With the St. Louis Cardinals set to miss the postseason again, attention in St. Louis has already shifted toward 2026. The front office is expected to continue its youth movement rather than spend heavily this winter, creating the possibility of more veteran departures.
Nolan Arenado is likely to be moved, as the veteran third baseman has expressed a desire to finish his career with a contender. Ace Sonny Gray may also waive his no-trade clause for a shot at October baseball elsewhere. Miles Mikolas, who previously held a no-trade clause, is headed for free agency. That leaves one prominent veteran still under contract with trade protection: Willson Contreras.
The question is whether Contreras, who signed a five-year deal with St. Louis before the 2023 season, could become the next veteran to exit. While there have been no reports of Contreras asking out, his situation has grown complicated as the club pivots toward younger players.
After beginning his tenure with the Cardinals behind the plate, Contreras has shifted primarily to first base. That position, however, is getting crowded. Alec Burleson has made strides at the big league level, while recently acquired prospect Blaze Jordan is expected to push for a roster spot soon. Behind the plate, St. Louis has a wave of young catchers — Jimmy Crooks, Leandro Bernal and Raniel Rodriguez — while Ivan Herrera has already shown promise in the majors.
Herrera’s emergence makes the logjam especially clear, having struggled defensively at catcher. In 31 fewer games and 122 fewer plate appearances this season, Herrera nearly matched Contreras’ production, trailing him by just one home run and 14 RBIs. Herrera also posted higher averages in batting, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS, all while providing more defensive flexibility.
If Arenado and Gray depart this winter, Contreras could face a choice: stay in the middle of a rebuild or seek a trade to a contender. And for the Cardinals, moving Contreras might clear the way for Herrera or Burleson to claim full-time roles at their natural positions, aligning with the youth movement that has already begun to reshape the roster.
