According to a new report from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Texas Rangers had trade interest in St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar early in this offseason, prior to Nootbaar needing double heel surgery.

Goold reports that at least one another American League team had interest in him as well. 

The Nootbaar file

Now 28 years old, Nootbaar is coming off a season in which he hit .234 with 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and four stolen bases. He had a below-average 95 OPS+.

Lifetime, he's been better than that, posting a .242 average and a 109 OPS+. He is regarded as a good defender and also served as a key member of the 2023 World Baseball Classic team that won a Gold Medal for Japan.

The heel surgeries have his availability for Opening Day up in the air, and therefore his trade interest/speculation is up in the air as well.

Nootbaar is under contract for two more seasons.

Could the Cardinals trade him?

Of course. The Cardinals have missed the playoffs for three straight years and have posted losing records for each of the last two years. At this point, the Cardinals are in a rebuild and they are going to look to expedite it as quickly as possible. Any one not under long-term contract could be moved in the effort to find young prospects.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network described the Cardinals as "open for business" this offseason. They are expected to trade Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray, and they could draw significant interest in Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan as well.

Perhaps the Cardinals would be better served in trading Nootbaar at the deadline though? If he shows he's healthy in the first half of the campaign, that could yield a better return.

Why the Rangers?

It's uncertain why the Rangers would want Nootbaar, who only has the two years left on his deal. After finishing third in the American League West this season, do the Rangers see themselves as contenders? And they already have a full outfield of Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia. Are they looking to move one of them in order to make room for Nootbaar?

And who is the other team? We still haven't learned yet.

Up next

The baseball world is currently gathered in Las Vegas for the general manager's meetings, which run through Thursday. Then, everyone will reconvene against next month for the winter meetings, which take place from Dec. 7-10. There could be significant deals which come to fruition at that event, including some of these potential St. Louis trades.