You all have spoken and here are the results.
In the SB Nation Reacts survey I posted on Wednesday I asked you all what you thought the St. Louis Cardinals should prioritize at the trade deadline. It was a pretty close poll; a majority of respondents (51%) favored trading expiring contracts—like Ryan Helsley—to secure future assets, signaling a shift toward a longer-term vision rather than a short-term playoff push.
Breaking Down the Results:
- Sell expiring contracts (51%) – Fans overwhelmingly support moving players on short-term deals in exchange for future talent.
- Make strategic trades (42%) – A sizable portion prefers a middle ground, advocating for swaps that bring back controllable players rather than pure rental acquisitions.
- Buy aggressively (5%) – A minority still holds out hope for a major push, but with the team’s current trajectory, this view was not very popular and rightfully so.
- Stand pat (2%) – Only a handful of voters believe the Cardinals should keep things as they are and let the season play out organically.
Cardinals fans want action at the trade deadline—but not in the same direction. With 51% supporting selling expiring contracts and 42% favoring strategic trades, I thought it might be interesting to examine what each path could look like.
Option 1: Selling Expiring Contracts
If St. Louis follows the majority’s opinion and sells, here are some likely trade candidates:
- Ryan Helsley (RP, $8.2M) – Elite closer who could fetch a strong prospect package from a contender.
- Miles Mikolas (SP, $18.5M) – A veteran innings-eater that playoff-bound teams may look at for rotation depth.
- Steven Matz (SP, $12.5M) – Transitioned to a bullpen role but could still bring value in a trade.
- Erick Fedde (SP, $7.5M) – A reliable starter who could fit in as a No. 3 or 4 on a playoff team.
- Phil Maton (RP, $2M) – A cheaper bullpen piece who could shore up a contender’s relief corps.
Possible Returns? Likely prospects, particularly young arms, given the Cardinals’ need for future pitching depth.
Option 2: Making Strategic Trades
The difference in strategic trades and selling expiring contracts is not all that much and I think that is why the two were the runaway favorites of the options. The distinction is more about intent than method—both involve moving short-term assets, but strategic trades focus on bringing back controllable players rather than pure prospects. So what could help the Cardinals right now?
- Young, controllable starting pitchers
- Power bats
- Bullpen reinforcement
How I (Reluctantly) Evaluated Cardinals Trade Scenarios
Now, I’ll be the first to admit—trade proposals are not really my thing. I overvalue the Cardinals’ players, I know I do. And as much research as I might do, it’s tough to know every possible trade fit across 30 teams’ rosters and farm systems.
So, to avoid just throwing out deals that favor my favorite team too much, I went to a site called Baseball Trade Values—a trade simulator that provides valuations they have been voted on for each side. And I have to say…some of the suggestions? Brutal.
Helsley seems to be the biggest player of interest for the Cardinals this trade deadline so I looked mostly at deals involving him. Here are two examples of trades the Cardinals could make (or something similar( that I thought captured both ideas favored in the results of thie poll: selling off assets and making strategic trades.
1. Helsley to the Red Sox for Jhostynxon Garcia
- Cardinals receive: Jhostynxon Garcia (OF)
- Red Sox receive: Ryan Helsley (RP), Steven Matz (RP), and cash
Garcia is still pretty raw, with only 89 AAA plate appearances, and is not a guaranteed MLB contributor, while Helsley is an elite closer, and Matz, while not dominant, still holds value as a depth arm. If the Cardinals value long-term outfield depth, Garcia has interesting tools. His athleticism allows him to cover ground in the outfield and he has a strong arm. His hit tool is still developing, but he’s got solid raw power that could allow him to grow into a legitimate power threat. As is the case with many young hitters his approach at the plate may need refinement against advanced pitching.
2. Helsley to the Mets for Dedniel Nunez & Joel Diaz
- Cardinals receive: Dedniel Nunez (RP), Joel Diaz (SP)
- Mets receive: Ryan Helsley (RP)
Nunez is MLB-ready, giving the Cardinals a bullpen arm who can contribute right away while Diaz is a promising young starter, adding long-term pitching depth. With a deal like this the Cardinals gets both immediate help and a future asset. However, Nunez has been inconsistent, recently bouncing between the majors and minors and Diaz is still developing, so he may not be an impact arm for a few years.
These were the only ones that seemed remotely close to me. Of course, it’s one thing for a trade simulator to say a deal works—it’s another for a front office to actually pull the trigger. Do you think any of these teams would actually go for any of these? The Cardinals are reportedly open-minded to making moves this deadline according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic. Bowden reports: “They are committed to building for the long term so expect every move they make between now and the deadline to reflect that approach. Being open to adding doesn’t mean if they get the right offer for closer Ryan Helsley or a starting pitcher like Erick Fedde or Miles Mikolas, they won’t jump on it — they will. All three will be free agents after this season.”
At the end of the day, the Cardinals have options—but the direction they take will depend on how they value their assets and where the team’s priorities fall. With the deadline approaching, we’ll see if they lean into what the fans want or surprise us with an unexpected move. Either way, it’s going to be an interesting few weeks in St. Louis.
Let me know what you think in the comments—because if nothing else, I’ve now given you something to yell at me about, right? Which is really the gift that keeps on giving.
Happy Sunday!
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