With the trade deadline just over a week away, the St. Louis Cardinals are running out of time to evaluate their strategy. A 5-15 record in July has dropped the Cardinals to fourth in the N.L. Central and three and a half games out of the last Wild Card Spot. Now, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is telling reporters the Cardinals are taking calls on at least four of their pitchers.
Cardinals Listening to Offers on Several Pitchers
Mozeliak Still Noncommittal About Deadline
Speaking to reporters before the first game of a road series against the Colorado Rockies, Mozeliak said the team’s approach to the deadline is still “fluid.” However, he did acknowledge that the Cardinals’ recent slump has swayed the front office’s decision-making.
“We’re being much more open-minded to where we were pre-All-Star Break,” Mozeliak said.
Mozeliak also confirmed that teams have reached out about several of the players currently contributing to the lineup, suggesting that the Cardinals’ standings at the deadline may tip the scales on whether the organization will move meaningful pieces.
“So, obviously, we have a lot of players that people have interest in,” Mozeliak told reporters. “We have to sort through all that, and before we decide exactly what this will look like.”
Cardinals Listening on Several Pitchers
Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Phil Maton, and Erick Fedde are all players Mozeliak told reporters they are listening to offers on. Katie Woo with the Athletic reported that calls inquiring about the list of pitchers picked up shortly after Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks — completing a sweep.
The Cardinals have previously been reluctant to move players with such value as Helsley or Maton. Now, Mozeliak seems more open to moving them even if it comes at the detriment of the 2025 season.
“If there’s something that seems too good to be true or something that makes so much sense, obviously we would pursue that,” Mozeliak told reporters.
All four of those pitchers are on expiring deals. Maton and Helsley have been the eighth and ninth inning guys for the Cardinals so far this season. Matz has pitched mostly out of the bullpen and has been effective. Matz has a 3.20 ERA in 27 bullpen appearances and two starts.
Fedde has been having a rough season. He is someone the Cardinals would likely love to move to make way for young starter Michael McGreevy. However, his 4.83 ERA and 3-9 record this season aren’t likely to draw a large return.
Cardinals May Be Shifting Focus to Future
If the Cardinals continue to struggle this week, it could tip the front office’s eyes from this season to the next. After a set with the Rockies, the Cardinals will host the San Diego Padres. The Padres are three and a half games ahead of the Cardinals, and St. Louis has a chance to prove to the front office that they should buy, not sell.
Mozeliak’s tone on the deadline seemed to shift in his most recent media availability. He had been speaking hopefully of buying at the deadline. This week, he appeared to be setting the table for the team to be sellers, especially if it could set up his replacement, Chaim Bloom, well for the 2026 season.
“As we reflect on really what’s best for the organization, there is the longer view in terms of, ‘Are there decisions that we can make that would better situate the franchise in [2026] and beyond?’,” Mozeliak said.
Main Photo Credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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