Less than a week from the MLB trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals appear to be clear sellers. Of the team’s potential trade chips, there are a few interesting names like Nolan Arenado and Ryan Helsley. But, they’d be hard to move.
For Katie Woo of The Athletic, the most likely Cardinal to be traded at the MLB trade deadline is a former New York Mets reliever who’s had an impressive season in 2025. That reliever is Phil Maton.
“Maton is a textbook deadline acquisition.” Woo writes, “he’s a two-month rental with a veteran pedigree and ample postseason experience, all things contending teams covet this time of year.”
This season, Maton has been impressive. He has a 2.41 ERA in 39 appearances. Across his 37.1 innings this season, he has 47 strikeouts and 15 walks. He’s also only allowed one home run in his 155 batters faced this season, the best rate of his career.
MORE: MLB insider reveals three relievers Cardinals are most likely to trade
His 173 ERA+ is the highest it’s been in a season for Maton, and his production could lead a team to swing a deal for the 32-year-old right-hander.
Maton will hit free agency after the 2025 season, meaning he’s a true rental. While it may lower his cost compared to some of the top relievers on the market, his performance this season should make for a strong return coming St. Louis’s way.
Regardless of how far the Cardinals go at the deadline, if it’s a full-blown fire sale or a soft sell, Maton is likely to be involved. He’s a stereotypical rental reliever and would make for a solid deadline pickup from a team looking to contend this season.
John Mozeliak and the Cardinals’ front office could move on from Maton at the deadline without any reservations. The veteran journeyman will fetch a solid return at the deadline and is the player most likely to be dealt by St. Louis, according to Woo.
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