Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The players that the St. Louis Cardinals shouldn’t trade is a short list. Sporting one of the worst win/loss records in all of baseball, the Cardinals find themselves as likely sellers at the trade deadline. While most players should be available for the right price, some should be off-limits.
Pitching Needed for This Year and Beyond
The team has an obvious need for starting and relief pitching. They only have two starters signed for next year’s rotation, one of those being Matz, who is having major struggles. Also, the bullpen has under-performed all season long, blowing over twenty saves so far. With such glaring holes on the roster, the front office needs to make several moves to make any impactful change. However, that doesn’t mean the team needs to blow things up entirely.
The Cardinals should be aggressive at this year’s trade deadline but not at the expense of the future. Obviously, any and all offers should be considered. However, there are some players that must stay if they want a strong core for the future and a quick return to contention.
All-Time Great at Third
Nolan Arenado tops the list of players the Cardinals shouldn’t trade. Undoubtedly, he would bring a massive return if traded. However, they need him if they want to turn things around quickly. Arenado is, without a doubt, one of the best third-basemen to ever play the game. He owns a career slash line of .288/.345/.534 and has shown no signs of slowing down. At only 32 years old, he is young enough to be a big part of the team’s future plans. He has made it clear that he wants to remain in St. Louis. That’s good news for the Cardinals because he is a piece they can’t afford to lose.
Cardinals Shouldn’t Trade Former MVP
Paul Goldschmidt trade rumors have been running rampant since the Cardinals plummeted in the standings. With only one year remaining on his contract, he seems like a logical trade candidate. He would also bring in a massive haul, but he’s the type of player that can’t be replaced easily, on the field, or in the clubhouse.
Veteran leadership is one of the most important things that a young team needs to stay on track. Goldschmidt provides that and much more. He also gives the team gold-glove defense at first base and big-time thump in the line-up. Admittedly, Goldy is moving past his prime at age thirty-six but has shown no signs of slowing. Keeping Goldschmidt is essential if they want to turn things around quickly. His leadership is extremely important for the next generation of Cardinals player’s success as well. Unless the team gets a ridiculous offer for him, he should remain with the Cardinals.
Leave the Kids Alone
The remaining players the Cardinals shouldn’t trade are young players that are essential to the future success of the team. Keeping their top prospects is the only way they will return to relevance.
Topping the list of youngsters is Jordan Walker. The twenty-one year old phenom has put up a respectable .275/.336/.440 slash line in his rookie campaign. He has had some struggles on defense, but it’s just a matter of time before he feels comfortable in the outfield. Walker is the most untouchable prospect the Cardinals have had since Oscar Taveras. If the organization wants to keep an eye on future success, Walker should stay put.
Shortstop of the Future
Next is the Cardinals’ top prospect, Masyn Winn. Winn is the heir apparent at shortstop. He plays excellent defense and has a cannon for an arm that has been clocked in the triple digits. The young shortstop has yet to tap into his offensive potential but has been progressing nicely. This season at Triple-A Memphis, he has put up a respectable .269/.342/.415 slash line. He also has eleven homeruns and has stolen sixteen bases. The Cardinals are likely to move some middle infielders this year, but Winn shouldn’t be one of them.
Electric Arm
Last is the only pitcher to make the list, Tink Hence. The organization has several intriguing arms in the minors, but Hence is the one the Cardinals shouldn’t even consider in a trade. The flamethrowing prospect was selected with the team’s third pick in the 2020 draft. Some experts questioned the choice because of his size. At 6’1″ and 185 pounds, he is smaller than the typical pitcher but has an electric arm that the organization couldn’t pass up.
Hence lights the radar gun up with a mid to high nineties fastball. He has a good curveball, a decent change-up, and a slider that is progressing nicely. Furthermore, in his first three seasons in the minors, he has a combined 2.57 ERA, a 1.054 WHIP, and 146 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched. In an organization that has such a need for pitching, Hence should be untouchable.
It’s Time for the Front Office to be Aggressive
The front office needs to be more aggressive than in years past if they want to turn things around. Unfortunately, Cardinal fans are used to being disappointed at the trade deadline. This year is not the time to be complacent. Hopefully, the front office understands this and will do what’s necessary to usher in a new era of winning Cardinals baseball.
