The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of baseball’s most surprising teams this season. After committing to a rebuild over the winter, the Cardinals have exceeded expectations so far. They are in the thick of the playoff race, which has led many to wonder whether the team will buy or sell at the trade deadline. Well, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has given us an answer, and it is that the team is expected to trade pitchers Dustin May and JoJo Romero at the trade deadline.
Cardinals Expected to Trade May and Romero
Sunday Notebook: Tarik Skubal trade will require major MLB deadline bravery just like CC Sabathia 18 years ago. Who’s in? https://t.co/OS6W9VZdpc
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 7, 2026
The May and Romero news is mentioned at the end of an article focused on the 2008 C.C. Sabathia trade. Nightengale ends his article with some news from around the league.
Split Reaction Likely
This news will likely have split reactions among Cardinal fans. Some will be glad to hear the organization is staying the course of the rebuild, while others will want to see the team stay together for a hopeful playoff push.
Of course, there is still about two months between now and the trade deadline. Things could change, changing the minds of the organization and the fans. For now, Chaim Bloom appears set to stay the course.
May’s Season, Value, and Return
May has made 12 starts for the Cardinals this season. He has a 3-6 record to go with a 4.59 ERA. He has been a serviceable option in the Cardinals’ bullpen, regularly pitching into the sixth inning in each start.
May would be an asset to a contending team. He would slot into the bottom of the rotation. He can be an innings eater who pitches effectively, helping a team save its bullpen late in the season. In a best-of-seven postseason series, May could be a Game 4 starter, which would make him an option to come out of the bullpen in Game 6 or 7. The 28-year-old has a little playoff experience, pitching in seven games for the Los Angeles Dodgers (three starts) during their 2020 run to the World Series championship.
Furthermore, May has a mutual option for the 2027 season. The team that acquires him could, theoretically, have him for an additional season at a reasonable $12.5 million salary.
The Cardinals could get a reasonable return for May. They will not acquire any top prospects by any means, but they could get some interesting pieces and prospects to keep an eye on as the rebuild continues.
Romero’s Season, Value, and Return
Romero has been a strong left-handed option out of the Cardinals’ bullpen. He has posted a 3.54 ERA in 28 games. He has been a reliable option late in the game for the Cardinals, something he would be for his new team.
The value of a strong bullpen in the postseason cannot be overstated. The past two World Series have seen teams fail to hold late leads, ultimately resulting in their defeat. If the Cardinals are shopping Romero, they will have plenty of suitors. The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team that comes to mind, as do the Seattle Mariners.
Romero is a free agent at the end of the season. He could just end up being a rental for the team that trades for him, but given the value he would be bringing, the Cardinals will get a nice return. When the Cardinals traded Ryan Helsley last summer, they acquired three prospects. When they later traded Phil Maton, they got two prospects and some international draft pool money. Given the return for these two bullpen arms, we can expect the Cardinals to acquire a package similar to this.
Tis the Season
It is only June 7th, but this is the time of the season when we start thinking about the plans for the trade deadline. For Bloom, trading valuable pieces for solid returns has been a strong suit. If he goes down that route again, Cardinal fans should be confident in the return they will get.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro- Imagn Images
