The story has been reversed by the St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis has won 13 of its past 15 games after opening 14-19 and reigniting trade rumors for Nolan Arenado, Ryan Helsley, and possibly Sonny Gray. They appear to be contenders rather than sellers and are only one game behind the Cubs in first place.
Talk about purchasing at the trade deadline naturally increases as a result of that momentum. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report projected the Cardinals as possible buyers as the rotation stabilized and the bats improved, particularly for a third starter after Gray and Matthew Liberatore. The club could use a more dependable option, he noted, even though Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, and Andre Pallante have completed the rotation.
However, not everyone is falling for the gimmick.
A Word of Caution
The Cardinals’ basic reset last autumn might be undone if they purchase now, St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Lynn Worthy warned.
Worthy added, “It’s pure pop culture to think that the Cardinals might try to add pieces this summer.” “That would smack of an organization that made a difficult decision last fall that many fans found unpopular and then gave in to the inevitable pressure and criticism less than a year later.”
If the Cardinals are in the running, it doesn’t mean they should start selling. However, striving for immediate success runs the risk of making the same mistakes again—hurriedly patching holes instead of creating true depth. And Worthy’s point hits harder when you remember how the Cardinals stubbornly clung to competitive windows before, only to fall short.
The Case for Standing Pat
St. Louis still has glaring organizational needs, especially in the pitching pipeline. After years of prioritizing position-player depth, the Cardinals are light on high-upside arms in the farm system. Selling off what’s left for a rental arm this summer could leave the franchise stuck in a familiar middle ground: not quite good enough to contend, not quite bad enough to rebuild.
There’s also the issue of timing. The Cardinals’ core is aging. Nolan Arenado isn’t getting younger. Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn are just starting to show indications. Based on a two-week hot streak, making a big purchase right now might cover up issues that still need to be fixed.
A Smarter Deadline Approach
This does not imply inaction. If the squad keeps playing well, smaller, more strategic plays will be possible. Instead of rentals, consider controlled arms with upside. aiming for bullpen assistance. trading MLB-ready talent for contracts that are about to expire. Stated differently, it refers to modernizing without compromising the long-term strategy.
The NL Central is available to the public. The Cubs aren’t going anywhere. You can defeat the Brewers. The Reds don’t always play well. The Cardinals don’t have to go above and beyond to be competitive. They can maintain their competitiveness without jeopardizing their prospects.
Don’t Let May Dictate July
The recent success of the Cardinals is encouraging. The rotation is now more advanced. The bullpen has remained stable. When healthy, the attack is still potent. However, the company cannot afford to get caught up in the moment.
As Worthy notes, “letting the pressure of the standings shift your direction” would negate all of the improvements made by the front office. The Cardinals need to keep in mind their identity and future goals. This requires planning ahead of July.
They risk being trapped in the middle with no clear way ahead once more if they allow July decisions to be influenced by May outcomes.
