Cardinals Have Little Reason to Trade Winn or Burleson
On November 3, the St. Louis Cardinals faced offseason speculation about trading Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson, but both appear positioned to remain key parts of the team’s rebuilding roster.
St. Louis entered the offseason with a younger roster and a farm system strengthened during president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom’s first year. The Cardinals traded Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan in 2026, yet finished only one win below their previous season’s total. With progress underway, the club could focus on smaller additions, particularly in the bullpen and the back of its rotation.
Trade speculation has instead put first baseman Alec Burleson and shortstop Masyn Winn in the conversation as potential assets. One argument for moving Burleson is that a rebuilding team could sell while his value is high, before he approaches free agency after the 2028 season. Winn’s weaker offense has also prompted questions about his fit.
Burleson hit 26 home runs and drove in a league-leading 116 runs across 160 games in 2026. He is viewed as an important, productive piece rather than an obvious trade candidate.
Winn struggled at the plate during a season when he was not fully healthy for part of the year, but remained a standout defender at shortstop. At 24, he has time to improve offensively, and the Cardinals do not have a clear replacement ready at the position. JJ Wetherholt could move to shortstop, but that would leave a question at second base; Jesus Baez may offer another option when he is ready for the majors.
Both players remain under team control, giving St. Louis reason to keep them as potential core contributors rather than trade them this offseason.