Here's who Phillies should target in trade talks with payroll-shedding Cardinals

The Major League Baseball offseason is underway. Teams can begin to sign free agents and players can be traded.

The GM Meetings are taking place through Nov. 7 in San Antonio. This is an opportunity for general managers to discuss many things such as negotiating trades or laying out the groundwork for potential trades at a later date. The Winter Meetings are typically when deals are made and rumors swirl more than ever. This year’s Winter Meetings will be held from Dec. 9-12.

Here's who Phillies should target in trade talks with payroll-shedding Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to shed payroll and prioritize youth this offseason. The Cardinals have a 154-170 record over the previous two years, including a last-place finish in the NL Central in 2023. 

The Philadelphia Phillies could look into the availability of certain players at positions of need on the Cardinals roster. There are two outfielders and three pitchers who could be of interest to Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office.

RHP Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley is a two-time All-Star for the Cardinals with his most recent selection in 2024. He started his career a little shaky until something clicked in 2022.

Helsley took over as the Cardinals closer and was selected to his first All-Star Game. He finished the season with a 1.25 ERA and 19 saves. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 2.45 ERA with 14 saves in 2023 and a 2.04 ERA with 49 saves and 79 strikeouts in 2024.

The 30-year-old would give the Phillies a dominant late-inning reliever with Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez both on the open market. Helsley will be a free agent in 2026.

OF Lars Nootbaar

Lars Nootbaar is a left-handed hitting corner outfielder who can play all three outfield positions. The 27-year-old slashed .244/.342/.417 with a .759 OPS, 18 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 2024. He notably hit .274 against left-handed pitching.

Nootbaar is under team control through 2027 and would provide the Phillies with good outfield depth.

OF Brendan Donovan

Brendan Donovan is another left-handed hitting corner outfielder on the Cardinals. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and was awarded a Gold Glove for his above-average defense.

Donovan has experience playing left field, right field, second base, third base, shortstop and first base at the major league level. He has the most experience in left field and second base, but the Cardinals used him primarily in left field in 2024.

The 27-year-old slashed .278/.342/.417 with a .759 OPS, 34 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs and 73 RBI in 2024. He’s under team control through 2027.

LHP Steven Matz

Steven Matz is a familiar name for Phillies fans. He spent the first six years of his career as a starting pitcher for the New York Mets.

Matz didn’t live up to expectations with the Mets and moved on to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 where he had arguably the best season of his career. He owned a 14-7 record with a 3.82 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 29 starts.

The 33-year-old left-hander spent the last three years with the Cardinals. He’s been used as both a starter and reliever and missed most of the 2024 season with back issues. Matz is heading into the final year of a four-year, $44 million contract.

LHP John King

John King began his career with the Texas Rangers before being acquired by the Cardinals during the 2023 season. The change of scenery helped him.

King finished the 2023 season with a 1.45 ERA and 10 holds with just one home run allowed in 18 2/3 innings pitched with the Cardinals. The left-handed reliever posted a 2.85 ERA with nine holds in 60 innings pitched in 2024.

The 30-year-old is under team control through 2027 and would give the Phillies another reliable lefty out of the bullpen.

Making the case for a Phillies-Cardinals trade

The Phillies could pick up the phone and make a call about any of these players on the Cardinals. The two biggest areas of need heading into 2025 are corner outfield and pitching.

Juan Soto might not be a reality in free agency. Dombrowski might strike out on finding pitching help. If the Cardinals are willing to listen to offers on Helsley, Nootbaar, Donovan, Matz or King, then the Phillies should express interest.

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