The St. Louis Cardinals are in need of a true superstar if they hope to seriously contend for a World Series in the coming years.
While the team has solid talent across the roster, it lacks that one game-changing player who can dominate a playoff series on his own.
Although there’s still time to find that kind of player, the Cardinals may aim to make a bold move soon to fill the void.
Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants recently floated the idea that the team could pursue Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, either through free agency or a blockbuster trade.
“Ironically, Tucker is expected to be the headliner of the 2025-2026 free agent class,” Gauvain wrote.
“He’s likely to command a contract close to $400 million. He’s an elite outfielder and will still be in his prime at 29, giving any team that signs him several peak years.”
Tucker certainly fits the superstar mold, but the Cardinals would have to beat out several powerhouse franchises in free agency.
Historically, St. Louis has leaned on trades to bring in star talent—like Matt Holliday, Paul Goldschmidt, and Nolan Arenado—something new president Chaim Bloom might have to replicate if he wants to land a player of Tucker’s caliber.
However, the idea has serious flaws. First, it’s highly unlikely the Cubs would ever trade a star like Tucker to a division rival.
Second, the Cardinals would be hard-pressed to compete financially with heavyweights like the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, or Dodgers.
In today’s MLB, big-market teams tend to dominate free agency, leaving smaller markets like St. Louis at a disadvantage.
Even if Tucker signed elsewhere, the chances of the Cardinals trading for him later are slim.
A team like the Yankees wouldn’t hand out a massive deal only to trade the player away shortly after—that kind of move just doesn’t add up.
