Four Cardinals Stars Reportedly Won't Be Traded As Club Considers Trade Deadline Firesale

It sounds like the Cardinals are turning their focus to the 2024 campaign

The St. Louis Cardinals have been a major disappointment this season but that doesn't mean the club is prepared to blow up its roster. 

St. Louis has won seven out of its last 10 games but still is 11 games under .500 at 44-55. The Cardinals would need an unprecedented hot streak to get back in the postseason race and they are running out of time. The 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is just under two weeks away and it seems more and more likely that St. Louis will turn its focus to the 2024 campaign and deal some of its veterans. 

Although the Cardinals will be sellers at the trade deadline, four players that reportedly aren't going anywhere are infielders Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado and outfielders Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale.

"They will keep infield cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, and outfielders Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar, try to build around them this winter and hope that they are back to the Cardinals Way in 2024," Nightengale said.

Goldschmidt, Arenado, and Nootbaar all have found their names in trade rumors at various points this season but it sounds like they aren't going anywhere. Walker seemingly has been untouchable in trade talks all season and hasn't found his name in rumors much. Goldschmidt and Arenado both have made headlines as plenty of teams likely would be interested in the star duo, but St. Louis is loaded with talent and should be much better in 2024 if the club can sort out the starting rotation. 

There are sure to be some Cardinals players on the move, but it sounds like the core is staying intact. 

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