Cardinals’ trade deadline plans get big update
Thanks to the third Wild Card spot, the Cardinals remain in playoff contention. But will they buy at the trade deadline?
The St. Louis Cardinals franchise is not accustomed to losing. Fresh off a 91-loss season in 2023, the Cardinals look to return to business as usual in 2024. However, they haven’t exactly been good through the first three or so months of the current season. They have a 33-34 record at the time of writing, which has them at third place in the NL Central, but the good news is that, thanks to the third Wild Card spot, they remain firmly within striking distance of a playoff spot.
Thus, with two and a half months before the trade deadline, the Cardinals might end up being a buying team to supplement their veteran-led core. However, general manager John Mozeliak is still playing the waiting game. After all, they have a few everyday players who are currently on the injured list. How those players perform upon their return will dictate what the Cardinals will do leading up to the July 30 deadline.
“We mentioned getting [Willson] Contreras, [Lars] Nootbaar back. We’re starting to hear a lot more optimism on [Tommy] Edman. If all of a sudden those guys are back in our everyday lineup, we’re going to feel a lot more confident about our everyday lineup,” Mozeliak said, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
“It’s a little premature to [decide which direction we’ll be taking]. I also think it’s going to depend on the health of this organization.”
Indeed, Willson Contreras has played well in the 31 games he has suited up in for the Cardinals this season. The team is sorely missing his bat and defense at the dish. Meanwhile, Lars Nootbaar has given well-rounded production from right field, while Tommy Edman, the team’s everyday shortstop for the past four seasons and one of the best fielders at his position, is nearing a return from a wrist injury.
When those three return, the Cardinals’ lineup will be much-improved. The Cardinals brass seems to have confidence in the team as currently constructed on that side of the ball. What John Mozeliak hinted at is a move for a pitcher, as contending teams can never have enough quality arms — whether in the rotation or in the pen.
“At the trading deadline, you can always use pitching. There’s never been a year you don’t go into the deadline looking for pitching if you’re trying to contend. But ultimately, it’s going to be what do we look like in two or three weeks from a health standpoint?” Mozeliak added.
At the end of the day, the goal for the Cardinals is to restore the team to its former glory. Keep an eye out for St. Louis as they figure to separate themselves from the jumbled pack that is the NL Wild Card picture. But the key to achieving this goal is good health.
“We want to make a push past .500. There’s still almost four months of baseball left, a lot of baseball still left to be played. When I look at this club right now, I still think it can win. But we have to get to where we’re healthy.”
Assessing the Cardinals’ roster amid injury woes
Contreras, however, is working well towards a return from a forearm injury. The Cardinals could put the former All-Star catcher on a rehab assignment as soon as June 18, so a return to big league action shouldn’t be too far off. Meanwhile, Nootbaar, who is dealing with an oblique injury, is currently in “rotational work” as he trends toward a return to swinging the bat.
It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals re-insert Tommy Edman back into the lineup once he returns. Masyn Winn has done well in his rookie campaign, making the shortstop position his own, while it’s unlikely that Nolan Gorman gets bumped off second due to his power production. But Edman is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, so he figures to play a huge role upon his return.
The Cardinals’ starting pitching has been alright, but there might be a room for one more quality starter behind Sonny Gray even with Steven Matz on track to return soon, what with him currently being in a rehab assignment. Matz has struggled to the tune of a 6.18 ERA in six starts thus far this season, so if anything, St. Louis should be on the hunt for another top-tier starter.
