Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that “other teams have asked about” the Cardinals’ deep group of catchers. While no players were named, it’s widely believed that Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, and Yohel Pozo are the most likely to be available in trade talks, as top prospects Jimmy Crooks and Leonardo Bernal appear to be off-limits.
St. Louis’ offseason will primarily focus on moving veteran contracts and opening roster space for younger players, but president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is expected to consider all options to strengthen the team.
Given the organization’s youth movement, Bernal and Crooks are unlikely to be moved unless Bloom orchestrates a rare prospect-for-prospect deal. The team could, however, package a young player with a high-salaried veteran like Nolan Arenado or Sonny Gray to help balance a trade, though such a move would only happen if a strong return was involved.
Bernal, ranked No. 92 overall by MLB Pipeline and fourth in the Cardinals’ system, must be added to the 40-man roster to avoid exposure in the Rule 5 Draft.
His addition would give St. Louis five catchers on the 40-man roster, making Pozo the most likely candidate to be designated for assignment—potentially followed by a re-signing to a minor league deal.
Crooks, the club’s No. 6 prospect, made his MLB debut this year but struggled offensively (.133/.152/.244 in 46 plate appearances). He has shown better production in Triple-A (.274/.337/.441) and is considered more of a defense-first catcher.
The system also features 18-year-old Rainiel Rodriguez—ranked No. 55 overall by Pipeline—rounding out a trio of promising young backstops for the future.
Herrera, Pages, and Pozo remain under team control for several years, with Herrera controllable through 2029 and Pages through 2030. Pozo’s uncertain standing could help thin the logjam, though a larger question is whether the team might move Herrera or Pages to create more playing time for Crooks.
Herrera’s status as a full-time catcher is somewhat in question. Limited to just 14 games behind the plate this season due to injuries, he spent most of 2025 as the Cardinals’ designated hitter and occasional left fielder. Despite the health setbacks, he posted an impressive .284/.373/.464 line with 19 homers and a 137 wRC+, ranking among the top 20 qualified hitters in the league.
The Cardinals expect him to resume catching duties after offseason elbow surgery, though defensive concerns persist. Given his offensive upside and years of team control, Bloom is unlikely to trade him unless it brings back a major piece.
Pages, who took over as the primary catcher, offers the opposite skill set—elite defense but modest offensive output (.233/.275/.368 across 607 career plate appearances). His strong glovework could attract interest from defense-minded teams, but St. Louis’s longstanding emphasis on elite catcher defense—dating back to Yadier Molina—could make the club reluctant to part with him.
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