address positional logjams. The arrival of Bloom further indicates a willingness for significant roster changes, and the Cardinals are expected to be active in the trade market this offseason.
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References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, July 20). Cardinals' Arenado, Gorman top trade candidates for St. Louis. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34566628/cardinals-arenado-gorman-top-trade-candidates-st-louis
[2] Fagan, J. (2025, July 21). Cardinals' Erick Fedde emerges as potential trade chip. MLB Trade Rumours. Retrieved from https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/cardinals-erick-fedde-emerges-as-potential-trade-chip.html
[3] Reifman, S. (2025, July 22). Cardinals' Bloom has data on players for two years. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/cardinals-bloom-has-data-on-players-for-two-years/article_6e16193c-85c5-5e30-b9a7-8f6e7f97655c.html
[4] Schoenfield, E. (2025, August 3). Cardinals face positional logjams as offseason looms. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34574712/cardinals-face-positional-logjams-offseason-looms
The St. Louis Cardinals might trade their third baseman, Nolan Arenado, to reshape the team's roster for the future, as his high trade value and salary could be attractive to other teams, such as San Diego, Toronto, or Houston. Additionally, reports suggest that infield prospect Nolan Gorman could be traded, depending on his performance in the second half of the season, as he struggles offensively this year.
