What happened: St. Louis moved Jordan Hicks, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery at the 2023 deadline to restock the farm system. The system slipped from 15th to 17th that winter, then to 21st after the 2024 deadline trades involving the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Why it matters: Thomas Saggese and Cesar Prieto graduated from prospect status without securing MLB roles. Injuries stalled Sem Robberse and Drew Rom, while Matt Svanson followed a strong 2025 with a poor 2026 and profiles as fungible relief depth.

What to watch: The next deadline tests whether St. Louis can convert veteran value into durable pipeline talent.