In the build-up to the MLB trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals are in an odd spot. With the team sitting just five games behind the Chicago Cubs for the National League Central division lead, the Cardinals are far from out of the postseason hunt.
But if the Cardinals suffer a setback and begin to lose some games in a row, they could very easily become sellers at the MLB trade deadline. While they're on pace to be buyers, things can change drastically for the Cardinals.
In an article from Jim Bowden in The Athletic, he named trade fits for all of the contenders in baseball. Fan favorite outfielder for the Cardinals, Lars Nootbaar, was named as a trade fit for the Houston Astros. There were plenty of other Cardinals players mentioned as trade fits for other teams, but what about the Cardinals' targets?
When he talked about the Cardinals, however, he didn't list any trade targets for the Cardinals to acquire, instead making the point that the Cardinals' young players need to play.
"So, if nothing changes between now and then and they stay in the race," Bowden writes. "Don't expect big moves from their front office. Instead, the Cardinals want their young major-league players to continue to develop, and could follow that path rather than look for reinforcements."
That plan could pave the way for the Cardinals to move off from some of their veteran players, giving way to younger prospects to get MLB opportunities to develop. Nootbaar could become one of those expendable players.
Nootbaar turns 28 years old in September and will be under team control through the 2027 season. While there is still time for Nootbaar to stay with the team, his trade value might not get any higher than it is now.
While he's struggled as of late, Nootbaar is still an above-average player in the field and at the plate. In his 253 at-bats in 2025, Nootbaar has 60 hits, 12 doubles, 8 home runs, and 28 RBIs to go with 39 runs scored. His production at the plate has led him to sit at a .721 OPS, the lowest in his career to this point.
But he's still a very interesting left-handed bat for a team to trade for. As the Cardinals are expected to utilize their younger players more, moving off some of their older players makes a ton of sense. With the Astros in need of a left-handed bat, Nootbaar to Houston makes a ton of sense.