After a shaky start to the season, the St. Louis Cardinals have officially committed to contending in 2025, pulling off a trio of significant trades ahead of the MLB trade deadline. With the NL Central still up for grabs, the front office made aggressive moves to bolster both their rotation and lineup, signaling that they’re all-in on making a postseason push.
Veterans like Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado have carried the offense through the early months, but it became clear that more help was needed. With young stars like Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II still finding consistency, the Cardinals decided to surround them with proven talent. Their recent acquisitions could change the trajectory of their season — and the National League playoff race.
Sandy Alcantara Joins Cardinals from Marlins
The biggest splash came with the acquisition of former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara from the Miami Marlins. The 29-year-old right-hander immediately becomes the ace of the Cardinals’ rotation, giving them a workhorse with elite upside. In return, the Marlins received a package headlined by pitching prospect Tink Hence and outfielder Alec Burleson.
Alcantara had struggled somewhat in Miami, but much of that was due to a lack of run support. In St. Louis, he joins a more complete roster and will be counted on to lead the staff into October. Sonny Gray, who had been holding down the No. 1 spot, now shifts to a more suitable role in the rotation’s middle.
Luis Robert Jr. Traded to St. Louis from Chicago
Just days after landing Alcantara, the Cardinals added star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in a deal with the Chicago White Sox. The move adds a Gold Glove defender and Silver Slugger to the lineup, giving St. Louis a much-needed combination of power, speed, and experience in the outfield.
Robert Jr. is expected to take over as the everyday right fielder, allowing Lars Nootbaar to shift to center. The Cardinals sent a combination of young talent, including slugging infielder Thomas Saggese and lefty reliever Zack Thompson, to Chicago to complete the deal.
Robert’s arrival also brings mentorship value for young players like Jordan Walker, who shares a similar skill set but has struggled to balance his offense and defense early in the season.
Josh Bell Arrives from Washington Nationals
In a more under-the-radar move, the Cardinals traded for first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals. Bell has had a slow start to his 2025 campaign, but his track record suggests a bounce-back is coming. With this deal, manager Oliver Marmol can now move Willson Contreras back behind the plate more regularly while splitting catching duties with Ivan Herrera.
Bell’s presence at first base also gives the Cardinals another switch-hitting threat in the lineup, as well as added flexibility when facing tough pitching matchups.
The Cardinals Are All-In
With these three major additions, the Cardinals have made their intentions clear: they are not backing down. These moves come with risk, especially with top prospects and young talent going the other way, but the front office is betting on a deep postseason run this year.
St. Louis has pushed its chips to the center of the table. Now, it’s up to the new-look roster to deliver.
