Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Urged To Replace Veteran In Huge Trade

The Cardinals need to make a move...
Zach Pressnell|
Jun 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Jun 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have a massive issue in their starting rotation. Miles Mikolas has been largely uncompetitive over the last month and it's coming back to hurt the Cardinals. If this team is going to be a postseason team, Mikolas can't be on the roster in October.

With that in mind, FanSided's Christopher Kline recently urged the Cardinals to swing a trade to replace Mikolas in the coming weeks.

"Over his last five outings, Mikolas has coughed up 24 earned runs in 26 innings. That is not a sustainable output. The Cardinals are still five games above .500 and within striking distance of Chicago atop the division," Kline wrote. "At worst, the Cards have the feel of a Wild Card team. But that will require an upgrade (or several) before the July 31 trade deadline.

"This isn't exactly a revolutionary idea, but the Cardinals have committed to contention — or some level of success — with an expensive, veteran roster. As such, they might as well lean in and search for upgrades at the trade deadline. There is always a robust market for starting pitching at the deadline. Mozeliak needs to be careful about not mortgaging the future, as St. Louis' farm system is already lagging behind most organizations leaguewide."

There are a lot of starting pitchers expected to be on the trade block. The Cardinals could pick from any of them that fit the prospect capital the front office is willing to trade.

If St. Louis is only willing to cut ties with minimal prospect capital, a trade for somebody like Tyler Anderson or Walker Buehler could work. But if the Cardinals are willing to trade more prospects, going after Sandy Alcántara or one of the big fish on the market would be the best case scenario.

Either way, the Cardinals need to replace Mikolas one way or another.

More MLB: Cardinals Linked To Huge Trade For $45 Million Ace

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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