Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Slugger Linked To Offseason Trade Rumors Amid Strong Campaign

The Cardinals have some big decisions to make...
Zach Pressnell|
Jul 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Alec Burleson (41) celebrates with first baseman Willson Contreras (40) after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jul 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Alec Burleson (41) celebrates with first baseman Willson Contreras (40) after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

In this story:

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have some big decisions to make once this season ends. St. Louis is turning over the president of baseball operations position from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom in the coming months.

With a massive move like this coming, the Cardinals and their fan base should prepare for some bold moves under the new leadership.

Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants recently suggested the Cardinals would look to trade Alec Burleson in the offseason. Burleson is having a solid offensive campaign for the Cardinals.

"However, there is something to be said for defensive viability, and I'm not certain Burleson provides that in the outfield," Gauvain wrote. "A team can have a negative defender in the corner outfield, but he'd better hit exceptionally well to offset his shortcomings in the field.

"Alec Burleson is a strong offensive player, but his defense liabilities and lack of positional versatility make him an expendable player this offseason. He and Ivan Herrera are teetering towards similar defensive profiles, and Herrera is certainly the better offensive player. If Chaim Bloom's goal is to reset the system, trading Alec Burleson for a mid-rotation starting pitcher would go a long way."

The Cardinals have a few players ahead of Burleson at each position he plays. He's not going to be an everyday first baseman because of Willson Contreras. It's hard to imagine him slotting in as the long term designated hitter, either.

In the outfield, he's not solid enough defensively to be worth the hassle.

The Cardinals could extract a lot of value from him in the offseason. With JJ Wetherholt coming up to take over at second base in the near future, Brendan Donovan is likely headed to the outfield. With that also in mind, Burleson is expendable.

Trading him in the coming months makes the most sense for the Cardinals' future.

More MLB: Cardinals Rumors: St. Louis Predicted To Cut Ties With Veteran Ace

Published
Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

Home/St. Louis Cardinals News