The St. Louis Cardinals enter the final days before the Aug. 3 trade deadline facing a choice between modest or deeper sales after a recent slide. The team sits at 53-53 following a 3-8 second-half stretch that includes a Monday loss to the Cubs.
The Cardinals have shifted from potential soft buyers to sellers of varying degrees. Their focus remains on the long term under first-year president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
Pending free agents such as right-handed starter Dustin May stand out as likely trade candidates. May carries a 3.16 FIP after 20 starts and has improved his fastball velocity while adding above-average pitches.
Other possible departures include relievers JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek. A deeper sell could involve outfielder Lars Nootbaar or closer Riley O'Brien, both under team control beyond this season.
Prospect Joshua Báez, who leads the minors with 31 home runs, could help offset any veteran moves. The Cardinals have no immediate urgency on controllable players and will decide the extent of their sales before the deadline.
