The St. Louis Cardinals could still have another move to make before Opening Day arrives in March. After an aggressive offseason reset, St. Louis reshaped its roster by parting ways with key veterans, trading Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Brendan Donovan in separate deals.
In addition to those headline trades, the Cardinals bolstered their pitching staff by signing Dustin May and Ryne Stanek, while also acquiring Justin Bruihl. During Spring Training, they further strengthened the lineup by adding right-handed hitter Ramón UrÃas.
With a younger core now in place, St. Louis appears well-positioned to evaluate its emerging talent. However, one more trade could make sense moving veteran reliever JoJo Romero. Romero is under team control through the 2026 season but is set to hit free agency afterward. Given his strong recent performance, his value may never be higher.
Romero posted an impressive 2.07 ERA across 65 appearances in 2025, following up a solid 3.36 ERA campaign in 2024, also in 65 outings. Replicating that level of dominance won’t be easy, but his track record could attract contenders searching for a reliable left-handed arm.
One potential trade partner could be the Boston Red Sox. Boston thinned out its left-handed bullpen depth over the winter, dealing away several southpaws and opting not to re-sign others. While the Red Sox still have established relievers such as Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert, they may seek additional lefty options.
St. Louis and Boston have proven capable trade partners in recent months, including prior deals involving Contreras and Gray. With former Cardinals executive Chaim Bloom helping steer Boston’s front office decisions, another agreement between the clubs wouldn’t be surprising.
The Cardinals have already taken bold steps this offseason. One final move possibly involving Romero might fully position them for a competitive 2026 campaign.
