With the St. Louis Cardinals just beginning their rebuild, nearly anyone on their roster could be had for trade. However, the Cardinals must still find a core to build their franchise around.
First baseman Alec Burleson is sure to hear his name plenty in trade talks. But St. Louis would be wise to consider holding onto him for the long haul, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic argues.
“First baseman Alec Burleson, 27, is one of the Cardinals’ more senior homegrown players, and probably the one with the most trade value,” Rosenthal wrote. “At the end of the season, Burleson will be under club control for only two more years, the same position Brendan Donovan was in when the Cardinals sent him to the Mariners in February.”
“No player is untouchable, especially for a rebuilding club,” he continued. “But Burleson is one of the Cardinals’ better hitters, and one of their leaders along with shortstop Masyn Winn. The same, of course, could have been said of Donovan. But at some point the Cardinals will need to retain a few veterans. Even if they resist signing Burleson to an extension, they need not be in a rush to trade him.”
The Cardinals will certainly listen to any trade offers for Burleson. But with two years of team control remaining, they may opt to have him be a focal point of their lineup instead. Of course, St. Louis is prioritizing their future. But Burleson offers the current version of the Cardinals plenty of value.
Over his five years in St. Louis, the first baseman has hit .268 with 50 home runs, 197 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. After being named a Silver Slugger in 2025, Burleson has begun his 2026 campaign hitting .259 with two home runs, 11 RBIs and a stolen base over 15 games.
The Cardinals have plenty of decisions to make about their roster. Whether or not Burleson is traded will change the trajectory of their future.
With the St. Louis Cardinals just beginning their rebuild, nearly anyone on their roster could be had for trade. However, the Cardinals must still find a core to build their franchise around. First baseman Alec Burleson is sure to hear his name plenty in trade talks. But St.