Five Cardinals Players Expected To Be Traded With Selloff Confirmed
The St. Louis Cardinals have openly confirmed that they will be sellers at the upcoming Major League Baseball trade deadline and changes are coming.
It appears that the Cardinals will aim for more of a retooling for 2024 than a straight rebuild and would like to keep their core together -- looking at you, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Areanado.
With that in mind, who could go?
Here are five players who could be on the move as the Cardinals attempt to reconstruct their roster for next season:
Jordan Mongomery
Montgomery would fetch the most significant return of all the impending free agents on the Cardinals roster.
The southpaw has posted a 3.28 ERA with a 91-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .251 batting average against and 1.24 WHIP in 98 2/3 innings across 17 starts.
Montgomery could bolster any pitching staff in the league, and will garner a lot of attention in the next few weeks.
Teams to watch: Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jack Flaherty
The return for Flaherty will not change the farm system overnight but a team could take a flyer on the inconsistent right-hander who once was regarded as one of the best young arms in the big leagues.
The 27-year-old has a 4.27 ERA with an 89-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .279 batting average against and 1.56 WHIP in 92 2/3 innings across 17 starts.
His walk rate and hits allowed are highly concerning but he's been a formidable arm on the whole.
Teams to watch: Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jordan Hicks
Hicks has had an up-and-down season but certainly could fetch a return at the trade deadline. The 26-year-old flamethrower has a 3.96 ERA with a 55-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 230 batting average against and 1.50 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings this season.
Hicks could be a get-out-of-jam high-leverage option for a team that could use another big arm in the back of the bullpen. He's far from a finished product but he certainly could aid a contender.
Teams to watch: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies
Chris Stratton
Stratton is far from a lockdown arm but he has been able to eat a lot of innings and would be a middle reliever upgrade for many contenders with genuine upside in the second half.
Stratton has a 4.20 ERA with a 47-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .232 batting average against and 1.13 WHIP in 45 innings this season. The rest of his game-level stats are far better than his ERA, implying that he's likely to see that number get in line with the rest. If teams bet on his 2.99 FIP -- which feels more accurate than his ERA, he could fetch a mid-level prospect or two.
Teams to watch: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox
Paul DeJong
DeJong is an interesting case, as he has multiple club options in the next two seasons but certainly does not appear to factor into any long-term plans. That would make him highly expendable heading into trade season.
The 29-year-old is hitting .231 with 21 extra-base hits including 12 home runs, 29 RBIs and a .736 OPS in 64 games this season. He'll also provide versatility to a contender that needs help in the infield.
Teams to watch: Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles
