Can Alec Burleson guide Cardinals to contention?

The Cardinals’ Trade Deadline moves were intended to build toward the future, as they acquired high-upside prospects for their next contending window. And yet, despite reported interest around the league in first baseman Alec Burleson, he remained a Cardinal.

That should tell you something about how the Cardinals view Burleson and the growth he’s made since debuting in 2022.

Just hours after finding out he would stay with St. Louis, Burleson stepped into the batter’s box at Yankee Stadium on Monday and did what he’s become so dependable at doing: He mashed. (Three home runs.)

Burleson’s standout performance put an exclamation point on what has been another huge year for the 27-year-old. Year over year, Burleson has improved as a player. Right now, he might just be the best bat on the Cardinals’ roster.

Jordan Walker and Iván Herrera have also made strong cases, but it's hard to argue with the high-end production St. Louis is getting from Burleson this season, coupled with his track record since arriving in the Majors.

Burleson has slashed .287/.351/.480 through 114 games in 2026, good for the 26th-best OPS in baseball (.831). With 28, he's one double shy of the Major League lead held by Miami's Otto Lopez, and he's sixth in RBIs with 77.

Burleson is blending his elite contact skills and ability to avoid strikeouts with big-time damage on the pitches he connects with, making him a very dangerous hitter, especially against right-handed pitching.

Usually sandwiched between Walker and Herrera in the lineup, Burleson ranks second among qualified hitters with 167 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. He’s the perfect complement to the lefty mashers (Walker and Herrera).

Walker, Herrera, and JJ Wetherholt tend to get most of the attention when it comes to the position-player core the Cardinals are building, but Burleson has proven his name should also be firmly in that mix.

While he’s the oldest of that group at 27, Burleson is also arguably the most decorated and has the strongest track record. A 2025 National League Silver Slugger Award winner at the utility spot, Burleson has improved his offensive numbers season after season and has quietly become one of the best first basemen in today’s game. For a team looking to contend at a high level in the next few years, that’s a great building block to have.

First base is a premium position, but having consistent, high-end offense that trends upward matters, too. And having one of the best weapons against right-handed pitching will drive an offense to greater heights.

Even with other talented young bats like catcher Rainiel Rodriguez (St. Louis' No. 1 prospect and the No. 12 prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline), Joshua Báez (St. Louis' No. 3, No. 44 overall) and Leo Bernal (St. Louis' No. 6) on the way, Burleson's steady production should only help the next wave feel less of a burden to carry the offense. He already has the shoulders to do so.

Burleson won’t hit free agency until after the 2028 season, but he could be a candidate for an extension that would buy out some of those free-agent years. The Cardinals' future payroll outlook is fairly fluid right now outside of Wetherholt’s eight-year extension, which gives the club ultimate flexibility to get a deal done.

Meanwhile, Burleson continues to keep finding ways to grow on the field. In doing so, he’ll continue to raise the expectations on this young Cardinals core.