The St. Louis Cardinals will have an interesting offseason in front of them as they look to take a next step forward in what most fans and pundits chalked up to as a rebuild year for the club.

The Cardinals finished the year 78-84 and fourth in the National League Central. The only team behind St. Louis in the division was the Pittsburgh Pirates, who ended the year 71-91.

The Cardinals showed signs of potential, highlighted by a nine-game win streak in May.

St. Louis will likely work more young players and prospects into its every day lineup in 2026, and that's led to trade speculation involving several players, namely pitcher Sonny Gray and third baseman Nolan Arenado.

One veteran who's future is still up in the air is outfielder Lars Nootbaar.

Nootbaar has been involved in trade rumors for months, but his trade value has taken a plummet due to a recent injury.

Nootbaar underwent heel surgery to repair Haglund's deformity in both heels. The condition causes a "bony growth" on the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attaches.

Nootbaar's heel injury is the latest ailment for him. He was on the injured list from July 13-Aug. 2 with a left costochondral sprain.

Nootbaar will have a months-long recovery in front of him, which leaves his status for Opening Day in 2026 in doubt.

In a recent radio appearance with Matt Pauley of KOMX Sports, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Opening Day isn't "off the table" for Nootbaar but also isn't guaranteed.

Bloom said if Nootbaar does miss time in 2026, it will be limited.

Nootbaar scored 68 runs in 135 games this season. He hit 24 doubles, a triple and 13 home runs with 48 RBIs. He slashed .234/.325/.361 with a .686 OPS. His OPS was the lowest single-season total in his five years in the majors.

Nootbaar is still under arbitration and will be relatively cheap in 2026. It will be his second year of arbitration and he's projected to earn $5.2 million according to Spotrac. He'll turn 29-years-old in 2026.

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