Three Cardinals Players Likely to Be Off the Roster by the Trade Deadline
As June begins and the MLB trade deadline approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in contention for the postseason and aiming to win the NL Central. Any team with playoff aspirations knows it must make roster adjustments to stay competitive. Whether the Cardinals aim to build for the future or strengthen their 2025 playoff push, changes are expected. Here are three players who are unlikely to remain on the roster by the trade deadline.
Steven Matz
Steven Matz is the most probable player to be moved. Once a regular starter, Matz has transitioned to a reliever role due to injuries and inconsistency since signing a four-year, $44 million deal. Now in the final year of his contract, Matz is a replaceable bullpen arm. Given the Cardinals’ focus on giving younger players more opportunities, and Matz’s current status as a depth piece, he’s a prime candidate to be dealt to a team in need of rotation depth.
JoJo Romero
Romero had a rough start to the 2025 season, posting a 4.36 ERA through April and nearly losing his spot on the team. His underlying stats suggested he was suffering from bad luck, and his performance has since improved, lowering his ERA to 3.44. However, concerns remain—he has just 13 strikeouts and 12 walks in 18.1 innings, along with a 4.50 FIP. While he’s bounced back somewhat, his inconsistent production makes him a trade candidate. The Cardinals likely won’t get much in return, but moving him could free up a bullpen spot for a more reliable arm during the playoff push.
Nolan Gorman
Time is running out for Nolan Gorman. Once seen as a key offensive prospect, Gorman hasn’t lived up to expectations. In 2025, he has a -0.3 WAR with only 17 hits in 91 at-bats, hitting just one home run and posting a .280 OBP and .297 SLG. His defense has been average, but not enough to compensate for his lack of production at the plate. With a career WAR of 3.2 and an OPS+ of 99, he’s not delivering the offensive value the team hoped for. As others outperform him in a competitive division race, his playing time is shrinking. Whether traded or demoted, he’s unlikely to stay on the major league roster much longer.
