The St. Louis Cardinals have begun work on their rebuild for the future. 2026 is likely not going to be the prettiest of seasons at Busch Stadium, but the future is at least looking much brighter than it has in years.
This season is going to be a very important one for Nolan Gorman, who has been given the starting job at third base after the trade of Nolan Arenado. Gorman needs to prove he can cut down on his strikeouts, or he may end up on the trade block at the end of the year.
Mark Powell of FanSided listed several potential trade candidates for this season. Gorman was one of them, and the Detroit Tigers were named the best possible landing spot.
“Whatever Nolan Gorman has been doing the last two seasons, he needs to try the opposite,” Powell wrote. “The once-promising third base prospect is still an above-average player defensively, but just barely. His OPS has dipped below .700 each of the last few seasons.
“Gorman should have a runway at third base for the Cardinals this season. They’re going nowhere fast, and Chaim Bloom wants to see which players he can build around. However, should Bloom choose to move forward without Gorman, there are plenty of teams in need of a third base upgrade – including the Detroit Tigers.”
Nolan Gorman could be a fit for Detroit Tigers
Gorman has shown a lot more power at the plate this spring and is hitting much better. The Cardinals’ slugger has even said that he feels confident with his approach at the plate and that it is helping him deliver better results.
The Cardinals won’t know for sure until the season gets underway if Gorman truly is back to where he was in the first two years of his career. Since hitting 27 home runs in 2023, his bat has fallen silent.
If Gorman gets going, then that could change the trajectory of the Cardinals’ season. If not, he could be a candidate for a change of scenery and could be a solid fit for a team like the Tigers, who do not have a true third baseman at the moment.
Detroit would benefit from filling that spot and allowing Gorman a chance to bounce back from a rough 2025 season. He might just need a new environment with things being the way they are in St. Louis. The Tigers are a true contender and look like a strong team entering 2026.
What a trade would mean for Cardinals
Even after trading Brendan Donovan away, the Cardinals still have a ton of left-handed bats. Both JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church are emerging, and it might be good for the Cardinals to cut down on their supply of lefty bats, especially if Gorman struggles at the plate.
2026 is going to be a big year for Gorman. If he can stay healthy and start to drive the ball more, the Cardinals will be in better shape. But if not, fans shouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in another uniform.
St. Louis Cardinals’ Slugger Named Trade Fit for Detroit Tigers