Giant's acquisition of Rafael Devers solidifies the Cardinals as trade-worthy candidates
In a move that could reshape the baseball landscape, the St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up to make significant trades ahead of the 2023 MLB trade deadline. As contenders in the playoff race continue to acquire high-end talent, the Cardinals are positioning themselves to capitalise on this seller's market, with the aim of bolstering their farm system and setting the stage for a successful future.
Key players on expiring contracts, such as Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz, are potential trade pieces for the Cardinals. Helsley, a two-time All-Star and the longest-tenured Cardinal since 2015, is highly valuable on the trade market due to his pedigree, despite his preference to stay and potentially sign an extension. Maton, a key setup man, and Matz, a versatile pitcher flourishing this season, are also prime candidates for trade to acquire prospects.
The Cardinals may also consider trading veteran position players with no-trade clauses, such as Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, and Willson Contreras. Arenado, despite his reluctance to leave, has been a standout defender, and could be considered if rebuilding efforts intensify. Gray, a pitcher with a no-trade clause, might fetch the biggest prospect haul.
The San Francisco Giants, currently occupying the second Wild Card spot with a 41-31 record, have made a splashy move by acquiring three-time All Star and two-time Silver Slugger Rafael Devers from the Red Sox. The Giants traded left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello to secure Devers' services. This acquisition likely makes the Giants a stronger contender, while the Cardinals may make marginal moves or no moves at all before the trade deadline.
The Cardinals' recent performance has been poor, with a 4-10 record in the month of June after a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. Their current standing as sellers around the trade deadline is not surprising, given their historical context from recent seasons. The Cardinals hold series leads against the Dodgers and Phillies, but have losing records against some playoff contenders, including the Mets and Brewers.
This approach to trading established players for high-potential prospects is in line with the Cardinals' recent strategy, as seen in past deadlines when they traded away Paul DeJong, Jordan Hicks, Jack Flaherty, and Jordan Montgomery to replenish the farm system with talents like Tekoah Roby and Thomas Saggese.
The Cardinals' trade deadline strategy in 2023 could be repeated this year, potentially giving Chaim Bloom, the team's Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, a top-10 farm system. The Cardinals could also consider getting creative in trades, such as asking players if they would like to be traded.
However, the trade affects the Cardinals by making the teams ahead of them in the standings significantly better, which could widen the gap between the Cardinals and these teams in the playoff race. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Cardinals are poised to make moves that will have far-reaching effects on the baseball landscape.
[1] Source: St. Louis Cardinals' trade history and strategy (various articles) [2] Source: MLB Trade Deadline analysis and trends (various articles) [3] Source: St. Louis Cardinals' current roster and performance (MLB.com) [4] Source: San Francisco Giants' acquisition of Rafael Devers (MLB.com) [5] Source: Boston Red Sox's trade of Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants (ESPN.com)
The Cardinals' trade strategy, focusing on selling key players like Helsley, Maton, Matz, Arenado, Gray, Mikolas, and Contreras, and acquiring prospects, resembles their approach from previous trade deadlines. This move could bolster the Cardinals' farm system and set the stage for a successful future, while potentially widening the gap between them and playoff contenders.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Cardinals'获取of high-end talent from other teams, such as the Giants acquiring Rafael Devers, could make the teams ahead of them significantly better. The Cardinals need to tread carefully to avoid eliminating their chances in the playoff race.
