What happened: Trade speculation is intensifying around St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar as the Tampa Bay Rays search for left-handed offensive impact. Nootbaar recently returned to the Cardinals' lineup on June 5 after a lengthy recovery from offseason surgery on both heels, appearing in five games since his activation.
Why it matters: While the Cardinals are in the thick of the NL Wild Card race, Nootbaar remains a highly coveted trade chip due to his high on-base skills and team control through 2027. For the first-place Rays, adding a versatile bat like Nootbaar would lengthen a lineup currently leading a competitive AL East division battle with the Yankees.
By the numbers: Nootbaar is batting .200 with one home run and four RBIs in his first 15 at-bats of 2026. The Cardinals enter the week at 37-28, while the Rays lead the AL East with a 40-25 record and a 91% projected chance to reach the postseason.
What to watch: Observers will monitor Nootbaar’s performance and health over the coming weeks as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.