JUST IN: Cardinals exec drops hint that a trade deadline surprise could be in store

Cardinals Executive Teases Possible Trade Deadline Twist

By Zach Pressnell | 21 hours ago

The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in an unexpected position as the trade deadline looms.

After entering the 2025 season with modest expectations and a roster mostly rebuilt from within, many assumed the Cardinals would be sellers at the deadline. Coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons and a quiet offseason, President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak appeared to treat this year as a reset, aiming to evaluate the team’s future core.

But a surprising midseason surge has flipped the narrative. The Cardinals have strung together an impressive run of wins, going from division bottom-dwellers to legitimate contenders for the NL Central crown—or at least a Wild Card spot.

That success has cast doubt on the idea that the Cardinals will offload talent at the deadline.

Mozeliak recently addressed the team’s shifting approach in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, offering a telling remark:
“If we’re playing well, why wouldn’t you want to keep trying to play well?”

He reflected on last year’s deadline moves, saying the team had tried to strike a balance between short-term help and long-term planning. “Some [moves] were more long-term in idea, and some didn’t really move the needle,” Mozeliak said. “You tried. It’s certainly a lot more fun to be trying to improve your club than to break up your club.”

This statement signals that the Cardinals may not be fully committed to a sell-off. Key players with expiring contracts, like Ryan Helsley and Erick Fedde—both initially seen as likely trade chips—could remain in St. Louis if the team continues to compete.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the Cardinals will go all-in either. A more realistic outcome may be a measured approach: minor upgrades, possibly dealing some expiring contracts only if they can bring back controllable players who fit the long-term vision.

In short, the Cardinals are poised to straddle the line between buying and selling, adjusting their strategy as their surprising 2025 season continues to unfold.