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Joe Ryan leaves Twins game.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises this season so far. After entering the season with low expectations from many as rebuilders, the Cardinals currently have an impressive 25-18 record and hold the second wild card spot in the National League. With this, there is no question that the Cardinals’ start to the campaign has been a success.

Due to how well the Cardinals are playing so far this campaign, it is fair to wonder if management could reward the team by adding to their roster between now and the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. They should be open to bringing in new players if they have the potential to benefit them beyond this season.

Because of this, the Cardinals are now being viewed as a potential trade destination for one of baseball’s top trade candidates at this point in the season.

Cardinals Named Dark-Horse Landing Spot for Twins Star Pitcher Joe Ryan

In a recent article for FanSided, Chris Landers named one dark-horse trade destination for each of baseball’s top trade candidates. Among the players who Landers discussed was Minnesota Twins star pitcher Joe Ryan.

When it came to Ryan, Landers named the Cardinals as a potential trade destination for the 6-foot-2 righty.

“At what point do we start taking this Cardinals team seriously? Even if they don’t manage to keep pace with the Cubs atop the NL Central, I don’t really see a reason why they can’t take one of the Wild Card spots given just how wide-open the National League race is right now. And that would be especially true if they added one no-doubt, frontline arm — someone like Ryan, who appears to have put his elbow scare behind him and whose fly ball-heavy approach would make him a great fit for Busch Stadium,” Landers wrote.

With the Cardinals needing another star pitcher in their rotation, it would make a lot of sense if they tried to swing a deal for Ryan. He would give their rotation a significant boost if acquired and would be more than a rental for St. Louis, as he is under team control over the end of next season. This undoubtedly adds to his appeal.

Ryan has had a strong start to the 2026 season as well, as evidenced by his 3.43 ERA in nine appearances. This is after he had a 13-10 record and a 3.42 ERA in 31 appearances last season as an All-Star for the Twins. With numbers like these, he would be a major pickup for the Cardinals if acquired.

Cardinals Heading Into Deadline as Fascinating Team to Watch

While the Cardinals entered this season as rebuilders, it is fair to wonder if they could change their plans a bit with how this season has gone. If they continue to play well down the stretch, perhaps they could look to upgrade some areas on their roster. Because of this, they are an interesting team to keep an eye on as we get closer to the deadline.

The idea of them swinging a trade for Ryan is a fascinating one, and it will be intriguing to see if they do just that from here.