The St. Louis Cardinals have taken an aggressive but unconventional approach this offseason, prioritizing long-term roster building over immediate big-league upgrades.
Unlike teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets, who have spent heavily to add proven talent at the major league level, the Cardinals have opted to trade some of their most recognizable stars in order to strengthen their farm system and set themselves up for sustained success in the years ahead.
Notable departures include Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, and Sonny Gray, moves that initially disappointed fans but ultimately netted a haul of prospects that could position St. Louis as one of the league’s deepest organizations in terms of young talent.
The next potential domino could be outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who is currently recovering from offseason double heel surgery.
Timing will be crucial for the Cardinals if they decide to trade him, as moving Nootbaar now would be a low-risk way to preserve his trade value.
Waiting until he returns from injury could backfire—if he struggles early in the season, his market value could decline significantly.
While Nootbaar’s current trade value is somewhat limited due to his injury, it still represents an opportunity for St. Louis to extract meaningful talent in return, making now an ideal time to explore potential deals.
The New York Mets appear to be a natural landing spot for Nootbaar. The team has struggled with consistency in the outfield in recent seasons, as Luis Robert Jr. has yet to produce at a fully reliable level despite his defensive prowess, and Tyrone Taylor failed to make a significant impact last year.
Adding Nootbaar to a Mets outfield rotation that could include Taylor and other pieces would immediately improve depth, give the team more flexibility, and allow the Mets to implement a four- or five-outfielder rotation with Juan Soto as the only everyday starter.
The proposed trade scenario would send Nootbaar to New York in exchange for two top prospects: outfielder Nick Morabito and right-handed pitching prospect Brendan Girton.
From the Cardinals’ perspective, acquiring Morabito and Girton would significantly enhance their farm system. Morabito, ranked as the No. 13 prospect in the Mets organization according to MLB Pipeline, had a solid 2025 season in Double-A, slashing .273/.348/.385 after posting back-to-back seasons with an OPS over .800. Girton, meanwhile, is a high-upside right-handed pitching prospect who, despite some control issues typical of young pitchers, offers potential depth and long-term upside in the Cardinals’ system.
Together, these two prospects would reinforce an already strong minor league setup and ensure that the Cardinals remain competitive in the coming years while developing future stars for the big-league roster.
Ultimately, the potential Nootbaar-Morabito/Girton trade represents a classic example of the Cardinals’ current strategy: making calculated moves that may not generate immediate headlines or big-league fireworks, but that strategically position the organization for long-term success.
The Mets gain a proven MLB outfielder to stabilize their outfield, while the Cardinals continue to build a deep, talented farm system that can pay dividends for years to come.
With both teams having clear incentives, a deal involving Nootbaar seems both plausible and mutually beneficial.
