With the Cardinals back at .500 for the first time since April 13, when they were 8-8 and the 2026 season was still young, the club is likely to deal away assets for promising prospects before the Aug. 3 MLB Trade Deadline.

Most likely, the Cardinals will try to trade future free agents Dustin May and JoJo Romero for players with more long-term staying power in the organization. Lars Nootbaar, who is eligible for a final round of arbitration in 2027, could also be shopped to teams that need a left-handed hitting outfielder.

Or do the Cardinals possibly swing bigger at the trade deadline and deal pieces that might bring back bigger hauls? With standout rookie JJ Wetherholt set to begin an eight-year extension that could be worth as much as $132 million, do they move him to shortstop and see what Gold Glove-winning shortstop Masyn Winn might attract in terms of young pitching? Would the Cards dangle All-Star Ivan Herrera on trade market because of their glut of promising catching prospects in the Minor Leagues?

The Cards deals could closely resemble 2025 when they traded away closer Ryan Helsley, setup man Phil Maton and swingman Steven Matz leading up to last year’s deadline. If the Cards only move May and Romero, the potential hauls could look very similar to what the club got back last season. Here is a look back at what the Cards added to their Minor League system in 2025 before the MLB Trade Deadline.

The deal: Cardinals trade Ryan Helsley to the Mets

The return: Infielder Jesus Baez, right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm and right-handed pitcher Frank Elissalt

The prospects in 2026: Baez, 21, has shown why the Cardinals were so high on him as a prospect and insisted on his inclusion in any deal involving Helsley. After smashing 14 homers and 11 doubles in 54 games at High-A Peoria, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound infielder from the Dominican Republic was promoted to Double-A Springfield where his power has opened eyes again. Already, he has 11 homers, 26 RBI and four doubles in 24 games while slashing .281/.317/.667/.984. His ceiling might be limited by his lack of defensive range and his unorthodox, side-armed throwing motion. Baez, who is ranked as just the 18th-best prospect in the Cards’ Minor League system by MLB Pipeline, will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason and will likely have to be added to the 40-man roster for protection.

Dohm, a 23-year-old Mississippi State product, has appeared in 17 games (11 starts) with High-A Peoria and has gone 2-4 with a 6.90 ERA. He has fanned 51 batters in 45 2/3 innings pitched. As for the 24-year-old Elissalt, he was placed on the 60-day IL in March, and he has not pitched in 2026.  

The deal: Cardinals trade Phil Maton to the Rangers  

The return: Cardinals received left-handed pitcher Mason Molina, right-handed pitcher Skylar Hales and $250,000 in bonus pool cash

The prospects in 2026: Molina, 23, started the season with Double-A Springfield where he went 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA over 14 starts. In 69 2/3 innings, he fanned an impressive 82 hitters. That work earned the former University of Arkansas standout – a former seventh-round pick – a promotion to Triple-A Memphis. He has been mostly battered in three starts – 13 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings pitched – but he has punched out 16 Triple-A hitters.

Hales, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty, went 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 26 relief appearances at Triple-A Memphis before going on the IL. He has one save and 35 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings of work.

As for the bonus pool money, the Cards handed out the most bonus money they have ever spent in franchise history, handing out more than $17.6 million – $1 million more than their bonus pool allotment going into the draft. The Cards spent big on 18-year-old high school outfielder Trevor Condon (No. 13 pick, $5.1 million) and 17-year-old shortstop Rocco Maniscalco (No. 50 pick, $3.2 million).

The deal: Cardinals trade Steven Matz to the Red Sox

The return: Cardinals received infielder Blaze Jordan

Jordan in 2026: When Nolan Gorman struggled yet again, it opened an opportunity for Jordan, who wasn’t believed to have the defensive skills to thrive at the MLB level. However, he’s held his own so far and has committed just four errors in 28 games at third base and no errors in six games at first base. After a strong start at the plate, the 23-year-old Jordan has cooled of late, and he’s lost out at bats to utility fielder Jose Fermin. Jordan is hitting just .231 with a .599 OPS and a .256 on-base percentage. He has five doubles, two triples, a homer and 22 RBI in 33 games with the Cards.

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