St. Louis Cardinals trade Lars Nootbaar

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Daniel Eagen, left-handed reliever Sandro Santana, and a player to be named later. Nootbaar, 28, is currently hitting .234 with 22 runs, 37 hits, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 16 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 24 walks in 2026.

Nootbaar had his best season in 2023. That season, Nootbaar hit .261 with 74 runs, 111 hits, 23 doubles, 1 triple, 14 home runs, 46 RBI's, 11 stolen bases, and 72 walks. The batting average, runs, stolen bases, and walks were all career highs for Nootbaar. 

In 2022, Nootbaar had career highs in both triples (3) and home runs (14). 

Nootbaar had career highs in hits (119), doubles (24), and RBI's (48).

Overall, Nootbaar is currently in his 6th MLB season. Nootbaar has played 575 games with 271 runs, 444 hits, 92 doubles, 10 triples, 61 home runs, 210 RBI's, 29 stolen bases, 276 walks, and a .241 batting average.

St. Louis Cardinals acquire Caleb Ferguson

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Cincinnati Reds for $250,000 in international bonus space. Ferguson, 30, is currently 1-0 with a 4.01 ERA, 26 games, 1 start, 3 holds, 1 save, 24.2 innings, 22 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a whip of 1.50 in 2026. 

Ferguson had his best season in 2023, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That season, Fergson was 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA, 68 games, 7 starts, 17 holds, 3 saves, 60.1 innings, 70 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.15. The wins, starts, holds, saves, and strikeouts were all career highs for Ferguson. 

In 2025, combined between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners, Ferguson had career highs in both games (70) and innings (65.1). 

Overall, Ferguson is currently in his 8th MLB season. Ferugson is 25-17 with a 3.69 ERA, 359 games, 15 starts, 68 holds, 7 saves, 351.2 innings, 387 strikeouts, 140 walks, and a whip of 1.31. In Ferguson's career against him, left-handed hitters hit .225 and right-handed hitters hit .249.

Ferguson can be a free agent after the season. 
 

St. Louis Cardinals trade Dustin May, JoJo Romero

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Dustin May, and left-handed reliever JoJo Romero to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Josiah Ragsdale, and outfielder Alexander Frias. May, 28, is currently 5-7 with a 4.38 ERA, 21 games, 21 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 109 innings, 106 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a whip of 1.28 in 2026. The complete game and shutout are both career highs for May. May also has 10 quality starts, which tie a career high from 2025.

May had a career high (4) holds in 2019, with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2020, May helped the Dodgers win the World Series. 

May had his best season in 2025, combined between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. That season, May was 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA, 25 games, 23 starts, 132.1 innings, 123 strikeouts, 56 walks, and a whip of 1.42. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for May.

Overall, May is currently in his 7th MLB season. May is 24-27 with a 3.99 ERA, 92 games, 78 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 5 holds, 433 innings, 403 strikeouts, 148 walks, and a whip of 1.22.

Romero, 29, is currently 1-3 with a 3.35 ERA, 44 games, 20 holds, 43 innings, 43 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a whip of 1.30.

May had his best season in 2025. That season, May was 4-5 with a 2.07 ERA, 65 games, 24 holds, 8 saves, 61 innings, 55 strikeouts, 29 walks, and a whip of 1.25. The saves, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Romero. The ERA was also a career best for Romero. 

In 2024, Romero had career highs in wins (7), games (65), and holds (30). 

Overall, Romero is currently in his 7th MLB season. Romero is 16-14 with a 3.51 ERA, 241 games, 84 holds, 12 saves, 235.2 innings, 226 strikeouts, 87 walks, and a whip of 1.24.

Ragsdale, 22, is currently hitting .316 with 85 runs, 98 hits, 21 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 51 RBI's, 31 stolen bases, and 67 walks combined between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi in 2026. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's stolen bases, and walks are wall career highs for Ragsdale.

Ragsdale ranked as the Brewers 13th best prospect. 

Overall, Ragsdale is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Ragsdale has played 108 games with 100 runs, 119 hits, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI's, 40 stolen bases, 83 walks, and a .313 batting average.

Frias, 18, is currently hitting .342 with 52 runs, 78 hits, 16 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 62 RBI's, 19 stolen bases, and 29 walks combined between the Arizona Complex Leagues and Single-A Wilson. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and walks are all career highs for Frias.

Frias ranked as the Brewers 11th best prospect.

Overall, Frias is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Frias has played 87 games with 74 runs, 108 hits, 21 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 79 RBI's, 26 stolen bases, 43 walks, and a .334 batting average.

The Brewers upgrade their starting rotation and bullpen with the additions of Dustin May and JoJo Romero. May and Romero can be free agents after the season. 

On paper the Cardinals get a great return with Ragsdale and Frias. It's shocking that the Brewers would give up two top prospects for two rentals. There's a chance that Ragsdale could become a centerfield option for the Cardinals in the future.