After a shaky 14-19 start to the season that sparked rumors about trading veterans like Nolan Arenado, Ryan Helsley, and Sonny Gray, the St. Louis Cardinals have come roaring back—winning 13 of their last 15 games. Now sitting just one game behind the first-place Chicago Cubs, the Cardinals suddenly look more like playoff hopefuls than trade deadline sellers.
With their starting rotation stabilizing and the offense gaining traction, trade chatter has shifted. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently floated the Cardinals as buyers, suggesting they target a dependable third starter behind Gray and Matthew Liberatore. While pitchers like Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, and Andre Pallante have kept things afloat, there’s still room for a more consistent arm.
But not everyone is sold on this shift in narrative.
A Harsh Warning
Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch pushed back hard on the idea of the Cardinals becoming buyers, calling such a pivot premature and shortsighted.
“The notion that the Cardinals should add players this summer is nonsense,” Worthy wrote. “It would reflect a team that made tough decisions last offseason—ones many fans disliked—only to reverse course under pressure just months later.”
Worthy argues that a short-term buying spree could undo the organizational overhaul the Cardinals began last fall. While he isn’t advocating for a full sell-off, he warns against prioritizing a fleeting hot streak over long-term planning.
Why Staying the Course Matters
The Cardinals’ farm system still lacks top-tier pitching talent after years of focusing on position players. Trading off valuable assets for short-term fixes could land the franchise in the same limbo it’s struggled with in recent years—too good to rebuild, not good enough to contend.
Meanwhile, the core is aging. Arenado isn’t in his prime much longer, and though young players like Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker are progressing, they’re not yet stars. Reacting to two good weeks by making major additions could cover up deeper issues that need to be addressed.
A More Strategic Path
That doesn’t mean the Cardinals need to stand still. If they stay competitive, Worthy suggests making smaller, forward-thinking moves—such as acquiring cost-controlled pitchers or trading short-term contracts for young MLB-ready talent. Bullpen upgrades or mid-tier arms with future value would be more aligned with the team’s long-term strategy.
With the NL Central still wide open and no team pulling away, St. Louis can stay in the hunt without mortgaging its future. The Cubs, Brewers, and Reds are all vulnerable—but that’s no excuse to abandon long-term goals.
Don’t Let a Hot Streak Cloud Judgment
The Cardinals have made encouraging strides. The starting rotation has improved, the bullpen has held up, and the lineup has regained its punch. But as Worthy emphasized, letting early-season momentum dictate trade deadline decisions could undo months of progress.
He cautions against letting standings pressure cause a change in course: “Letting May determine your July could leave the Cardinals right back where they’ve been—stuck in the middle, without a clear direction.”
The message from within: patience, perspective, and purpose. The Cardinals can’t afford to let a two-week surge throw them off a plan meant to build a more sustainable future.
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