St. Louis Cardinals Hot Stove: Five trade candidates at first base

October 15, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (53) argues a strikeout call to umpire Bruce Dreckman in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

It seems as if each passing day, something new happens that whips up excitement over what the St. Louis Cardinals will do in the free agency and trade markets.

Case in point? The Lance Lynn injury now has us all daydreaming of uber free agent David

Price donning a crisp white St. Louis Cardinals uniform on April 11, the team’s home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.  I’m a glass-is-half-empty kind of guy, so I’m not as optimistic as our Chris Greene is. And yet, I hope.

The truth is that the St. Louis Cardinals — even with their new TV riches — operate much better under the radar, making those sneaky good free agency signings and trades while everyone ogles the free spenders. I understand why everyone wants to talk about Price (I do, too), but I ‘m just as interested in seeing what kind of trades general manager John Mozeliak can pull off to improve the club in 2016 and beyond.

The groundwork is being laid as we speak. The annual GM meetings, which are going on now in Miami, rarely produce immediate gratification trades. (Although I do think the Yankees’ trade for Aaron Hicks during this year’s meetings is interesting). More often, the event launches discussions that lead to trades in the ensuing weeks.

So let’s think along with Mozeliak as he and the St. Louis Cardinals enter the sweet spot on the calendar for Hot Stove action.

Next: Roster Strengths