For years the Cardinals have been one of the most consistent teams in major league baseball. Since the start of the century, they have only had 1 season below .500. They’ve made the postseason 16 times, and have made four World Series, winning two of them. Going into this season, this streak was expected to continue. They were the favorites to win the NL Central and it looked like it was going to be another great season for the red birds.
However, things have gone drastically wrong for the Cardinals. At the All-Star break, the Cardinals have a 38-52 record. They also sit in last place in the NL Central, 11.5 games out of first place. They’re also 11 games behind the last wild card spot. It’s safe to say that any hopes of making the playoffs are dead. So that leads many to believe that the Cardinals will be sellers at the deadline.
But that brings up the question, what will the Cardinals trade? There have been people bringing up names like Nolan Arenado, and Paul Goldschmidt, and go full rebuild. However, the Cardinals have come out and said that they aren’t going to trade those two. It seems like the Cardinals are leaning towards a retool rather than a rebuild. Trade veterans on expiring contracts and try again next year. So who are the possible players they can trade?
Potential Players the Cardinals Can Trade
Jordan Montgomery
Out of all the realistic players, the Cardinals can move, Jordan Montgomery should be the one that garners the most interest. It’s been reported that at this year’s deadline, the starting pitcher available will be weak. There won’t be a lot of big-name guys or a plethora of starters. Meaning that the starters who are on the market are going to have inflated values.
So far this season Montgomery has been the ace of the Cardinals staff. Halfway through the season, Montgomery pitched to a 3.23 ERA, in 103 innings, with 96 strikeouts, 27 walks, a 1.223 WHIP, and a 132 ERA+. He also leads the Cardinals in most pitching categories. Sure there are some concerns after he came out of his last start with a possible hamstring injury. However, despite that he would be the perfect addition to any contending team. He would slide perfectly into a middle-rotation role. Teams like Texas Rangers and the Los Angles Dodgers are potential landing spots.
Jack Flaherty
Jack Flaherty is another guy who can garner a lot of interest at the deadline. Just like for Montgomery, Flaherty’s value will be inflated at this year’s deadline because of the lack of starters available. Now unlike Montgomery, Flaherty is having a down year by his standards. This is mostly due to the fact that he struggled at the start of the season. However, he’s righted the ship and has settled back into the pitcher we expected him to be.
So far this season, Flaherty has pitched to a 4.27 ERA, in 92.2 innings with 89 strikeouts, 48 walks, a 1.565 WHIP, and a 100 ERA+. Again not eye-popping numbers, but when you pair them with how he started the season. Plus his career numbers, teams will definitely be calling for his services. The return they get for him won’t be as much as they would get for Montgomery, but they definitely can get a decent return. Teams to watch would be the Los Angles Angels and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jordan Hicks
It’s not just starting pitcher the Cardinals can look to move. They also can trade relievers like Jordan Hicks. Relievers are always a hot commodity when the deadline rolls around. No matter how could your roster is, teams are always looking to upgrade the bullpen. Now this could be in part because of how unpredictable relievers can be. But regardless of the cause, the Cardinals can get a decent return if they were to move a guy like Hicks.
So far this season, in 36 appearances, he has a 3.93 ERA, with 55 strikeouts, 23 walks, a 1.500 WHIP, and a 110 ERA+. He can be a solid middle-relief guy for any contender. Not someone you would bring in, in the 9th inning with the game on the line, but defiantly someone that can eat up some innings. Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies could be likely landing spots. However, any contending team could make a trade for Hicks. It’s just how valuable and reliable relievers are.
Tyler O’Neill
This one feels more like a long shot at this point in time. For starters, Tyler O’Neill is currently on the 60-day IL with a lower back strain. He has only played 29 games this season due to his injury, and they’re still not sure when he’ll be back. He recently just started a rehab assignment and is in double-a, but you just don’t know with back injuries. You never know if could flare up again.
However, despite the injuries he has faced this season, he still could be an interesting piece for some teams. This is mostly due to the fact that he’s under team control for another season. Meaning he won’t be a free agent until the end of the 2024 season. He’s not a rental player so, even if the rest of this year is a wash, teams can pencil him into their starting lineup next season. The Cardinals also have a long jam in the outfield, so trading him could help clear the way. Expect a number of teams to at least kick the tires on an O’Neill trade. With teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros being the most aggressive.
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