St. Louis Cardinals' manager laments their undefeated status
The St. Louis Cardinals Ace the Game, Shocking Baseball
Short on hopes before the season, the St. Louis Cardinals are now busting expectations in the National League Central with a 39-31 record, just three games behind the Chicago Cubs. Sneaking into the wild card race, they'd snag a playoff spot if the postseason started today.
This unexpected turn of events has flipped the script for contending teams, who had eyed trade candidates like Nolan Arenado, Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Erick Fedde as easy pickings. Three of these players are on expiring contracts, making them prime targets for a trade.
However, it appears that the Cardinals aren't ready to part ways with their valuable assets.
Catch Me if You Can: The Cardinals' Ascension Leaves Competitors Scrambling
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, a general manager grumbled that "it sucks" the Cardinals are doing well. Teams had their sights set on snagging two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley after the Cardinals held onto him following the offseason. After a shaky start, Helsley's become a force to reckon with, racking up nine saves in May and concluding the month with 13 strikeouts and a 2.45 ERA over 11 games.
Other pitchers like Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82 ERA), Steven Matz (3-1, 2.16 ERA), and Sonny Gray (6-1, 3.65 ERA) also found themselves on the trading block. Matz's been phenomenal this year as a selective swingman, and several contending teams would love to have him on their roster for the final push toward the playoffs. Passan even hinted at Miles Mikolas as a player of interest to other teams.
With the Cardinals sizzling in the early season, it seems unlikely that any of these players will be leaving St. Louis come July.
If the Cardinals stumble in a tough June, they might revert to their original plan of selling off expiring contracts and bringing in new assets for the future.
However, all signs point to the Cardinals being aces in the hole for this year's trade deadline. Rival executives are feeling the heat as teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers will now have to search for alternatives to bolster their bullpens. They may even have to test their mettle against the Cardinals in the trade market.
For a team that wasn't anticipated to contend and was set to offer valuable trade pieces, the Cardinals have orchestrated a remarkable comeback this season. They're gunning for more additions at the trade deadline to fortify their roster for a deep playoff run following their surprising start to the 2025 season.
Fun Fact: Did You Know?
The Cardinals' success can be attributed to their impressive starting pitching, in particular, pitchers Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas, both of whom have no-trade clauses and have shown no interest in waiving them, suggesting that the Cardinals will keep their top starters rather than trade them despite the interest from teams like the New York Yankees. If they decide to reinforce their team by trading less integral players like Phil Maton, John King, Jose Barrero, Yohel Pozo, and potentially others, they can bolster their roster without dismantling their core rotation and chase the division-leading Chicago Cubs.
- Despite the interest from teams like the New York Yankees, it seems that the Cardinals are unwilling to trade their top starters Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas, who both have no-trade clauses and have shown no interest in waiving them.
- As the trade deadline approaches, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers may find themselves scrambling for alternatives to bolster their bullpens as the Cardinals emerge as potential aces in the hole, given their current form.
