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The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves with an abundance of catching talent, and according to a report, rival clubs are already expressing interest in at least one of their backstops this offseason.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that the Cardinals have fielded trade interest in their catchers, and Jimmy Crooks is a player to keep an eye on. Goold explained that with fewer free-agent catchers available than teams looking to add one, the Cardinals are receiving inquiries about their depth. The club has committed to rookie Leo Bernal as its starter and views Pedro Pages as a dependable backup who has earned the pitching staff's trust. Other teams are showing interest in Crooks, a left-handed hitting prospect, as well as in the presence Pages provides behind the plate.
Why Crooks Makes Sense as a Trade Chip
Crooks has yet to find his footing offensively in the majors, but his upside remains significant. With a thin free-agent market for catchers, St. Louis could capitalize on that demand. At just 25 years old, Crooks was ranked as the Cardinals' No. 4 prospect in 2025. Over the past two seasons, he has appeared in only 67 major league games—not nearly enough to draw a definitive conclusion. In that limited action, he batted .168 with six home runs. By contrast, in 2026 at Triple-A, Crooks played 52 games and slashed .300/.432/.574 with a 1.006 OPS, 15 home runs, and 38 RBIs. The talent is clearly there; what he needs is an opportunity.
That opportunity may not come in St. Louis, where the organization is deep behind the plate and Bernal is viewed as a rising star. Additionally, top prospect Rainiel Rodriguez is also in the pipeline. However, another team could certainly use Crooks, and a trade might be the best outcome for both parties. If the Cardinals can flip him for a prospect at a position of lesser strength, it would be a wise move. St. Louis has done well to add pitching prospects in recent years, but pitching depth is always in demand. If a club is willing to part with a high-end pitching prospect—or even a big-league arm—that would be ideal for the Cardinals.
Crooks possesses plenty of talent, and Cardinals fans should keep an eye on his development as the offseason unfolds.