With the St. Louis Cardinals offseason grinding to a halt, let’s revisit their best acquisitions through trade of the past 25 years.
While the Cardinals, in recent years, have become notorious for trading away young talent before they’ve been given the chance to develop, there was a time when their front office was known as one of the best in baseball. From acquiring future Hall of Famers to trading for unrecognized prospects, here are five moves made by the Cardinals organization that panned out decidedly in their favor.
The Best Cardinals Trades Since 2000
5. Paul Goldschmidt
The Cardinals made their first blockbuster move in years in 2018, acquiring Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a trio of prospects and a competitive balance draft pick. Two of these prospects, Carson Kelly and Luke Weaver, have gone on to have major-league careers. Yet, none of them have had the impact that Goldschmidt has.
Goldschmidt, upon arriving in St. Louis, immediately solved a leadership vacuum in the clubhouse. His stellar offensive and defensive play, culminating in his 2022 MVP campaign, cemented him as a fan favorite.
The acquisition of Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies in 2021 helped found a new era in Cardinals baseball. Arenado and Goldschmidt’s tenure marked one of the most exciting periods in Cardinals baseball this century.
While it did not ultimately equate to playoff success, Goldschmidt’s time with the Cardinals will be remembered fondly for years to come.
Paul Goldschmidt simply refuses to stop hitting home runs. 😅
NL MVP favorite?
(via @BallySportsMW)pic.twitter.com/WcLfN3fXgB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 15, 2022
4. Jim Edmonds
After seven years with the team, the then-Anaheim Angels traded Jim Edmonds, an all-time defensive center fielder, to the Cardinals. In the deal, the Cardinals relinquished starting pitcher Kent Bottenfield and second baseman Adam Kennedy.
Due to a number of problems in the Angels’ clubhouse, the Cardinals got a steal. Edmonds, at the time, was firmly in his prime and helped push the Cardinals teams of the early 2000s toward greatness.
In eight seasons with the Cardinals, he was a three-time All-Star and a six-time Gold Glove Award winner. He also excelled offensively, posting a .285 average and a .947 OPS as a Cardinal.
While Edmonds is not in the Hall of Fame, one can certainly make the case that he should be. His prowess at his position and at the plate has cemented him in Cardinals history.
OTD: 07/16/04
Jim Edmonds makes an unbelievable catch, stealing a homer away from Jason LaRue 😤 pic.twitter.com/FjYJRhx9f0
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) July 16, 2024
3. David Freese
Coincidentally, at the end of his tenure with the Cardinals, Edmonds was traded to the San Diego Padres for the next player on this list. David Freese, a relatively unknown prospect at the time, was a St. Louis native and considered a low-level prospect within the organization.
Through five seasons with the Cardinals, Freese hit .286 with a .783 OPS. However, perhaps no Cardinals player has had bigger moments during their tenure with the team.
His massive performances during the 2011 postseason landed the Cardinals their most unlikely World Series win in franchise history. He won both NLCS and World Series MVP that year, and his clutch hits against the Texas Rangers in Games 6 and 7 of the Fall Classic are among the best moments in Cardinals history.
Happy Birthday to 2011 World Series MVP, David Freese 🫡🎉
I still wholeheartedly believe he should have a red jacket pic.twitter.com/uklxpTQ1Yp
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) April 28, 2024
2. Scott Rolen
After a contract dispute, the Philadelphia Phillies were forced to trade their star player, Scott Rolen, to the St. Louis Cardinals. While the Phillies received a solid package in return, including infielder Plácido Polanco, Rolen became one of the biggest acquisitions for the Cardinals this century.
Rolen had already won Rookie of the Year in 1997. He was also a three-time Gold Glover by the time of the trade. In five full seasons with the Cardinals, Rolen was a four-time All-Star. During his tenure, he hit for a .286 average and a .879 OPS with 453 RBI. He capped his tenure with the Cardinals through his role in their 2006 World Series Championship. He ultimately represented the Cardinals upon his induction to the Hall of Fame.
OTD: 10/14/04
Scott Rolen hits two home runs for the Cardinals in their 6-4 win over the Astros in Game 2 of the 2004 NLCS pic.twitter.com/EhchGyIwdX
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) October 14, 2024
1. Adam Wainwright
Perhaps the most legendary Cardinals pitcher of this century, Adam Wainwright‘s lengthy tenure in the major leagues was entirely with St. Louis. Through 18 seasons with his battery mate, Yadier Molina, Wainwright posted a 3.53 ERA and 2,202 strikeouts.
Yet, the staple of the Cardinals franchise was first drafted by a different team: his hometown Atlanta Braves.
Wainwright was largely an afterthought in the Braves’ trade for outfielder J.D. Drew.
However, his durability and ability to locate pitches quickly elevated him to the Cardinals’ pitching staff. He closed out the final game of the 2006 World Series and was in Cy Young Award contention by his fifth year. He was in the top three of Cy Young voting three times in his career and will go down as one of the best pitchers in recent major league history.
While Wainwright is not the most flashy player on this list, the value he contributed to the Cardinals organization cements him as the most impactful acquisition through trade of the last 25 years.
OTD: 10/19/06
Yadier Molina’s home run in the ninth inning gives the Cardinals a 9th inning lead in Game 7. Adam Wainwright comes in and strikes out Carlos Beltran looking on three pitches for the final out as the Cardinals advance to the 2006 World Series. pic.twitter.com/3GvuCPANUZ
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) October 19, 2024
Photo Credit: © Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
