The song that best sums up the St. Louis Cardinals these days is the Katy Perry hit The One That Got Away. In recent years, the Cardinals have had this habit of letting go of players before they truly blossom. Guys like Adolis Garcia, Randy Arozarena, Zac Gallen, and Sandy Alcantara come to mind almost immediately. Cardinals Baseball Operations Head John Mozeliak has done a poor job making trades in recent years. It’s part of the reason why the Cardinals haven’t made it back to the World Series since 2013. However, given how well both Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Hicks are doing so far this year, St. Louis might’ve made the same mistake again.
The Cardinals Gave Up On Tyler O’Neill Too Soon
Before the season, the Cardinals had an offseason full of change. One of those changes involved trading Tyler O’Neill to the Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals would acquire minor-league pitchers for O’Neill. It had been a tumultuous season for O’Neill as he only appeared in 72 games in 2023 due to injuries. He was also called out after a game publicly by manager Oliver Marmol for what he perceived as failing to hustle.
Before this season, O’Neill had only appeared in 168 games in his last two seasons in St. Louis due to injuries. Since being traded to the Red Sox, Tyler O’Neill has thrived. He is currently slashing .292/.406/.629 with nine home runs and 13 RBI. He also has a league-best OPS of 1.035. Given how much the Cardinals’ offense is currently struggling, they certainly could’ve used his bat.
Signs That St. Louis Made A Mistake Showed Up Almost Immediately
Embed from Getty ImagesSigns that the Cardinals made a mistake by letting Hicks go could be seen after the 2023 trade deadline. He would be dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league pitchers. After Hicks was traded, he went 2-3 with a 2.63 ERA, four saves, and a WHIP of 1.083. This all happened after he struggled for most of the first half of the season with the Cardinals. Hicks’s success in Toronto was a reason why they were able to get back to the postseason.
Jordan Hicks Is Now A Successful Starting Pitcher
After the season, Hicks became a free agent and signed a four-year deal worth $44 million with the San Francisco Giants. Despite being primarily used as a reliever, San Francisco converted him into a starter. Since becoming a starter, Hicks has become an even better pitcher. In seven starts this season, Hicks is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.026. Given his early success as a starter, St. Louis might’ve been using him wrong the whole time.
Hicks And O’Neil Might Join The List Of Players That Got Away
The Cardinals once again gave up on multiple players too soon. Baseball Operations head John Mozeliak has made this mistake too many times in recent years. It’s a reason why the Cardinals haven’t gone back to the World Series in over ten years. Given how much success Jordan Hicks and Tyler O’Neill are currently having, Mozeliak might’ve once again made the same mistake. Hicks and O’Neill may join the long list of players that the Cardinals had that are having success in another uniform.
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