What changed
2026-08-03 01:22 UTC → 2026-08-13 19:30 UTC ·
added
removed
St. Louis Cardinals 2026 – Injuries, trade talks, race 2026: All-Stars, Trades, and Wild-Card
In late May By mid-July, the Cardinals reshuffled their roster as outfielder Lars Nootbaar began a rehab assignment and several minor‑league players were released or promoted. Early June saw rookie infielder Nolan Gorman slump to a .207 average, while remained in the outfield dealt with injuries to Nootbaar, Nathan Church and Ramon Urias, prompting a pending decision on National League wild-card race, sitting just one game behind the lineup. Miami Marlins. The club also moved team sent four representatives to a six‑man rotation, adding right‑hander Hunter Dobbins, and trade speculation surfaced around former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. A 10‑3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on June 5 marked Nootbaar’s season debut All-Star Game: Jordan Walker, Iván Herrera, Riley O’Brien, and coincided with roster moves that placed reliever Matt Svanson on the active roster. By June 6 the Cardinals, sitting second in managerial staff. Walker, an All-Star Home Run Derby winner, led the NL Central, were evaluating trade‑deadline options; first‑baseman Alec Burleson’s .291 slash line had made him a key offensive contributor and kept St. Louis league in RBIs, while O’Brien topped the National League wild‑card race. June 12 the team promoted prospect Blaze Jordan and optioned Gorman to Triple‑A, a move that preceded in saves. Despite a win over the Twins and reinforced period of remarkable roster health, the club’s wild‑card aspirations. A loss club faced pressure to act at the Kansas City Royals on June 18 left trade deadline. Speculation linked the Cardinals still in contention. Later team to a potential reunion with Sonny Gray, who expressed that month, analysts highlighted possible pitching upgrades, he would “love” to return to St. Louis. Analysts also suggested leveraging surplus talent, including interest in Zac Gallen Dustin May, JoJo Romero, and a rumored return of Sonny Gray. Mid‑season rankings on June 28 showed the Cardinals at 43‑38, within striking distance of Lars Nootbaar, to address pitching needs. Following a wild‑card spot. However, the July 22 slump—2‑4 in the second half mid-summer slump and a 10‑15 record over walk-off loss to the last 25 games—revived rebuilding talk, Los Angeles Angels, the Cardinals’ strategy shifted toward balancing immediate contention with closer Riley O’Brien again mentioned as a trade asset. The long-term rebuilding. By the August 1 win over Toronto (5‑1) kept trade deadline, the club in organization executed a dual approach: selling players such as May, Romero, and Nootbaar to bolster the farm system while acquiring veteran reliever Caleb Ferguson to maintain playoff hunt as relevance. This strategy aimed to secure future assets while keeping the trade deadline approached. club within striking distance of a postseason berth.