Sep 6, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (21) digs for second base in a game against the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

Cardinals Outfielder at Center of Intriguing Royals Trade Speculation

Originally posted on St. Louis Cardinals on SI
By Zach Pressnell | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 2:04 PM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals have made four massive trades this offseason to push their team toward the rebuild that they've been needing to commit to. These four trades, that sent Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Willson Contreras to contending teams, pair well with the Cardinals decision to trade three relievers at the trade deadline last year. Their rebuild is off to a huge start with their farm system trending in the right direction.

But they might not be done making trades yet.

CBS Sports' Mike Axisa recently put together a list of trade candidates heading into this season, including Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar. Axisa suggested the Kansas City Royals could be a fit in a big trade for Nootbaar.

Lars Nootbaar could be the perfect trade target for the Royals

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

"New POBO Chaim Bloom had an active offseason and moved nearly every veteran on the St. Louis roster (Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Sonny Gray, etc.)," Axisa wrote. "Only Nootbaar remains, possibly because he had double heel surgery early in the offseason. He has never fully launched and lived up to the terrific contact quality numbers (exit velocity, etc.), though Nootbaar is a very good and very valuable player, one who is under team control for two seasons.

"He can hit leadoff and play center field in a pinch, and you needn't try hard to convince yourself there's upside beyond the near .800 OPS he's posted throughout his career. As with most players in this post, the question is not will Nootbaar get traded, but when. (That also applies to rental lefty reliever JoJo Romero. The Cardinals will move him soon enough.) Early possible landing spots: Diamondbacks, Mets, Royals"

Nootbaar is coming off a double heel surgery, which makes him a bit of a risk to acquire for the Royals, but Kansas City could take the risk on an affordable deal.

For the Cardinals, it would be best to wait until Nootbaar is healthy and producing at the big-league level again before trading him away. This could result in the Cardinals landing more prospect capital for Nootbaar than they would if they traded him soon.

Either way, the Royals need another outfielder and Nootbaar could be the perfect addition. They added Isaac Collins in a trade with the Brewers. Adding Nootbaar, too, would bolster the outfield on a roster that has a loaded infield and loaded pitching staff.

This article first appeared on St. Louis Cardinals on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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