With three weeks left until the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals are positioned as potential buyers despite recent setbacks against the Kansas City Royals. Currently standing at 48-44, they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by five games in the NL Central and narrowly hold onto the second Wild Card spot ahead of the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.
In Major League Baseball’s 2024 season, parity reigns supreme. Only the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies appear complete, while teams like Cleveland, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Atlanta seek starting pitching. The New York Yankees require infield reinforcements. The National League lacks clear dominant teams, presenting a prime opportunity for the Cardinals to capitalize.
Traditionally cautious at the trade deadline, Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak may opt for a bolder approach this year. Despite rebuilding their farm system last year and holding a top-7 draft pick for the first time since 1998, St. Louis possesses major league talent to spare.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cardinals are likely to focus on acquiring “complementary” assets. With Lars Nootbaar and Willson Contreras back in action and Tommy Edman and Riley O’Brien returning post-All-Star Break, the lineup gains strength. Rosenthal identifies flaws in contenders like the Dodgers and Braves, suggesting an opportunity for the Cardinals to seize a Wild Card spot, division title, or even make a deep postseason run.
Historically, Mozeliak has avoided blockbuster deals, opting instead for secondary tier acquisitions. This year appears no different, with names like Tyler Anderson, Zach Eflin, Tanner Scott, Randal Grichuk, and Yusei Kikuchi surfacing as potential targets. These players offer depth without jeopardizing the rebuilt farm system.
While big-name targets like Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. come with concerns, lesser-known options like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Brent Rooker pose questions about their impact potential. Despite this, with few dominant teams in the league this season, the Cardinals might contemplate fully backing their current roster, particularly if stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado regain form in the coming weeks.