St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Who should be traded?

St. Louis Cardinals trade rumors always spark interest.  As spring training begins, and for a bit of fun, let’s look at the 40-man roster and suggest some fat-trimming.

I love trades. Who doesn’t? We have followed trades all winter long… all winter long. But, please, let us not stop talking trades. As spring training begins, let us examine who on the 40-man roster might better serve the St. Louis Cardinals playing their 2016 games elsewhere.

For starters, let me admit here that I will avoid some of the plethora of pitchers on the 40-man due in large part to the fact that we haven’t seen enough of them to judge them at this point. Who does that leave? Plenty of players whom we have watched and have experienced plenty to judge.

Next: Carson Kelly

Carson Kelly, C

First up, Carson Kelly. Let me say immediately that I do not want him traded but wonder if the ceiling is too solid for him to climb and whether or not his value to the Cardinals is better via trade. Again, I do not want this to happen but I’m sure value can be had with him as bait.

His Stats:

Career offensive slash line: .240/.315/.348. Career defense stats: 1602.1 innings, .992 fielding percentage.

So do I really see a Kelly trade in the works? Most likely not. At least not at this time. With all the uncertainty surrounding Yadier Molina and his healing from off season surgery, it would be wise to keep as many catchers on staff as possible and Kelly fits that bill.

Let’s assume that it would happen; where would Kelly go? What teams might have interest in a young catcher? Pittsburgh could certainly use a viable backup in the years to come. But would St. Louis want him to stay in the division? According to MLB Trade Rumors, teams such as the Marlins or Braves could certainly use a catcher.

Maybe a better question is whether or not the Cardinals should want to look into trading away a catching chip. Brayan Pena is signed for two seasons and Kelly hasn’t made his debut yet. Is it smart then to gamble away a chip that has yet to prove a thing? Sources likely say no.

Next: Greg Garcia

Greg Garcia, SS

Please, can we please find someone to take Greg Garcia? Don’t get me wrong, I like Garcia but I just don’t see a place for him on the team. Now, with the likes of Aledmys Diaz in the wings (or probably more likely taking his place as the utility backup for the infield).

Sure, Garcia came through with a few big hits last season but now the organization is full of backups like the aforementioned Diaz and Jedd Gyorko. I fully expect these two players, Diaz and Gyorko, to produce offensively and defensively better than Garcia. Let’s be honest too that production is something needed more so than bench depth when looking at Cardinal opponents in 2016.

Garcia has some value thanks to decent enough statistics albeit not immensely strong statistics. His MLB career slash line (small sample size warning) is .225/.337/.360. His defensive stats display at an average .952 fielding percentage playing second, third, and short stop.

While he is projected to be on the rise, perhaps another team could utilize this pre-arbitration eligible, 0.6 WAR player. But which team might this be in 2016? The Cardinals have had decent luck in years past sending short stops and utility players to the Yankees so they might be a good spot to send Garcia.

I would love to see the team shed the weight of Garcia but my best guess is that the team has little traction at this time. Production and positive performance in spring will certainly help this. Let us all hope that Greg finds a way to wow scouts in the early days of spring.

Next: Tommy Pham

Tommy Pham, OF

Again, I find myself liking a player that I am listing.  In reality, considering those in the wings (read: Jeremy Hazelbaker, Carlos Peguero, and Anthony Garcia), the time for Tommy Pham with St. Louis may have come to an end.

We all know that Pham has been plagued with injury and this might deter another team from taking a risk on him.  We also know that 2016 might be Matt Holliday‘s final season with the birds on the bat, but I’m just not sold that Pham is the one to ascend the Holliday throne in left field.

More from St Louis Cardinals Rumors

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• Cardinals: Trade targets after signing Willson Contreras
• Cardinals Rumors: Is Willson Contreras Defense a Concern?
• St. Louis Cardinals: Alejandro Kirk or Danny Jansen?

Pham’s offensive line reads: .265/.343/.471.  His defensive fielding percentage is posted as 1.000 displaying a qualified outfielder. Adding to his worth is the fact that Pham owns a 1.4 career WAR.  Maybe a change of location would do him good and maybe a team would exist to have interest in this change of location.

Let’s look at whether or not he would or could be traded. If Pham is gone, the Cardinals are left with Brandon Moss as an outfield backup and/or the younger players mentioned above. Is Moss a proven player enough to serve as backup to Holliday, Randal Grichuk, and Stephen Piscotty (assuming these are the starting outfielders)?

Assuming a deal could be made, who would have interest?  The free agent outfield market was both hot and then suddenly cold and long this year.  Can we assume that this trend would continue?  If it did continue, would this spell the fact that finding a home for Pham would be unlikely?  I feel that should a time present itself to move Pham, this time won’t appear until after the all-star break.

Next: Matt Adams

Matt Adams, 1B

I saved Matt Adams for last. I did so because for all of the players listed I hope the strongest that Adams departs the Cardinals. Again, it has nothing to do with dislike, but I have lost favor with Adams for quite some time.

I also listed Adams last as I feel of all the names listed that he is the most likely to actually receive a trade. I feel that he has the most value of these names (considering the fact that he has little value at this moment thanks to injury). Taking into consider his “low” value at this moment, I do not see this trade falling anytime soon (but can certainly wish).

Adams’ offensive slash line reads .276/.316/.451 and his defensive fielding percentage is .993. Should he show a strong outing in Spring and the start of the season, it is not a stretch to imagine him wearing a different uniform. This 3.6 WAR player would be a welcome addition to another team and would open paths for others for the Cardinals.

A glimmer of hope for those of us who would like Adams traded might be found in Holliday’s working at first base here at the start of spring training.  Might there be a touch of smoke in this activity?

And if there is smoke showing by Holliday working out at first, who might have interest?  I’ve always thought that Adams to Colorado made a great deal of sense.  When the Cardinals were linked to the Rockies outfielders earlier on the hot stove, I was just waiting for the deal to be completed and involve Adams’ name.  Might this happen after spring?  Time will tell.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals: Carlos Martinez is throwing without issue

I’m excited to see what spring training brings and whether we see these players becoming strong contributors and falling off this list or whether we see more and more proof of the need to trade them.  Follow me on Twitter and we can discuss and watch the upcoming trades.