Cardinals Reload the Farm System With Surprising Deadline Deals
Credit: arizonasports.com
The Cardinals entered deadline day with plenty of uncertainty about whether they would move some of their most talked-about trade candidates. Trade rumors had been circulating for days, but as the hours passed on Monday, there was little action, leaving many fans wondering is St. Louis would make a meaningful move before the 5 p.m. CT deadline. In the end, the Cardinals completed two trades that addressed the organizations future. In this article, I’ll break down each deal, examine what St. Louis gave up and received in return, assign a grade to each trade, and finish with an overall grade for the Cardinals trade deadline.
The Surprising In-division Trade
After hours of waiting and wondering whether any teams would pull the trigger on the Cardinals' rental players, news finally broke that St. Louis had agreed to a deal with one of its division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers. It was a move that caught many by surprise and quickly became one of the biggest storylines of the trade deadline.
Milwaukee Brewers Receive: Dustin May and Jojo Romero
St. Louis Cardinals Receive: Josiah Ragsdale (CardinalsProspects.com No. 5 Prospect) and Alexander Frias (CardinalsProspects.com No. 11 Prospect)
OF Alexander Frias
Frias ranks as the 11th best prospect in my Cardinals Top 30 Prospect rankings, and it's easy to see why. At just 18 years old, he already possesses impressive raw power, highlighted by a 117-mph max exit velocity and a 106.2 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. Those are eye-opening numbers for a player his age and suggest there's significant offensive upside to unlock. That said, the game power hasn't fully translated yet. Frias' swing can get a bit flat at times, limiting the loft needed to consistently tap into his raw power during games. There are also some concerns with his swing decisions and overall swing-and-miss, but those issues aren't uncommon for a hitter this young.
Defensively, Frias is likely destined for a corner outfield role. He doesn't have the speed or range to stick in center field long term, but his above-average arm strength makes right field his most likely home. He's generally viewed as an average defender, with the tools to provide solid value in a corner spot as he continues to develop.
OF Josiah Ragsdale
Ragsdale ranks at the Cardinals 4th best prospect in my Cardinals Top 30 Prospect rankings thanks to his well-rounded skill set and impressive breakout season. He's significantly raised his prospect stock in 2026 by making noticeable strides with his power. In his first full professional season, Ragsdale has already hit 19 home runs, seven at High-A and 12 since his promotion to Double-A. The power gains are backed by the underlying data. Ragsdale has increased his max exit velocity to 111 mph, and while his 90th percentile exit velocity sits around the 76th percentile, he's done an excellent job consistently pulling the ball in the air. By pairing improved raw power with an ability to pull the ball in the air, Ragsdale has unlocked more of his game power.
What makes Ragsdale especially valuable is his athleticism, which impacts the game both on the bases and in the field. He's a plus-plus runner, and that speed has translated into 31 stolen bases this season. It also gives him a legitimate chance to stick in center field long term. While his routes can still use some refinement, his speed and athleticism allow him to cover plenty of ground and make up for those inconsistencies.
Grade: A
Chaim Bloom and his front office did an outstanding job with this deal. Landing two high-upside prospects in exchange for a pair of rental players came as a surprise when the trade was announced, but it's exactly the type of move the Cardinals needed to make. By capitalizing on expiring assets, Bloom added two legitimate prospects who immediately strengthen the organization's farm system.
A Beloved Veteran is Dealt
After dealing two rental players, reports surfaced that both Alec Burleson and Lars Nootbaar were drawing significant interest around the league. Most fans, however, believed neither player would ultimately be moved, as it would take a substantial return for the Cardinals to part with either one. Just a couple of hours after Dustin May and JoJo Romero were sent to Milwaukee, St. Louis traded Lars Nootbaar.
Arizonia Diamondbacks Receive: Lars Nootbaar
St Louis Cardinals Receive: Daniel Eagen (CardinalsProspects.com No. 17 Prospect), Sandro Santana, and a player to be named later
RHP Daniel Eagen
Eagen slots in as the 16th best prospect in my updated Cardinals Top 30 Prospect rankings, but he's a pitcher who could climb the list quickly. While his surface-level numbers don't jump off the page (a 4.95 ERA over 87.1 innings at Double-A) there's important context behind them. He has spent the season pitching in one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the minors. What stands out is Eagen's ability to miss bats. He owns a 29.2% strikeout rate and a solid 9.2% walk rate, good for an impressive 20.1% K-BB%. He also generates plenty of swing-and-miss, posting a 32.5% whiff rate while inducing chase on 32% of pitches outside the strike zone. Those underlying metrics point to a pitcher with legitimate bat-missing stuff, giving him the upside to outperform his traditional numbers as he continues to develop.
Eagen works from a higher release point and has a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s with the ability to reach up to 20 inches of IVB. While the velocity is already solid, there could be more in the tank given his 6-foot-4 frame and current listed weight of just 205 pounds. His best pitches are his high-80s slider and low-80s curveball, which both generate plenty of swing-and-miss and chase. He also features a mid-to-high 80s splitter, but it remains a pitch that could continue to improve. With the Cardinals' recent success developing off-speed offerings, the splitter has the potential to become a more reliable part of his arsenal moving forward.
LHP Sandro Santana
Santana is a player who didn't make my initial Top 30 Cardinals Prospects list, but he's someone who could quickly find himself added, and perhaps should have been included already. He has had a strong 2026 season working out of the bullpen, posting a 2.14 ERA across 46.1 innings. What stands out most about Santana is his ability to miss bats. He has generated a 36.4% whiff rate while consistently getting hitters to chase pitches outside the zone. He's been especially effective against left-handed hitters, but he has also held his own against righties, giving him the potential to be a versatile bullpen option moving forward.
Santana throws from a low three-quarter arm slot and features a fastball that sits in the 95-97 mph range. However, his calling card is his slider, which grades as a true plus-plus pitch. The pitch sits in the mid-80s and is his primary swing-and-miss weapon, generating whiffs against both left-handed and right-handed hitters.
Grade: B
The Cardinals did a nice job maximizing Nootbaar's value in this deal. While Nootbaar wasn't viewed as a traditional rental, the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 season created questions about his long-term value. However, St. Louis was still able to get a strong return, as the Diamondbacks had to part with some talent to acquire him. The biggest factor still remaining is the player to be named later, who is expected to be someone from the 2026 MLB Draft. Depending on who that player ends up being, this grade could improve, as the final piece of the return could add even more value to an already solid trade package.
Trade Deadline Grade: B+
Overall, the Cardinals had a very strong trade deadline. The first deal was the highlight, as St. Louis turned two rental players into two high-upside prospects who immediately improved the farm system. The Nootbaar trade was also a solid move, giving the Cardinals a strong return for a valuable major league player while adding more talent for the future.
The only reason this deadline doesn't reach an A is because the full value of the Nootbaar trade is still unknown. The player to be named later is expected to come from the 2026 MLB Draft, and depending on who that player ends up being, this grade could improve. For now, though, Bloom and the Cardinals did an excellent job adding talent and continuing to reshape the organization.
