The Toronto Blue Jays were rumored to be interested in St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero earlier this offseason.
Since then, several developments have taken place for Toronto. The Blue Jays have added Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto, while missing out on Kyle Tucker, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Bo Bichette, who joined the New York Mets. The team has also been linked to Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, though recent reports suggest a reunion with New York is increasingly unlikely.
According to Heavy.com, a potential trade with the Cardinals could allow Toronto to acquire two important players.
Proposed Trade Details
Blue Jays Receive:
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JoJo Romero, RP
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Lars Nootbaar, OF
Cardinals Receive:
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Anthony Santander, DH/OF
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Nathan Lukes, OF
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Bowden Francis, SP
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Johnny King, SP (Prospect)
Under this trade proposal, Toronto would add reliever JoJo Romero and young outfielder Lars Nootbaar. In return, St. Louis would acquire several players who can contribute immediately. Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes provide depth in the outfield, with Santander also able to serve as a designated hitter. Despite a down 2025 campaign, some analysts anticipate a strong rebound from Santander in 2026.
Bowden Francis could slot into the Cardinals’ starting rotation or begin the season in a long-relief role. Johnny King, a left-handed pitcher, primarily worked as a starter during the 2025 season.
How JoJo Romero & Lars Nootbaar Benefit the Blue Jays
Although the Blue Jays might already have some infield depth—especially after adding Raphael Lantigua—they could still use a left-handed arm in the bullpen and an upgrade in the outfield.
While neither Nootbaar nor Romero are headline-grabbing names, both offer valuable contributions and are certainly worth considering.
Potential Upgrade Over Jeff Hoffman?
Romero has experience in high-leverage situations throughout his career. In 2025, he notched eight saves in nine chances over his final 24 appearances.
Over the past two seasons, he has tallied 54 holds and nine saves, making him a significant potential boost to the Blue Jays’ bullpen—particularly when compared to the options currently available in Toronto.
In 2024 and 2025, Jeff Hoffman recorded 21 holds and 43 saves, Yimi Garcia had 19 holds and eight saves, Tyler Rogers posted 64 holds and one save, Louis Varland notched 22 holds, and Brendon Little recorded 37 holds and two saves.
Examining Toronto’s bullpen, it’s clear that only Hoffman and Rogers exceeded Romero’s combined total of holds and saves over the past two seasons.
Focusing on Hoffman, in the two years before he became Toronto’s closer, he amassed 31 holds and 11 saves.
Romero has proven himself capable of maintaining leads in high-pressure situations. Much like Hoffman transitioned into a full-time closer last season, Romero should be a strong candidate for a similar role—especially if he joins the Blue Jays.
A Note on Lars Nootbaar
While Nootbaar wasn’t the most dominant hitter in 2025, he still brings meaningful value to the team.
According to Statcast, he led the Cardinals in both chase rate and hard-hit percentage. Last season, he totaled 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, 119 hits, and 24 doubles, along with four stolen bases.
In terms of total hits in 2025, only Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, Ernie Clement, and Alejandro Kirk surpassed Nootbaar.
There’s clearly untapped potential in his swing that award-winning hitting coach David Popkins could help unlock.
Anthony Santander & Nathan Lukes Linked to Trade Talks
In this proposed deal, the primary pieces going to the Cardinals would be Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes.
The Blue Jays would need to create roster space for Lars Nootbaar, making a swap for these two players a logical move. Both Santander and Lukes have been mentioned in trade discussions this offseason and could provide much-needed help for St. Louis.
Regarding Santander, Ben Nicholson-Smith reported in December that his contract may no longer provide the value it once did.
“And speaking of potential trade candidates, Rodriguez wasn’t the only notable player left off the World Series roster,” Nicholson-Smith wrote. “Due to injuries, José Berríos and Anthony Santander didn’t play either. Both are fully capable of bouncing back, but the current deals favor the players, not the Blue Jays. Any trade would likely require Toronto to eat salary or take on another significant contract.”
He added, “While the team’s position on Santander isn’t entirely clear, the broader picture suggests the Blue Jays are focused on improving next year’s roster rather than relying on past performance.”
Nathan Lukes has also been mentioned as a potential trade piece if the Blue Jays were to acquire Kyle Tucker.
“San Francisco’s right fielders struggled last season,” Mike Petriello wrote for MLB.com in December. “And that situation isn’t expected to improve. Possible solutions include trading for Wilyer Abreu, Luis Robert Jr., or perhaps Nathan Lukes, should the Blue Jays bring in a star outfielder.”
Anthony Santander Poised for a Bounce-Back Season
Hitting coach David Popkins recently shared encouraging remarks about Santander during a January 18 episode of the Gate 14 Podcast.
“He has his own strength coach who works closely with him,” Popkins said. “He really knows how to succeed. I’m excited to see him return, make a statement, and remind the league who Anthony Santander is.”
Before a down year with the Blue Jays, Santander had a standout 2024 season, appearing in 155 games and posting 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, 140 hits, and 25 doubles.
With the potential impact of Romero in the bullpen and Nootbaar in the outfield, this trade proposal could be a strong fit for Toronto. In return, the Cardinals receive plenty of value with Santander, Lukes, Francis, and King.
If the Blue Jays are serious about acquiring Romero, this deal could be the ideal way to add him to their roster.
