The St. Louis Cardinals have already been one of baseball’s busiest clubs this offseason and it appears their work may not be finished.
As Spring Training unfolds, the Cardinals continue evaluating ways to reshape and strengthen their roster. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis remains open to making another addition before Opening Day, whether through free agency or a trade.
In his breakdown of the team’s top Spring Training storylines, Goold suggested that a deal could materialize at any time. While a signing might address a clear roster need, a trade could both answer and create new questions as the organization balances competing now with building for the future.
One area the Cardinals are still monitoring closely is the outfield. The team has interest in adding a right-handed bat but faces limitations in offering guaranteed playing time a key factor for some available free agents. Former Cardinal Randal Grichuk is among the names who could fit the profile if the club chooses to pursue that route.
At the same time, St. Louis remains willing to entertain trade discussions, particularly if it allows the organization to acquire younger talent. The front office has already demonstrated a readiness to pivot this winter, and the next step may define how aggressively the club plans to move forward in 2026.
If the Cardinals opt to deal from their current roster, left-handed reliever JoJo Romero could emerge as a logical trade candidate. Romero is coming off a career-best season in 2025 and is entering his final year of team control before free agency following the 2026 campaign. Moving him now could maximize his value if the team prioritizes long-term assets.
On the addition side, president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has made it clear that the search for the right fit is ongoing. Bloom reiterated during Spring Training that the club remains flexible, whether the move addresses short-term depth or provides longer-term stability.
Ideally, the Cardinals would prefer help from the right side of the plate, particularly in the outfield. However, Bloom emphasized that the organization is focused less on labels and more on identifying the correct match. Meanwhile, Lars Nootbaar’s recovery from surgery is progressing as expected, and his status does not appear to significantly alter the team’s pursuit of additional reinforcements.
With Opening Day approaching, St. Louis appears poised to strike again if the right opportunity presents itself — signaling that their active offseason may still have another chapter left to unfold.
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