3 Cardinals Prospects St. Louis Must Keep Off-Limits If They Buy at the Deadline
As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals are in a tricky position. Sitting at 51-46, they trail the final NL Wild Card spot by just 1.5 games. They’re firmly in the playoff race but still sit outside the postseason picture. If the team stays within reach, they’re likely to buy at the deadline — but going all-in could be a mistake.
Sure, reaching the playoffs would be exciting, and with the right additions, it’s possible. But giving up their most promising young talent for a short-term boost, especially when they’d still be longshots to beat contenders like the Dodgers, Phillies, or Cubs, would be unwise.
With that in mind, here are three Cardinals prospects who should be considered untouchable — no matter how tempting the trade market may be.
1. JJ Wetherholt – Shortstop
JJ Wetherholt is the kind of player you build around, not trade. Ranked as the Cardinals’ top prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 22-year-old has backed up the hype this season. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he’s slashing .303/.425/.487 with eight homers and 36 RBIs across 65 games.
Though he’s only just started his Triple-A stint (4-for-11), his production at Double-A shows he’s nearly big-league ready. With Masyn Winn holding down shortstop, Wetherholt could shift to second base, allowing Brendan Donovan to move to the outfield. With his offensive upside, Wetherholt could become the best bat among St. Louis’ young core. Trading him would be a major misstep.
2. Quinn Mathews – Starting Pitcher
Although Quinn Mathews hasn’t had a stellar 2025 — sporting a 4.43 ERA over 11 starts and missing time due to injury — he remains the Cardinals’ top pitching prospect. And given the team’s aging and unstable rotation, his value to the future cannot be overstated.
Three of St. Louis’ starters are 32 or older, and both Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde are pending free agents. Mathews could realistically earn a rotation spot later this season or in early 2026. Even in a down year, his long-term importance makes him far too valuable to be included in any trade.
3. Michael McGreevy – Starting Pitcher
Though Michael McGreevy has made brief appearances in the Majors (six starts over two seasons with a 3.05 ERA), he still qualifies as a prospect. Frankly, he deserves a regular spot in the rotation already.
Despite his strong performance when given the chance, the Cardinals continue to rely on aging veterans like Mikolas and Fedde. Instead of trading McGreevy for a short-term fix, they should promote him permanently and let him develop at the MLB level. His age, contract control, and effectiveness make him a piece worth keeping, not dangling in trade talks.
Leave a Reply