MLB Rumors: Cardinals excusing two more players from fire sale

Though the Cardinals make out to be clear sellers at the August 1 trade deadline, they recently just called two of their players off-limits.

As other teams look to sink their teeth in the St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB trade deadline, the Cards have established some basic ground rules.

For starters, key players like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are more than likely not up for sale.

Those stars are what USA Today’s Bob Nightengale describes as “infield cornerstones” and may have a long-term future in St. Louis after all. Along with Goldschmidt and Arenado, another duo may also be staying with the Cardinals this season.

Nightengale names outfielders Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar as pieces the club may try to build around for 2024.

"They will keep infield cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, and outfielders Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar, try to build around them this winter, and hope that they are back to the Cardinals Way in 2024."

Cardinals aren’t trading outfielders Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar

The Cardinals are currently 11 games under .500 and trying to finish out a disappointing season with as much dignity left as possible. Jordan Walker, one of the Cardinals’ higher-upside roster pieces, is slashing .279/.340/.447 in his first major league season. It makes sense as to why St. Louis would want to hold onto the 21-year-old, and Walker has for the most part been considered untouchable despite the Cards’ freefall this year.

Lars Nootbaar, the Cardinals’ 2018 eighth-rounder, has compiled three solid seasons in St. Louis with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 2023. He has straddled the fence as a potential trade chip in August, and while the Cardinals organization hasn’t said anything specific about Nootbaar’s status, at least one top MLB pundit sees him staying in a Cards jersey for the foreseeable future.

With four stars roped up, who might be left on the curb by the Cardinals? Pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are arguably the club’s most valuable trade chips; closer Jordan Hicks, infielder Tommy Edman, and outfielder Tyler O’Neill may also be expendable, among other players at their positions.

The Cardinals still boast a highly desirable garage sale haul for sellers this summer; however, teams may have to keep their hands off two certain infielder and outfielder duos.