The 2025 St. Louis Cardinals weren’t supposed to be here. At 42–36 and eyeing one of the available NL Wild Card spots, they’ve exceeded expectations by merely staying afloat.
Despite their current standing, this team is still searching for its identity. They’re just… hovering, at the moment. And in that murky space, one name has quietly become one of the most interesting trade deadline cases in baseball.
Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com mentioned over the weekend that the Cardinals “seem more likely to sell than buy,” and veteran reliever Steven Matz has popped up as one of their biggest trade pieces ahead of the July 31 deadline.
Yes, that Steven Matz — the 34-year-old lefty who began the season as an afterthought and is now pitching like a high-leverage weapon. Matz has found new life in the Cardinals’ bullpen, posting a 3.19 ERA and an elite 2.34 FIP in 42.1 innings pitched.
And that’s what makes him valuable.
“Given all of those factors, the Cardinals’ most intriguing trade candidate is arguably Matz, who is in the final year of a four-year, $44 million deal,” Harrigan wrote. “Initially signed to be a starter, Matz dealt with injuries and had a 4.47 ERA in 197 1/3 innings during the first three years of his deal.”
Cardinals’ Trade Value Is Limited
Matz is in the final year of a four-year, $44 million deal that once looked like a sunk cost. Now, he’s looking like a Swiss Army knife for contenders. He can give you two innings, and can even start in a pinch. That kind of versatility matters a lot in October.
The Cardinals aren’t exactly stocked with obvious trade pieces. Nolan Arenado is hitting just .241 with a .707 OPS and has a complicated contract situation. Sonny Gray has pitched well, but he owns a full no-trade clause and has given no indication he’s eager to waive it.
Pending free agents like Ryan Helsley, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas are possible trade chips, but none of them scream impact arm. Not right now.
Matz, then, represents the logical move. Trading him isn’t throwing in the towel. It’s simply making a smart, value-based decision on a player who is peaking at exactly the right time.
Big-Market Contenders Have Been Put On Notice
Teams like the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies or Los Angeles Dodgers all make sense. They’re built for October, but they’re also hunting depth. Not everyone can grab the marquee closer or the frontline starter.
Those that separate themselves in the postseason often do so because of the guys who bridge the gap — the sixth-inning arms, the versatile lefties and the ones who can clean up a mess and give you a clean frame. Matz can be that guy.
To extract real value in return, St. Louis will likely have to eat some of the remaining money Matz’s deal. It’s not an overwhelming amount, but in today’s trade climate, salary flexibility can be the difference between a marginal prospect and one with real upside.
If the Cardinals are willing to pay down some of the contract, they could reposition Matz as a premium bullpen rental. And frankly, he’s not part of St. Louis’ long-term core anyway. How much longer will they overperform in the way that they have been?
It’s the quiet deals that sometimes make the biggest mark on a season. The 11-year vet has become one of the best under-the-radar trade chips in baseball.
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