MLB mailbag: Jackson Chourio ceiling and Cardinals third base
Steve Adams' August MLB mailbag tackles the Cardinals' third-base crisis, Jackson Chourio's ceiling, and Cade Cavalli's breakout. Chourio enters late August batting .282 with 19 homers and 14 steals for the 84-51 Brewers, including a 4-for-5, two-homer night Thursday—fueling the ceiling debate as Milwaukee pushes for another division title.
The latest MLB Trade Rumors mailbag landed as the Brewers hosted Texas on August 29, with Milwaukee holding an 84-51 record against the Rangers' 66-69 mark. Adams frames three fan questions that matter for the stretch run and offseason planning alike.
Key Takeaways
- Cardinals third base looks thin internally; trade targets are more realistic than free-agent splashes.
- Jackson Chourio is batting .282 with 19 home runs, 54 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 2026.
- Chourio went 4-for-5 with two homers and a steal Thursday, reasserting his power-speed threat.
- Milwaukee entered the Rangers series 33 games over .500 with an eight-game NL Central lead.
- Adams also examines Cade Cavalli's breakout, though that answer sits behind the subscriber paywall.
Why is Cardinals third base such a problem in 2026?
Reader Mark asked Adams who might fix a position that has underperformed all year. Internal options are limited. Jesus Baez could shift from shortstop, but Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt block him there, and Baez has just 44 Double-A games with a 3% walk rate despite 20 homers.
Adams sees Baez as a viable third-base option later in 2027, not on Opening Day 2027—one month after his 22nd birthday and with little Triple-A experience. Rainiel Rodriguez moving off catcher is unlikely anytime soon.
Nolan Gorman appears headed toward a non-tender or change-of-scenery trade rather than another hot-corner look. Blaze Jordan has hit .247/.277/.368 across nearly 200 MLB plate appearances in 56 games, so handing him the job outright is hard to justify without a strong finish.
Where can St. Louis realistically find a third baseman?
Free agency looks thin. If Bo Bichette forgoes his opt-out, top names include Jazz Chisholm Jr.—who prefers second base—and rebound candidates Alec Bohm and Jonathan India. Utility options like Mauricio Dubón and Edmundo Sosa are available but hardly inspiring as everyday answers.
Adams argues the Cardinals' best path runs through trades rather than the open market, though specific partners remain subscriber-only. For broader roster-building context, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
How is Jackson Chourio performing—and why does his ceiling matter now?
FOX Sports flagged Chourio as a player to watch before Milwaukee's August 29 home game against Texas. The left fielder gives the Brewers a rare blend of power and speed from the top of the lineup.
Beyond the headline .282 average, Chourio has 19 home runs, 54 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. His Thursday explosion—four hits, two homers, and a steal—showed how quickly he can tilt a game. Texas must keep him off base and out of favorable counts; early traffic lets Milwaukee pressure Cal Quantrill before the heart of the order arrives.
Adams' mailbag explicitly asks how high Chourio's ceiling runs, even as Milwaukee's rotation depth grows. Logan Henderson improved to 9-2 with a 2.48 ERA after allowing one hit over seven innings against the Rangers on August 28, lifting the Brewers to a season-best 33 games over .500 and an eight-game division lead. A surging lineup star plus reliable pitching is why the Chourio conversation keeps growing louder.
What does the mailbag say about Cade Cavalli's breakout?
Adams lists Cavalli's breakout as the mailbag's third pillar alongside the Cardinals and Chourio topics. The detailed analysis is behind MLB Trade Rumors' Front Office subscription, so the public preview confirms the question is on the table without revealing Adams' full verdict.
That gap matters for readers tracking whether Cavalli has truly turned a corner. The full breakdown lives in the subscriber section of Adams' weekly column.