Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Could Target Young Red Sox Star In Blockbuster Trade

Could the Cardinals land Ceddanne Rafaela in a trade?
Zach Pressnell|
Apr 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Boston Red SoxSt. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have a lot of potential trade pieces.

Erick Fedde and Sonny Gray are two veteran starting pitchers who could be moved this season. Fedde is on an expiring contract, so he's almost certainly going to be dealt this season. Gray is more consistent and likely to be more valuable in a deal, so he could be traded, too.

Closer Ryan Helsley is on an expiring contract, too, so he's another candidate to be traded. If the Cardinals begin shopping him, the righty will likely be the most coveted reliever on the trade market this season.

But nobody ever talks about who the Cardinals could land in a trade for one of these stars. Potentially the perfect return comes from the Boston Red Sox, who make plenty of sense as a suitor for Fedde, Gray, or Helsley.

If the Cardinals make a trade with the Red Sox, they could look to land Ceddanne Rafaela as the headliner in the return.

First of all, the Red Sox make sense as a suitor for the three players listed above. Gray and Fedde could add some depth to their rotation while Helsley would be a huge upgrade in the bullpen.

Trading Rafaela also makes a bit of sense for Boston. The Red Sox have a loaded infielder with prospects dominating the future of the organization. Marcelo Mayer will be in the big leagues soon while Kristian Campbell is already there.

In the outfield, the Red Sox have Wilyer Abreu, Campbell, Jarren Duran, and top prospect Roman Anthony could be the future in Boston. That would leave Rafaela as a backup.

Instead, he could be the return in a trade for a player like Helsley. The Cardinals could use Rafaela as a building block to the future of their organization.

More MLB: Cardinals Predicted To Trade $81 Million Star To Loaded Dodgers

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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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