Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill Reportedly Could Be Packaged In Deal For Frontline Starter

St. Louis almost certainly will trade for a starter this season

The St. Louis Cardinals have a surplus of position players both in the infield and outfield -- which they could use to make a big splash in the trade market this summer, 

Many have speculated the Cardinals could use their immense depth to create a package for a frontline starter, including some pundits with knowledge of the situation. 

Tyler O'Neill is the semi-obvious odd-man out in the outfield, and could be on the move this summer after he reportedly was shopped around in the offseason.

"O’Neill by himself isn’t going to land much more than a No. 3 or 4 type starter, and the Cardinals need a top-of-the-rotation starter," The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote Monday. "However, they could package O’Neill with one of their middle infielders, Tommy Edman or Brendan Donovan -- knowing that their top shortstop prospect, Masyn Winn, is close to being major-league-ready -- and one of their top pitching prospects such as Gordon Graceffo (but not Tink Hence; he’s untouchable). That type of package should be enough to land a top starter if one becomes available at the trade deadline."

While the idea of keeping Edman and Donovan would be more appealing -- regardless of Wynn's call-up approaching -- Bowden's gameplan appears to be a good one. When you consider the arms on the market, it might be worth going all-in for an ace-level hurler. 

If the Los Angeles Angels continue to play middling baseball through July, Shohei Ohtani could be available, and the Cardinals will have the ability to offer as good a package as anybody when the hot stove heats up. 

The other ace-level talent is Corbin Burnes. An inter-division trade is unlikely on the surface but the Milwaukee Brewers have made plenty of questionable decisions as of late -- namely the trade of closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres last season while in the thick of a playoff race. 

There are plenty of other quality rentals as well if the Cardinals want to keep their top prospects in-house. Regardless of the trade target, O'Neill will almost certainly be shopped and potentially could be a centerpiece in a trade for a high-end hurler. 

More MLB: Cardinals Could Aid Pitching Woes By Calling Up Top Prospect Amid Breakout Season