Cardinals might trade beloved outfielder if two hurdles are cleared

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Cardinals might trade beloved outfielder if two hurdles are cleared originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals are having a good 2026 season so far, and while they might be in legitimate postseason contention, the Cardinals might be more likely to sell this season than buy.

It is still a rebuilding year, and the magic of their incredibly hot start could easily wear off. In such a scenario, Chaim Bloom surely wouldn't be afraid to trade some players, including a beloved outfielder.

Robert Murray of Fansided.com named this beloved outfielder, Lars Nootbaar, as someone the Cardinals might trade this season. But, only if two hurdles are cleared.

Cardinals could trade Lars Nootbaar if two things happen​

"I'm not sure that Nootbaar will even be available, but what I do expect is that he'll receive plenty of trade interest," Murray writes. "... He's not a free agent until 2028, so the asking price will once again be high. But if he shows he's healthy, it's entirely possible that someone meets it..."

The two hurdles to a Nootbaar trade, beyond the obvious team showing interest in the player, are his return from injury and the high price tag Bloom is likely to set.

Nootbaar is recovering from double heel surgery and has yet to play during the 2026 season. Trading for a player whose not played yet is a huge risk.

Even though a team might have interest in Nootbaar as a player, it's a different thing to trade for him without getting to see production from that season.

MORE: 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals

In his career, he's a .747 OPS hitter, which would be very valuable to a lot of outfield-needy teams. Nootbaar will draw interest, even without playing a single game this season.

But that's a huge hurdle to clear in a potential trade of the Cardinals' beloved outfielder. Even if that hurdle is cleared, the acquiring team would then have to meet the lofty demands of Bloom.

Nootbaar is 28 years old and under club control through the 2027 season. A good outfielder who is under club control for next season is not going to be easy to acquire.

But, on deadline day, if a team is comfortable with the medical information on Nootbaar and also is willing to meet the lofty asking price, the Cardinals might trade their beloved outfielder this season.

More MLB news:​

• Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success
• Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency
• Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM
• Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution
• Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

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