Cardinals could target Athletics slugger to bolster offense for 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals sit a game above the .500 mark with 17 games remaining on their schedule. Their offense has been the main culprit of their struggles this season, and it stands to reason why they will likely fall short of the postseason.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted in his recent Cardinals chat that if the Cardinals are going to add a big bat from outside the organization, which is certainly a need for 2025, they will likely do it via trade rather than free agency.

Thomas Gauvain of FanSided listed Oakland Athletics slugger Brent Rooker as a possible fit on Twitter.

Rooker would be the exact kind of bat the Cardinals need if they want to bolster their lineup. The 29-year-old slugger is hitting .299 with 35 home runs, 101 RBI, eight stolen bases, and a .948 OPS on the season.

Paul Goldschmidt is likely to depart in free agency, even after a hot month of September, so the Cardinals are obviously going to have to replace him. Rooker might just be the right fit.

However, it's important to note that he will cost a lot in a potential trade, and the Cardinals don't always make big blockbuster deals if it's going to cost them several young players. Oakland's asking price is going to be very high.

But it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals decide to pursue Rooker as a trade target this coming offseason in an attempt to create a better offense for 2025.

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