The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball history, known for their shrewd trading practices and ability to acquire talent. While free agency plays a role, the Cardinals have long supplemented their roster through trades, frequently targeting players who could help them win both immediately and in the future. Some of their most impactful deals over the decades have shaped multiple World Series championships.
One of the earliest and most consequential trades in Cardinals history came in 1964. With the team struggling, owner Gussie Busch convinced general manager Bing Devine to acquire first baseman Bill White and pitcher Dick Groat from the Philadelphia Phillies. White provided stellar defense and bat at first base for seven seasons in St. Louis while Groat helped stabilize the infield for two years. More importantly, the two veterans helped transform the culture and sparked a renaissance. Within two years, the Cardinals won the World Series in 1964 and 1967.
In the 1980s, the Cardinals made several trades that extended their run of excellence. In 1982, they acquired slugging outfielder Keith Hernandez from the New York Mets for nemesis Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Hernandez blossomed into an MVP and defensive standout, leading the Cards to the 1982 World Series title. Then prior to 1987, they traded prospect Tom Lawless to Oakland for slugger Jack Clark. Clark slammed 35 home runs and drove in 105 runs, powering St. Louis to another World Series championship.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals also acquired starting pitchers who became cornerstones. In 1985, they traded catcher Andy Van Slyke to the Pirates for starter Joaquin Andujar, who went 16-8 with a 2.81 ERA down the stretch. The next summer, they managed another heist by dealing minor leaguers Mark Jackson, Todd Worrell, and Curt Ford to San Diego for John Tudor. Tudor went 21-8 with a 1.93 ERA in 1987 and was instrumental to their title. General manager Dal Maxvill expertly shored up the rotation for years to come.
As the 1990s began, the Cardinals continued finding impact talent via trade. Looking for a third baseman, they acquired the switch-hitting Terry Pendleton prior to 1991 from Atlanta for outfielder Stan Jefferson. Pendleton delivered a monster season, winning NL MVP and helping St. Louis capture another championship. In 1996, faced with payroll cuts, they dealt fan favorite Ray Lankford to San Diego for young starters Andy Benes and Bill Pulsipher. While Pulsipher flamed out, Benes provided stability for several seasons.
Fast forward to the 2000s, when the Cardinals made one of the shrewdest trades in recent memory. Prior to the 2002 Winter Meetings, the Oakland Athletics agreed in principle to send their best players to St. Louis in exchange for minor league prospects. On December 9th, the Cardinals officially acquired star slugger Jim Edmonds from the Angels and ace pitcher Woody Williams from Cincinnati. Most remarkably, they also obtained outfielder Barry Bonds from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Outfielder J.D. Drew and pitcher Jason Simontacchi. However, Commissioner Bud Selig nullified the Bonds trade, outraged the Giants would deal their franchise cornerstone. Nevertheless, Edmonds, Williams, and Drew helped propel St. Louis to the 2004 Wild Card and 2013 World Series championships.
As they entered rebuilds in recent years, the Cardinals have continued to acquire future core players through trades. In 2013, they dealt relievers Edward Mujica and Francis Martes to Miami for young outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna became a two-time All-Star in St. Louis before his departure in 2020. Most impactfully, prior to the 2016 season they sent outfielder Jason Heyward to the Cubs in exchange for pitcher Adam Wainwright and prospect Paul DeJong. DeJong emerged as a star shortstop, helping the Cards reach the 2013 National League Championship Series.
Under John Mozeliak’s leadership as general manager since 2007, the Cardinals have seamlessly sustained their tradition of scouring other teams for undervalued talent. Their latest playoff teams were buoyed by savvy trades, such as acquiring first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from Arizona in 2019 or catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Lance Lynn from Minnesota a year earlier. St. Louis will surely continue bolstering their perennial contender status through shrewd evaluation of other clubs’ farms systems and rosters. For over a century, making impactful trades has defined the Cardinals as relentless competitors who know how to improve even championship-caliber teams. Their front office tenacity has stacked World Series trophies in the Lou.
