The St. Louis Cardinals finally moved the needle on the trade deadline front, but the results are not equal across the board. A clear split exists between the blockbuster for pitching help and the departure of a beloved fan favorite. The front office made two distinct moves that tell us exactly where the team stands right now. One deal looks like a home run for the future, while the other feels like a necessary sacrifice that left a lot on the table.
The Dustin May Deal Hits the Mark
Chaim Bloom waited a long time for his first big win, but the payoff was worth the delay. The Cardinals sent veteran starter Dustin May and lefty JoJo Romero to the Milwaukee Brewers. In return, St. Louis landed 18-year-old outfielder Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale. According to Viva El Birdos, this trade earns a solid Grade A from evaluators. The return includes an 18-year-old who already shows max exit velocity of 117 mph this season. Frias has the raw power to hit 30 home runs if he adds a little loft to his swing. He posted a massive 1.196 OPS in the Florida Complex League, which is rare for his age. While he runs slow, his arm is strong enough to anchor right field for years to come.
The Brewers get a potential number three starter in May and a lefty for their bullpen. JoJo Romero is a high-leverage reliever in St. Louis, but the rest of the league sees him differently. He is still a valuable piece, yet the Cardinals got more value by trading him for two outfielders with everyday potential. This swap fills a massive hole in the farm system with two players who could become stars. The math works perfectly here. St. Louis gave up two rentals to get two long-term solutions. It is hard to argue with an A grade when the upside is this high.
The Nootbaar Return Leaves Questions
The second move is a different story entirely. The Cardinals traded Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Daniel Eagan and Sandro Santana. This deal gets a tentative B- grade from Viva El Birdos, and that low mark tells the whole story. The Diamondbacks gave up two of their top 30 arms to get Nootbaar, which shows how much Arizona wanted him. But St. Louis only got back one top-30 arm and a player who was a 3rd-round pick. The return feels light for a player who was healthy for only eight weeks before this trade happened. If Nootbaar had been fully healthy in the offseason, the return would have been much bigger. Now, the team settled for less because the clock was ticking.
The deal includes a player to be named later, but that is a small consolation prize. Having traded two top prospects to secure him, the Diamondbacks are content with the outcome. Yet, the Cardinals are left with a hole in the lineup that is hard to fill. Eagan and Santana are good pieces, but they do not match the immediate impact of Nootbaar. This trade feels like a missed opportunity to get more for a player who was a fan favorite. The B- grade is fair because the return does not match the cost of losing a key contributor.
What the Grades Mean for 2026
These two trades paint a clear picture of the Cardinals’ strategy. They are building for the long haul with young bats while moving veterans who cost too much or are too risky. The A grade for the Frias deal shows the front office knows how to find value. The B- for Nootbaar shows the pressure of the deadline can force bad deals. The team needs to find a way to get more for their next big trade. Fans will wait to see if Frias and Ragsdale become stars, but they will also miss Nootbaar. The path forward is clear, but the cost was higher than expected.
