RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesSt. Louis Cardinals trade SP Dustin May and LHRP JoJo Romero for (#11) OF Alexander Frias and (#13) OF Josiah Ragsdale
Grade: A
It took a while for Chaim Bloom to get their first deal across the finish line, but boy was it worth the wait.
OF Alexander Frias is a name Cardinals fans are going to know for a long time. At 18 years old, he’s posted a max EV of 117 this season, leading evaluators to believe he has plus-plus raw power, and if the Cardinals can help him make a tiny adjustment to add more loft into his swing, he could be a perennial 30 HR bat. Frias is considered a below-average runner but has exceptional arm strength, making him an ideal RF long-term. MLB Pipeline lists Frias as the Brewers’ number 11 prospect in the system, and Fangraphs had him as number 43 overall in all of baseball in their latest top 100 update. He demolished the FCL this year to the tune of a 1.196 OPS and has a modest .746 OPS against Low-A competition that is advanced for his age. Again, an 18-year-old who would be a High School Senior posting an above .700 OPS at the equivalent of Palm Beach is very impressive.
OF Josiah Ragsdale has made big strides this season from an offensive standpoint. The Brewers’ 7th-round pick in 2025, Ragsdale has posted a 1.127 OPS in his first month of Double-A and has 12 HR at that level ALREADY. A player who was considered a potential big-league 4th outfielder type has flashed offensive upside; 3rd-party evaluators didn’t think Ragsdale was capable of coming into the year has shifted his upside forward in a meaningful way. Ragsdale is considered a 70-grade runner and should be capable of sticking in CF long term.
The Cardinals sent mercenary Dustin May and rental LHRP JoJo Romero to a Milwaukee team that is the class of the division and is looking to fill out its roster fully as it prepares itself for a potentially inevitable clash with the evil empirical villain of MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dustin May slots in as a potential 3-4 starter in a top-heavy Brewers rotation, and JoJo Romero will be a 3rd lefty in their bullpen behind DL Hall and Aaron Ashby. Just as I’ve been saying for months now. JoJo is considered a high-leverage lefty in St. Louis, but he’s not particularly viewed that way across the league; he IS a valuable reliever nonetheless.
Overall, a deal for two rental pitchers in exchange for two outfielders who both have everyday potential (or more with Frias). It’s hard to give this deal anything other than an A, especially considering the path this organization has chosen going forward.
St. Louis Cardinals trade OF Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks for (#5) RHP Daniel Eagan and (#26) Sandro Santana and a PTBNL
Grade: B- tentatively depending on the PTBNL
If Lars were healthy in the offseason, he likely would have been traded then. After only 8 weeks of health, the Arizona Diamondbacks are satisfied with the results, having parted with two of their top 30 arms to acquire him.
RHP Daniel Eagan was a 3rd-round pick in 2024 and fits the mold of the Cardinals player development group, getting a guy with a tall, projectable frame: 6’4 205 lbs, and his delivery features induced vertical break of up to 20 inches. Eagan’s primary offering is a plus curveball that sits in the low 80s and a mid 80’s Gyro slider that flashes above average. Eagan also throws a Splitter that has a chance to be MLB average as an offspeed offering. Eagan has posted a 4.95 ERA this season for Double-A Amarillo, but their park is also known to be a bit of a launching pad, and he has been posting a 4.43 ERA on the road as opposed to a 5.44 ERA at home. Overall, Eagan projects as a number 4 starter in the big leagues when all is said and done.
LHP Sandro Santana is a left-handed relief pitching prospect who has the potential to make his MLB debut as early as next season. Sitting mid 90’s with his fastball, it’s more about deception, arm slot, and placement on the rubber than it is about movement that allows the pitch to get swings and misses. Santana’s true calling card is a 70-grade slider/sweeper that he can work against either-handed hitters to both sides of the plate. He is also developing a changeup as a 3rd viable option. When you watch video of his delivery, it’s hard not to get JoJo Romero vibes.
It has been a rollercoaster experience with Lars Nootbaar, with the injuries he’s dealt with but also the moments of joy and excitement he’s brought over the years and his infectious personality and constant energy. Lars Nootbaar will leave a lasting legacy in Cardinals fans’ eyes of “what if” during an era in which most Cardinals fans will likely be eager to forget years down the road.
The ability to get two near big-league-ready arms within the next 2 seasons that fit the team’s current timeline, and being able to get a reasonable deal done after only 8 healthy weeks of Lars Nootbaar in 2026 when some were uncertain about his big-league career overall is a win. Nothing at present suggests the Cardinals received anything of wow in return for this deal, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a solid return. Thus the deal receives a B- grade with the chance to improve further based on who the PTBNL is.
St. Louis Cardinals acquire LHRP Caleb Ferguson from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 250,000 dollars in International Bonus Pool money.
Grade: B
After JoJo Romero went down with appendicitis and had been out since the All-Star Break, the Cardinals had a clear and existing need for another left-handed option out of the bullpen. They tried to get by with George Soriano, Luis Gastelum, and Justin Bruihl as their counters to lefties, but it has not been a fruitful venture since the break. This acquisition allows the Cardinals an immediate boost to their bullpen that had allowed them to piece together games early in the season. The fact that the Cardinals didn’t have to give up a prospect to fulfill an immediate need down the stretch is a bonus.
Ferguson is primarily a Sinker/...
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