Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just under six weeks away, and teams like the St. Louis Cardinals are still undecided on their strategy.
After a strong 19-8 showing in May, the Cardinals looked like legitimate playoff contenders. However, a rough 5-10 start to June has raised doubts, especially with some winnable games slipping away. Though the tough schedule has played a role, the recent slide has cast uncertainty over whether the team will be buyers or sellers at the deadline.
Several Cardinals players could draw trade interest if the team decides to sell—names like Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas, particularly those on expiring contracts. On the other hand, if St. Louis finds another hot streak, the front office might shift course and look to strengthen the roster for a postseason run.
No matter what direction they take, a handful of players are effectively off-limits. The organization is unlikely to move key prospects such as Quinn Mathews, JJ Wetherholt, and Tink Hence, unless an exceptional offer comes along. While most other young players in the system could be available, these top prospects are considered untouchable.
2B Brendan Donovan
Brendan Donovan could very well be the Cardinals’ only All-Star this season, and he’s become an essential piece of the roster.
He’s posted a strong .307/.375/.437 slash line with five home runs, 42 runs scored, and 29 RBIs, good for a 129 wRC+. Defensively, Donovan has been a positive contributor at second base, according to defensive runs saved, and he’s also provided value with his versatility by logging time in left field and at shortstop.
Seen as a clubhouse leader over the past two seasons, Donovan’s performance this year has further solidified his role as a foundational player. The Cardinals would be wise to hold on to him and turn down any trade offers at the deadline.
LHP Matthew Liberatore
Matthew Liberatore shouldn’t be flipped in a trade the same way he arrived.
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This season marks his first extended opportunity as a starting pitcher, and he’s making the most of it. Over 15 starts, the left-hander has posted a 3.96 ERA with 71 strikeouts across 86.1 innings, while issuing just 12 walks — the second fewest among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched.
Liberatore has proven he can be a reliable mid-rotation starter going forward, and the Cardinals should keep him in place as a key part of their 2026 rotation.
RHP Tekoah Roby
The 2025 season was a critical one for many prospects, but it was especially pivotal for Tekoah Roby, who needed to stay both healthy and effective to retain his status as a top organizational talent. Roby has dealt with frequent injuries throughout his career, and his performance after being acquired by the Cardinals at the 2023 trade deadline had been underwhelming.
This year, however, has marked a turning point for the 23-year-old right-hander. Roby’s fastball has emerged as a key weapon in his arsenal, and he’s complementing it with a curveball that consistently generates swings and misses. Across Double-A and Triple-A, he’s posted a 3.55 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.
Though his first two starts in Memphis were rough—allowing 12 earned runs over 10.1 innings—he bounced back in a big way by blanking the Norfolk Tides over six innings with five strikeouts in his most recent outing. With his health intact and performance trending up, Roby is finally showing the potential the Cardinals hoped for. Given his trajectory, he should be considered untouchable in any trade talks this summer.
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