The report added Cardinals officials are "exceptionally high" on Herrera's bat and "don't feel particularly inclined" to trade him right now. Since becoming a full-time player at the MLB level in 2024, Herrera has played more games at DH (168) than catcher (120). Among 41 catchers with at least 350 defensive innings this season, Herrera ranks 39th in FanGraphs' defensive value. This is a situation where both the Cardinals and opposing teams are right to take a strong stance. Plus, Herrera won't hit arbitration until next season, so any team he is on will have three more years of team control beyond the 2026 campaign.