The St. Louis Cardinals, after back-to-back disappointing seasons, seem ready for significant roster changes, as the team prepares to listen to trade offers for key players, including star third baseman Nolan Arenado and pitcher Sonny Gray. *USA Today’s* Bob Nightengale reports that the Cardinals are open to moving Arenado and Gray if they can be persuaded to waive their no-trade clauses. This decision reflects the organization’s apparent need for a “reset” following their 71-win season in 2023 and struggles in 2024, where they fell 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race.
Alongside Arenado and Gray, the Cardinals are reportedly considering trades for Miles Mikolas and Ryan Helsley. While Mikolas also has a no-trade clause, the team is exploring how it could offload these experienced players, which could bring in valuable prospects and help lay the foundation for a younger, more sustainable core.
This shift signals the Cardinals’ intention to refresh their lineup with younger talent, as they aim to rebuild a contender for future seasons.
With Arenado at 33, Gray at 35, and Mikolas at 36, the Cardinals are facing the reality that the productivity of these veterans may soon decline. Trading them now could allow St. Louis to bring in fresh, younger players who can help re-establish the team’s competitive edge. Collectively, Arenado, Gray, Mikolas, and Helsley contributed 11.2 WAR last season (according to Fangraphs), highlighting the challenge of replacing their on-field impact. However, trading them for promising prospects might bridge the gap in production while revitalizing the roster.
Reinforcing the starting rotation is a major priority, as five of the Cardinals’ main starters last season were 31 or older, with four over 34. These aging arms produced a combined 9.4 WAR, but the Cardinals likely doubt their ability to maintain this level. To address this, they may target pitching prospects in trade deals, especially as they already have promising talents like left-hander Quinn Mathews and right-hander Tink Hence in the pipeline. Mathews, despite recent struggles at Triple-A, and Hence, who recorded a 2.71 ERA across 20 starts at Double-A, could soon make contributions at the major-league level.
Overall, St. Louis seems prepared to embrace a youth movement, as the team aims to reinvigorate its lineup and improve its chances for a playoff return. This strategy balances trading away established veterans for valuable prospects who could help the Cardinals contend in the coming years without completely sacrificing their immediate competitiveness.
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