Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar was among several St. Louis players who recently underwent surgery, as he had procedures on both heels on October 7 to shave down Haglund’s deformities.
At the time, his recovery timeline was uncertain, but president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told Matt Pauley of KMOX Sports that while Opening Day remains possible, it’s not guaranteed. Bloom emphasized that the team won’t rush Nootbaar’s rehab just to have him ready for the start of the season, and if he does miss time, it should be minimal.
As far as offseason surgeries go, Nootbaar’s situation doesn’t appear overly concerning. Even if he’s not ready for the first few games of 2026, the impact would be minor given that the Cardinals are entering a likely rebuilding phase.
After a disappointing 2025 in which he hit just .234/.325/.361 (96 wRC+)—a sharp drop from his previous three seasons with a wRC+ of 114 or better—it makes sense for St. Louis to prioritize a full recovery over a rushed return. A delayed start could help him rediscover the offensive consistency he showed earlier in his career.
Nootbaar, 28, remains under team control for two more seasons before reaching free agency after 2027. With the Cardinals possibly years away from contention, he stands out as a potential trade candidate. However, today’s update about his uncertain Opening Day status may slightly dampen trade discussions, though likely not in a significant way.
Clubs already knew Nootbaar would spend the offseason rehabbing, and given his down year, St. Louis may prefer to hold onto him rather than trade him while his value is low. The team could revisit trade talks at the 2026 deadline, when he’d still offer two playoff runs of control and possible qualifying offer eligibility after 2027.
In the meantime, the Cardinals have enough depth to cover any early-season absence. Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, Alec Burleson, and Brendan Donovan can all play in the outfield, with additional options like Nathan Church and Michael Siani available as backups.
Donovan may see more infield time next year—especially if Nolan Arenado is traded—but players like Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese could fill in when Donovan shifts to the outfield.
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