Cardinals predicted to cut ties with, put .300 AVG breakout slugger on trade block after MVP-level start to 2026 season

Cardinals predicted to cut ties with, put .300 AVG breakout slugger on trade block after MVP-level start to 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rather weird start to 2026, as they were planning on starting their rebuild, yet they find themselves with an above .500 record of 6-5. This success is mostly in part to Jordan Walker, who is finally having his breakout season.

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However, just because they are seeing short-term success with Walker, doesn’t mean they should try to continue on with it. FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes so as well, and urges the Cards to put Walker on the trade block while his stock is at an all-time high.

“Jordan Walker was 20 years old when he made his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023. After a strong rookie season, he put together back-to-back negative fWAR campaigns and started to feel like a lost cause. And yet, he's still 23 years old, younger than a lot of top prospects puttering around the Minor Leagues. It would appear that St. Louis' patience — their reluctance to trade or abandon ship — has paid off…Walker always had the tools for stardom. He's a preposterous athlete, with a body builder's physique and a track star's speed. If he's suddenly using those tools to their full capacity, St. Louis might have its franchise cornerstone. And yet, there's so much baked-in distrust with Walker at this point, which means this could be the last time his trade value peaks in a meaningful way. Walker was basically a toxic asset a year ago. If the swing flattens and his home run power vanishes, St. Louis will regret not taking advantage of this brief (if not necessarily sustainable) renaissance,” Kline wrote.

So far this season, Walker is slashing .300/364/.650/1.014 with two doubles, four home runs, and 11 RBI in 11 games. Combine that with the fact he still has multiple years of team control, and he could fetch a pretty penny for the Cardinals.

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If the Cardinals are truly committed to rebuilding, then it might really be time to shop Walker. If they can land multiple top prospects for a guy that has been shaky for years, it would be a major win.

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