(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rough 2023 and that’s putting it nicely. Currently, they are in last place in the N.L. Central with an abysmal record of 35 wins and 48 losses. The Cardinals don’t need a complete rebuild but they definitely need to reload. There are players in the minors as well as the major league roster that should be on the move if they want to improve their roster.
To be clear, these five players are ones that most fans don’t want to trade. However, to get a decent return, the Cardinals need to be willing to part ways with talented players.
Five Players That Will Get the Best Return
First on the list of five players is Flaherty. He is a player the Cardinals should want to keep on their roster. He has tremendous upside and is still relatively young. However, he has been very outspoken about his dislike of the arbitration process and will undoubtedly test the free agent waters. It’s unlikely the team is willing to spend what he is going to be offered in free agency. The Cardinals should get whatever return they can out of him before he’s gone.
2. Tommy Edman
This one would hurt. Edman is a fan favorite and an exciting player. He’s a good hitter with amazing speed. His versatility in the field is truly an asset. A gold glove recipient at second base that currently finds himself patrolling centerfield for the Cardinals. However, the team has a nearly identical player in Brendan Donovan. Donovan doesn’t have Edman’s speed but has better on base skills. Teams would likely be lining up for a chance to add Edman to their roster. If the Cardinals truly believe that Edman is the future in center, they could pivot to moving Donovan.
Carlson was the top prospect in the Cardinals organization just a few years ago. The switch hitting outfielder is probably the best defensive outfielder on the team. The organization has repeatedly refused to include him in any deals the past few years. So far, it seems like another case of placing too much value on a prospect. Carlson has struggled at the plate and with injuries. However, at only 24 years old, he still has value. Other teams may look at him as a player with tons of upside that just needs a change of scenery to blossom. If the Cardinals aren’t going to give him a true shot at an everyday outfield position, they should trade him while the value is still there.
Minor Leaguers at Peak Value
4. Ivan Herrera
Herrera is the top catching prospect in the Cardinals organization. Unfortunately for Herrera the team signed Willson Contreras in the off-season. Also they seem perfectly content to have Andrew Knizner as the number two catcher. Herrera is currently putting up an impressive slash line of .294/.423/.533 at Triple-A Memphis. His value has probably never been higher. If the Cardinals don’t intend to move on from Knizner anytime soon, they should move Herrera.
5. Luken Baker
Baker is another player that is tearing up Triple-A Memphis this year. The power hitting first baseman has put up an attention grabbing slash line of .319/.443/.664. He has also crushed 22 homeruns and driven in 60. This has truly been a breakout season for the 26 year old. Baker was called up briefly but was then promptly sent back down to make roster space. He is obviously blocked by perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt but has more than earned a chance at the big league level. Many believe he should be the everyday DH on the big league club. If the Cardinals are going to insist on giving other players the DH duties, there’s truly no spot for him on the roster. It could be a move they regret but if they want top value out of a trade including Baker, now is the time.
Aggressive Moves at Deadline Needed
The five players previously mentioned are players the fans probably don’t want to trade but it’s blatantly obvious the team needs to restock their pitching at all levels. Many will point to Tyler O’Neill and Paul DeJong to be traded. Those players hold little value and won’t get the return needed. Pitching has been a weakness for several years and they have done nothing to address it besides the Bader for Montgomery trade at the 2022 trade deadline. The time is now for the Cardinals to make some serious moves to bolster their entire system, or they will find themselves at the bottom of the division for the foreseeable future.
