Cardinals expected to trade two pitchers by August 3 deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals are 34-28, very much in contention for a postseason spot in the strong National League Central, as they've got a firm hold of a Wild Card spot.

But, since this is a bit of a surprise for the Cardinals, the 2026 season is not one where Chaim Bloom is going to go all-in. This was meant to be a rebuilding year. And yet, the Cardinals are actually quite good.

So, what will they do at the trade deadline on August 3? USA Today's Bob Nightengale shared that the Cardinals are expected to trade away two pitchers by the deadline later this year, one a reliever and the other a starting pitcher.

Cardinals expected to trade two pitchers

"The Cardinals, in fact, are expected to trade reliever JoJo Romero and starter Dustin May at the trade deadline, providing they slip further back in the wild-card race," Nightengale writes.

While the Cardinals might not be trading either May or Romero right this second, if they slip a bit in the Wild Card hunt, then both might be on the move.

Both pitchers are going to be free agents after the 2026 season, and if the Cardinals do fall a bit in the postseason hunt, then it only makes sense to trade both pitchers.

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May has a 4.59 ERA this season, and took a no-hitter into the seventh-inning against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season.

He might not be as great a starter as some others available for trade, like Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta, but he'd still garner some interest.

Romero is a reliever, and a lefty too. Such pitchers always draw interest at the deadline. He has a 3.54 ERA this season, and would surely have plenty of suitors willing to swing a deal.

Both May and Romero are expected to be traded, assuming the Cardinals slip a bit in the postseason hunt. Shipping both out would make sense, and is something worth keeping tabs on as the August 3 deadline nears.