Cardinals Seek Trade for Reliever Romero Before Opening Day

St. Louis looks to capitalize on JoJo Romero's high trade value as a lefty reliever.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 2:35am

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The St. Louis Cardinals have had an active offseason, trading away several key players like Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Brendan Donovan. However, the team is still looking to make one more move before Opening Day, with reports indicating they may trade veteran reliever JoJo Romero to the Boston Red Sox, who are in the market for a left-handed bullpen arm.

Why it matters

Romero had a breakout 2025 season with a 2.07 ERA, and the Cardinals may want to capitalize on his high trade value before he potentially leaves as a free agent after the 2026 season. The Red Sox, who have dealt with a lack of left-handed relief options, could be an ideal trade partner for St. Louis.

The details

Romero, 29, is coming off a career-best season in 2025 where he posted a 2.07 ERA in 65 appearances for the Cardinals. Prior to that, his best ERA in a season was 3.36 in 2024. The Cardinals have already made several notable trades this offseason, and moving Romero could allow them to bring back value for a player who may depart in free agency after the 2026 campaign.

  • The Cardinals are looking to make this trade before Opening Day in March 2026.
  • Romero is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

The players

JoJo Romero

A 29-year-old left-handed relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who is entering the final year of his contract before becoming a free agent.

Boston Red Sox

A Major League Baseball team that is reportedly in the market for a left-handed relief pitcher to bolster their bullpen after trading away several lefty relievers in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Over the winter, the team dealt away a handful of lefty relievers, including Brennan Bernardino and Chris Murphy while electing not to re-sign Justin Wilson and Steven Matz. That's left the Red Sox without a lot of lefty options to pair with mainstays Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert.”

— Sean McAdam, MassLive.com reporter

What’s next

The Cardinals and Red Sox are expected to continue trade discussions in the coming weeks, with the goal of completing a deal before Opening Day in March 2026.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' active offseason has left them in a position to potentially capitalize on JoJo Romero's high trade value as a left-handed reliever, with the Red Sox emerging as a potential trade partner in need of bullpen help. This move could allow St. Louis to bring back additional assets before Romero potentially departs in free agency.