The St. Louis Cardinals are off to an unexpectedly strong start this season. Through their first 21 games of the year, they are 13-8, and it’s their best start since 2018. However, they are rebuilding under Chaim Bloom and will be focused more on the future than contending in the present.
That means there is still a strong chance they will be sellers at the trade deadline, and if they do sell, they will likely trade some of their players that are on expiring contracts. Think Dustin May, Ramon Urias, JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek.
However, another potential candidate could emerge if they are well out of contention that could potentially shake up the market. David Schoenfield of ESPN listed several trade candidates for each team in Major League Baseball, and for St. Louis, star closer Riley O’Brien was listed.
“The Cardinals signed Dustin May to a one-year deal largely with the idea of potentially trading him if he was having a good season, but O’Brien will draw the most interest,” Schoenfield wrote. “A 31-year-old reliever who had a breakout season with a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings last year, he has been even better in 2026 with his sinker/sweeper/slider repertoire. O’Brien is throwing 98 mph and hasn’t issued a walk while serving as the Cardinals’ closer. He’s under team control for four more years, so there’s no need to trade him. But with the way he’s pitching, it could be an opportunity for the Cardinals to acquire a premium prospect for an older reliever they originally acquired for cash from the Mariners.”
Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien Could Shake Up Trade Market
O’Brien’s contract status will make him a very attractive trade chip. The San Diego Padres more than likely are not going to trade Mason Miller, since they are a contender. However, O’Brien is quietly having a very strong season. He has not allowed an earned run all season long.
If the Cardinals are out of the mix or decide to sell, they could bring back a lot for O’Brien. His contract status could potentially create a bidding war and make him the top reliever available on the market.
They could use more prospects in their system, especially with all of the pitching injuries they are dealing with. They have options they can turn to for the closer’s role if O’Brien is gone at the deadline, so it wouldn’t be as big of a loss as expected.
Will Cardinals Trade O’Brien?
O’Brien could be more than just the top reliever available on the trade market. If he continues his dominance, his price will jump, and the Cardinals will have a lot of leverage in the final days leading up to the deadline in August.
A lot of teams will be showing interest in him since Miller likely won’t be on the market, and it will be interesting to see what kind of offers the Cardinals get for him. They need more pitching in their system, and O’Brien could get them some top-tier prospects to bolster the farm.
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