The St. Louis Cardinals made three trades ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, reshaping both their roster and farm system. In a deal with Arizona, St. Louis sent outfielder Lars Nootbaar west and received right-handed pitcher Daniel Eagen, left-handed reliever Sandro Santana, and a player to be named later. Eagen, Arizona’s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, leads all Diamondbacks minor leaguers in strikeouts this year. Santana, age 21, has excelled in relief with a 2.14 ERA and a low opponent batting average between High-A and Double-A.
The Cardinals also traded pitchers Dustin May and JoJo Romero to Milwaukee, landing outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale. Frias, 18, ranks among baseball’s Top 100 prospects and tore up the Arizona Complex League before moving to Single-A, where he remains the youngest player in the Carolina League. Ragsdale, 22, is known for his power-speed combo, hitting 19 home runs and stealing 31 bases across two minor league levels this season.
St. Louis looked to bolster its bullpen by acquiring veteran reliever Caleb Ferguson from Cincinnati in exchange for international cap space. Ferguson, a lefty with eight years of big-league experience, has appeared with several teams, including the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Pirates, Mariners, and Reds. This season, he posted a 4.01 ERA in 26 games for Cincinnati after returning from injury.
These moves signal a focus on both immediate pitching help and long-term outfield depth. The Cardinals bet on high-upside prospects and a steady veteran to keep the team competitive, while giving up established major league talent and cap resources. How will these changes shape the rest of the Cardinals’ season and their future roster? Fans will watch closely as the new faces join the organization and begin to make an impact.
