Blue Jays and Cardinals close to agreement on trade for all-star

Feb 9, 2026 (6:47 PM)

Photo credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals are tearing their roster down to the studs, and the Blue Jays have a golden opportunity to steal a high-leverage arm.

St. Louis is in full "everything must go" mode under Chaim Bloom.

They've already shipped out stars like Sonny Gray and Nolan Arenado, signaling a total rebuild.

Now, rumors are swirling that lefty reliever JoJo Romero is the next name on the trading block.

Romero (Acquired via trade in 2022) is coming off a breakout season where he was virtually unhittable.

He posted a sparkling 2.07 ERA over 65 appearances, proving he can handle high-pressure innings.

https://www.si.com/mlb/cardinals/onsi/st-louis-cardinals-news/cardinals-blue-jays-mock-trade-st-louis-sends-star-lefty-to-toronto-zach3

The Blue Jays bullpen has been a sore spot, and finding a reliable southpaw is priority number one.

Toronto's relief corps is heavy on right-handed power arms like Jeff Hoffman and Yimi Garcia.

Adding a lefty with Romero's stuff would give manager John Schneider the matchup flexibility he craves in October.

The proposed cost? A fan favorite, but one who might be the odd man out.

Mock trades suggest sending outfielder Davis Schneider to St. Louis in a one-for-one swap.

It hurts to lose "Babe" Schneider, but his path to playing time is blocked by the arrival of Kazuma Okamoto and others.

Romero is under team control for one more year, making him the perfect "all-in" rental.

General Manager Ross Atkins needs to be aggressive, and this deal checks every single box.

The Cardinals get a young bat with control; the Jays get the shutdown lefty they desperately need.

It’s a painful trade to make emotionally, but it’s the kind of move that wins championships.

Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider

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FEVRIER 9\|401 ANSWERS Blue Jays and Cardinals close to agreement on trade for all-star Would you trade Davis Schneider to get a shutdown lefty reliever like JoJo Romero?
Yes	288	71.8 %
No	113	28.2 %
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