Expectations for the St. Louis Cardinals are lower than usual this season, especially after John Mozeliak acknowledged the team is undergoing a retool. Their offseason moves did little to accelerate a rebuild, and there’s no indication that approach will change anytime soon.
Despite tempered expectations, the Cardinals opened the season with a win over the Minnesota Twins, even after a poorly timed rain delay. Sonny Gray delivered a strong performance on the mound, while Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado homered, and the bullpen largely held its own.
While the season-opening victory was encouraging, it won’t alter the organization’s long-term plans. By season’s end, the roster could look quite different. These three players made an impact on Opening Day, but it’s difficult to see them remaining with the team for the entire season.
1) Eventually, a Nolan Arenado trade will fall into John Mozeliak’s lap
One of the most surprising developments of the offseason was that Nolan Arenado remained with the Cardinals. The team seemed eager to move on from the veteran third baseman, but league-wide interest was limited, and Arenado’s list of acceptable trade destinations was small.
However, if Arenado can rebound at the plate, that could change. His season certainly started on a positive note Thursday when he delivered a crucial home run in the eighth inning, providing St. Louis with valuable insurance. He even acknowledged the fans with a curtain call, showing appreciation for their support.
While it was great to see Arenado deliver in a key moment, if he continues to perform well, a trade still seems likely. The Cardinals are looking to give their younger players more opportunities and free up payroll, both of which could be achieved by moving him.
2) The Cardinals ought to get something for Ryan Helsley while they can
Ryan Helsley is arguably the best reliever in baseball, coming off a season where he earned the National League’s Reliever of the Year award. He started his 2025 campaign strong, securing a save with a scoreless ninth inning on Opening Day, striking out three batters in the process.
While Helsley closing out games is nothing new for Cardinals fans, the bigger question is how many more saves he’ll record in a St. Louis uniform. His performance isn’t in doubt—it’s his contract situation that complicates things.
Helsley is in his final year of club control, putting the Cardinals in a tough position. While they’d love to retain one of the game’s top closers, the likelihood of them offering the lucrative contract he’ll command in free agency seems slim. If St. Louis opts against a long-term deal—especially with other roster needs to address—they’ll likely trade him at the deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Considering the strong return the Marlins received for Tanner Scott at last year’s deadline, Cardinals fans have good reason to be excited about what Helsley could bring back in a potential trade.
3) Phil Maton was signed to be traded
The only player the Cardinals signed to a major league contract this offseason was Phil Maton, who joined on a modest one-year deal late in spring training. While Maton strengthens the bullpen, it’s fair to assume that a 32-year-old reliever signing with a non-contending team isn’t expecting to stay for the entire season.
If he pitches well, a trade seems inevitable—just as it was last year when he went from the Rays to the Mets at the deadline.
So far, he’s off to a strong start. Maton was given the task of protecting a one-run lead against the heart of Minnesota’s lineup and delivered a scoreless inning. He proved to be the bridge to Ryan Helsley that the Cardinals hoped for, setting up the closer to finish the job. If Maton continues to pitch effectively, he’ll only increase his trade value and improve the return St. Louis can expect at the deadline.
Be the first to comment