St. Louis Cardinals: Redbird Rants All-Star Break Summit

1. At this point in the season, should the Cardinals buy or sell?

Josh McDonald: The St. Louis Cardinals are not in the business of losing, so it’s hard to say they should do a hard sell. They don’t exactly have the pieces to do a huge sell-off or anything close to it. The Cardinals should focus on the future, but as buyers. Don’t commit to any rental type players. Focus on adding players who have multiple years.

Dr. Michael Miles: The St. Louis Cardinals should buy and sell. With a weakened NL-Central, the Cardinals should take advantage of a market wherein they can offload some suffering MLB players (or those with high value at this time) for strength to overtake the NLC. Additionally, now is the time to strengthen for the future at the MLB-level. The Cards have a good farm system, but cannot allow the Brewers or Cubs to get stronger while they do nothing but ride the farm.

Tito Rivera: I’ll flat out say it. The St. Louis Cardinals should buy. I know among fans it is not a popular opinion, but I think there are factors everyone should consider going into the All-Star break. The first is the play of the top teams in the division. The Milwaukee Brewers are playing with house money and have nothing to lose.

However, I think their time will catch up to them. They are over-performing any expectations this season. Their confidence level is only boosted by the fact the Chicago Cubs and Cardinals have not played to their potential.

The second factor is schedules the rest of the way. I think the Cardinals have the easier second-half schedule than the Brewers and Cubs. The opportunity to gain ground will be there, and the Cardinals need to pounce on the opportunity.

Nathan Grimes: Both and neither. The St. Louis Cardinals haven’t done enough to prove they’re just one piece away from serious title contention, yet they remain in the mix in the National League Central. While a bat or an arm would improve the Cardinals’ chances to compete in the division, would it improve their chances at making a deep run in October? Probably not.

Aside from the numbers the offense and pitching staff has put up, bad base running and questionable managing has plagued the team throughout the season. An impact trade doesn’t suddenly chance those deficiencies.

The Cardinals should explore the market on free-agents-to-be Lance Lynn and Seung-hwan Oh and capitalize on their value, if possible. At the same time, if they can add an impact bat without overhauling the strong farm system, it would be a practical move not only for the stretch run in 2017, but for years to come.

Brendan Vogt: Buyers. The St. Louis Cardinals have some momentum headed into the break, and they sit tied with Chicago for 2nd place in the division—just 5.5 games back of Milwaukee. The Brewers are for real, but that lead shouldn’t feel insurmountable. The Cardinals have multiple major league players that could be moved and a hand full of valuable prospects. Make a move.

Shane Sturtz: Well, my gut says the St. Louis Cardinals should buy, but my head says the Cardinals should sell. All season long the Cardinals have played sloppy, uninspired ball, and they have shown little promise they are going to make a push towards the NL-Central crown. BUT it’s still hard for me to say yes to unloading the farm system for a large contract like Giancarlo Stanton or another player hard to retain.

So I think the Cardinals should buy, but if I’m Mozeliak, I’m only making a trade that acquires a guy they can retain for the future. A trade that weakens the farm system doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me because with cleaner baseball and strong starting pitching they can make a push for the playoffs.

Dan Campbell: Yes.  The St. Louis Cardinals should do a soft sell, but buy a big bat, if possible.  The idea would be to unload short-term assets such as Oh and Lynn, if you can get a few top-100 prospects in return.

Those prospects can either bolster the system, or be flipped in a trade for a middle-of-the-order bat or a top starter (think big here – Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado, Marcus Stroman, Jacob DeGrom, Jose Quintana).

Selling these two players would give Luke Weaver, Tyler Lyons, or Marco Gonzalez a real look in the rotation, and move Rosenthal into a settled role of closer with Cecil taking over the 8th like he was signed to do.

Christian May-Suzuki: Sellers. There are a few things this St. Louis Cardinal team would need to buy to become true contenders. Trying to go all-in to win a title would mortgage our solid farm system. Hitting, from both a contact and power stand point, is below par and the relief pitching is shaky at best.

Unless Mozeliak is able to make some magic happen and pick up good talent, without giving away multiple top prospects, there is no need to try and actively buy big players if they don’t fit in the future plan.

Trevor Hooth: The St. Louis Cardinals should buy.  There are enough players on the trade block who will give more than one good year to the team, as well as enough prospects for the team not to be hurt in the future.  They are very well in the division race, and it is not a division that is setting the world on fire this year.  That needs to be taken advantage of, and the right move could give the team the necessary spark.

Larry Levin– They should buy. Or sell. Or stand pat. Is that crazy? What I really mean is their decisions should be based not on how they’re going to finish this year, but on how to build the best team to compete for the next several years.

I say that because even if we somehow stumbled into the playoffs, the team is fraught with so many issues in so many areas — bullpen, lineup, defense, baserunning and recently, even a less consistent rotation — that even one major deal wouldn’t be likely to get us the Big Prize.

2. Who would you prefer the Cardinals acquire: Giancarlo Stanton or Josh Donaldson?

Josh: This is a tough decision. Both players offer you a star that can slide right into the three-hole in the lineup. The one thing Stanton offers, that Donaldson does not though, is contract length. Stanton would be a Cardinal for at least his prime years. He could then opt out and go for more money or the Cardinals could be on the hook for his contract into his aging years. That is a risk the team should take, in my opinion.

Dr. Miles: With Jedd Gyorko working out so well, and being MUCH less expensive than Donaldson, I’d prefer the Cards target Stanton. I just wrote a piece essentially comparing Stanton and Donaldson. Stanton has much more team control which has been a thing of interest for the Cards in the past.

Tito: I would prefer a big bat in general, but if I had to choose, I would go with Stanton. Had you asked me this question at the beginning of the season, I would have said Donaldson. However, Jedd Gyorko has exceeded any expectations I think most of had at third base.

Stanton offers more upside than Donaldson in terms of age and power. Acquiring Stanton wouldn’t come with as many questions as Donaldson either. For instance, if Donaldson is the man, what happens to Gyorko, Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong?

Front office said Luke Voit and Paul DeJong aren’t going anywhere so something has to give, right? It would be rough waters to navigate for new GM Mike Girsch.  You would have to expect the Cardinals would ship one of those three elsewhere to fulfill any move. Unfortunately, the person I could see going is Kolten Wong.

Nathan: Stanton. He’s younger and has had the better season offensively. Plus, I still don’t think he’s reached his potential. Much of that is due to an injury history, but if he can stay healthy, one can only wonder what numbers he could end up with while playing for a contender.

The gigantic contract is the X-factor, of course. If the Cardinals do kick the tires on trading for Stanton, I would expect the front office to ask Miami to pay for part of that contract. A deal involving either Donaldson or Stanton would also cost the Cardinals’ farm system dearly.

Brendan: At this point I’d rather see the Cardinals acquire Josh Donaldson, but only because I think he would come at a much cheaper price. Donaldson is struggling this year hitting .261 with just nine home runs. Toronto might have to sell low on their slugger. Something tells me Miami on the other hand will be asking for the world in return for Stanton, or at least they should.

Shane: Donaldson. He is under contract for the 2018 season and is far less expensive than Stanton. On top of that, the deciding factor for me is Donaldson being the healthier option. Yes, Donaldson missed a month this season due to a calf injury, but has played 155 or more games in each of the last four seasons.

Stanton, however, has only played 145 or more games two times in the last seven seasons. If I’m trading for a franchise player, I want a guy who can play everyday versus a guy hindered by injuries year after year.

Dan: Stanton.  If reports are true, that the Marlins would dump the slugger for a pittance if the new team takes the contract, you acquire the best (sorry Aaron Judge) home run hitter in the game.  He is still just 27 years old people.

Donaldson would be the most costly asset on the market, and the Blue Jays will want pitching.  Say goodbye to Alex Reyes, Jack Flaherty, and Weaver plus a PTBNL.  Donaldson is a stud and a better fit for this team, but this team needs to change. Donaldson is also on the wrong side of thirty.

If my cost-estimation of Donaldson is too high, and you can get Stanton for money and second-tier prospects, you go blockbuster and get both.  The team would have to really think it could make the playoffs this year to justify that to the fans.

Christian: I would prefer Giancarlo based on age, but Donaldson is far more likely, so I will go with him. With the ownership of the Marlins still up in the air, moving someone who is both a huge contract and a huge moneymaker like Stanton becomes even more difficult.

On the other hand, the rebuilding Blue Jays are a much more appealing trade candidate. While the infield would shift around, a bat with both solid contact and pop would be helpful to ease the transition into the next generation of Cardinal talent over the next couple of years.

Trevor: Giancarlo Stanton, without a doubt.  He costs quite a bit, but the St. Louis Cardinals have the free space.  His high cost also lowers his trade price tag.  However, the main reason Stanton is the smarter move is the versatility around the infield already. Gyorko and Wong are all having great years.

Plus, the emergence of Luke Voit allows Matt Carpenter to move around the infield as well.  There is no need to give up top prospects to add another bat to that mix.  Stephen Piscotty can transition to left and Stanton will slide beautifully into right field.

Larry: A deal for Donaldson, with only this year and an arbitration year, wouldn’t cost nearly what Stanton would. This would buy the team a couple of years to figure out what it has with all the young dudes. Stanton’s contract is massive, well into his thirties, if he doesn’t opt out in 2020. He’s an injury and aging risk in those later years, in which his salary spikes considerably.

3. Who is a non-Stanton and Donaldson name you are interested in the Cardinals acquiring?

Josh: When you think about this team, there are two things that stick out as needs. The first being a solid bat to hit in the middle of the order, the other is defense. Andrelton Simmons, considered by some as the best defensive shortstop in the league, could be a great addition to the team. Simmons immediately improves the team’s defense and could be a dangerous pairing with a healthy Kolten Wong.

Dr. Miles: I think the Cardinals should consider Troy Tulowitzki (see my article for more). I would also like the Cards to kick the tires on a return of Pat Neshek to shore-up the pen. At the plate, the Cardinals could also benefit from J.D. Martinez, who I have written about and who could be had for less money than Donaldson/Stanton.

Tito: Do Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Aaron Judge count? Realistically, I’m not sure. There are a lot of rental players out there requiring the Cardinals to resign them in the off-season. Unfortunately, that is no easy task for any team to do, so the St. Louis Cardinals have to be careful with whom they target.

If I had to choose a realistic option, and following my Stanton notion, I think the Cardinals should consider either J.D. Martinez or Justin Upton from Detroit. Upton will cost more money than Martinez, but Upton is having a very nice season. Martinez is having a good season too, so the Cardinals really couldn’t go wrong.

Nathan: The Cardinals have an under-the-radar amount of position player talent at the minor league level. If they’re not going to go all in and try to land a lineup-changing bat, I’d rather them promote some young guys and give them a shot. The starting rotation looks like it’ll hold for the remainder of the year. Don’t forget about the abundance of pitching prospects waiting in the wings in Memphis and Springfield.

Brendan: I’d like to see the Cardinals try to upgrade the bullpen. There are multiple log jams on this roster, and the Cardinals are having a hard enough time finding ways to get all of their guys on the field. The offense was a concern to start the year, but since Carpenter moved back into the leadoff spot, this offense has looked great. If they aren’t getting a game-changing bat, then it’s that struggling pen needing reinforcements.

Shane: J.D. Martinez. A big bat that could strengthen the middle of the order for the Cardinals. Only problem with Martinez is he is a free agent in 2018, so the Cardinals would have to work hard to sign him for the future.

The other reason I like this trade is because the Cardinals could unload one of their outfielders. Whether it’s Harrison Bader, Randal Grichuk or Magnerius Sierra, it could create a clearer picture as to what the outfield would look like in the coming years. That is if they are able to re-sign J.D. Martinez in the off-season.

Dan: Joey Votto.  For some reason, people overlook the fact that Joey Votto is one of the best players in the league.  He has a career OBP of .425 (no typo). The Reds owe him a decent chunk of money, but he is also under control for some time.

Votto could stabilize the first base position Carpenter has refused to seize. The obvious problem is he probably isn’t available.

I would like the Cardinals to inquire on another Blue Jay, Marcus Stroman.  If we could somehow run out Carlos, Stroman, and Reyes next season as a 1-2-3, that would be pretty formidable.

Christian: Jay Bruce. The power hitting outfielder has bounced back from a tough 2016 campaign, hitting .265/.334/.539 with twenty-three home runs and fifty-three RBIs so far. The Mets seem to be selling on him, and the Cardinals are not part of the 8-team no-trade provision in Bruce’s contract.

With an expiring contract at the reasonable age of 30, the acquisition of Bruce would fill an immediate power need in the outfield for the present, while giving the Cardinals short-term flexibility in the future.

On top of that, the Cardinals also have the option to retain Bruce on a long-term deal because of his age and relatively affordable previous contract (7 years, $63 million), should he play well during his tenure in St. Louis. In my eyes, acquiring Bruce is a safe move for the Cardinals to make with the most potential for payoff on the offensive end.

Trevor: Justin Wilson, closer for the Detroit Tigers.  This is the single smartest move the team can make.  The Cardinals need bullpen help, the Tigers don’t need Wilson.  They have Joe Jiménez, one of their top-3, ready to take over the closer role next year.  The Tigers are out of the race so a closer is not a necessary role for them this season.

Wilson would be a reliable addition at the back-end of the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen.  He is having a good year, but not a ton of history.  That means he should have a very realistic price tag on him.

Larry: Among those who are really, truly a possible acquisition?  I like Marcell Ozuna a lot, though we are outfield heavy at the moment. I want to say here I totally regret the Eric Hosmer move. Look at his career numbers and it seems unlikely he would improve on our several internal candidates for first base for the next few years.

4.Who is a bullpen piece you think the Cardinals should acquire?

Josh: Pat Neshek. This is an easy one for me. Neshek offers you a solid bullpen piece that you can use in all kinds of spots and he shouldn’t cost all that much. While Neshek’s stats may make it seem like he should cost more, he is also quite old and that drives his value down considerable. Offer the Phillies a minor leaguer or two you won’t be upset with parting with and get your bullpen some help.

Dr. Miles: I really would like the Cards to bring Neshek back. That said, a few clubs are targeting him, so the negotiations could become prohibitive for the Cardinals

Tito: The Cardinals should acquire Felipe Rivero from the Pirates. A left-hander who throws in the upper 90s to 100? Sign me up. Unfortunately, the Cardinals would be reluctant to trade in division, but if they can get Rivero for the right price, I’d entertain the offer.

I know that name is a bit of a stretch, but there really isn’t anything else out there appealing to me. Maybe Justin Wilson of the Tigers, but I’m not sold on him. You could move Wacha to bullpen and groom him as a late inning option, but I digress.

Nathan: Pat Neshek. He’s having an excellent year with the Phillies as a set-up man, and was rewarded with another All-Star selection as a result. He was lights-out in the Cardinals bullpen two seasons ago, and they’ve sorely needed bullpen help all season.

Because the Phillies are out of the picture, he’s likely to move somewhere this month, so I’d expect a more serious contender to make a play for Neshek instead of the Cardinals. Nevertheless, a reunion is intriguing.

Brendan: The New York Mets are off to a disappointing start, and they might be convinced to move some non-essential pieces of their roster for the right return. Reliever Addison Reed could be available. Given there are no real closers on the market, this may be the right move for the Cards. Cecil is heating up, but they’d still like to add some stability to this pen and Reed could fit the bill.

Shane: Pat Neshek. An All-Star for the Cardinals in 2014, Neshek has turned in an even better season with the Phillies in 2017. He carries a 1.31 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP, and if you dig deeper his dominance would be even more clear.

The fans would appreciate the move, and his price wouldn’t be too high. Acquiring Neshek would provide the Cardinals with a reliever, not named Rosenthal or Cecil, who could man the 7th or 8th. Guys like Matt Bowman and Kevin Siegrist are not going to cut it anymore in the high leverage situations.

Dan: Zack Duke?  The real answer is the Cardinals shouldn’t buy in this market because the cost will be too high.  If you can somehow get Victor Robles from the Nationals or Lewis Brinson from the Brewers, you should consider selling a bullpen asset.

The Cardinals should think long and hard about the haul the Yankees got for Chapman and Miller, and consider offers for a comparable return for Oh or Rosenthal (or even Cecil).  These arms are replaceable in the system, by many hard-throwers or by future starters to get some early MLB exposure.

Christian: Brad Brach. A solid right-hander buried behind elite closer, Zach Britton, Brach has been solid as both a set-up man and a fill-in closer for the Orioles. He has 15 saves in 19 opportunities and carries a solid 2.58 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 38.1 innings and 38 appearances for the Orioles this season, and has carried a consistency over the past season and a half the Cardinals have desperately lacked.

On top of that, the presence of Britton and Darren O’Day on the Orioles roster gives the Cardinals an opportunity to snag the 31-year-old Brach for relatively cheap. While it would be much easier to acquire O’Day for a similar payoff, the value of Brach’s consistency and the potential he has as a closer makes him a much more appealing target given the Cardinals situation.

Trevor: See question 3.  Justin Wilson would do great things in the back-end of the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen.  I have personally seen him throw several times and he composes himself like the real deal on the mound.  Even if things go slightly wrong, he is calm, cool, and collected.   This can be seen when he blew two saves in a row last month, but just as easily righted his track the next outing.  That is not as common as it should be in the closer role.

Larry: I’d like reliever Brad Hand from the Padres, if the Yankees don’t make a ridiculous offer. Hand’s good for two and a half more years until he’s a 2020 free agent. I would love to get Kyle Barraclough back. I think the guy is hitting his stride and could be a major player over the next few years in our bullpen.

5. If the Cardinals stand pat, who in the minors would you like to see get a shot?

Josh: There are a few options for this question. The Cardinals have a decent amount of prospects right on the cusp of the majors. For me, the pick is Harrison Bader. It’s time to see what this kid can do. Bader may or may not be part of this team’s future, but we won’t know if he doesn’t get a shot.

Dr. Miles: I think the time has come to bring Mags back. I also think Marco Gonzales should practice the remainder of the year in the bullpen and, with this move, the Cardinals may not need to look outside of the organization for a trade candidate.

Tito: The obvious choice is Harrsion Bader. However, I don’t want to say too much because others might think I’m copying off their work.

Nathan: Harrison Bader tops a lengthy list. He’s arguably the organization’s best position player this season, and leads the entire minor league system in home runs. He profiles similarly on the offensive side as Paul DeJong, and we’ve seen what the rookie shortstop is capable of when thrown into the fire. Another guy who should get the call is Carson Kelly. If he does, he deserves to play.

Brendan: I wouldn’t mind seeing Sierra again. It’s true the Cardinals have multiple outfielders who should see playing time over him right now, but his speed is a game changer. He provided a real spark for this team during his first major league stint, and they might have use for a player like that off the bench down the stretch.

Shane: Based on what he’s been doing in the minors, I’d love to see Harrison Bader get a shot. He’s been tearing it up at Memphis, and I think he’s more than MLB ready. The only problem being is that the Cardinals have plenty of outfielders, including the recently demoted Jose Martinez. For Bader to get a shot, I think an outfielder (like Grichuk) is traded.

Dan: Aledmys Diaz.  He was starting to make harder contact before he went down, and we need to see how he deals with this slump to see if he can be a long-term asset for this squad.  I’ll give you a pitcher too – Jack Flaherty.  I want to reward this guy with a cup of coffee.

Christian: Carson Kelly. I know I am probably unoriginal in saying this, but the kid deserves a damn shot. The only clear potential successor to one of the most legendary Cardinal catchers of all time in Yadier Molina, Kelly has displayed the offensive potential to step up to the plate.

Despite being mired in a 10-game stretch hitting .216 (with one home run and six RBI’s), Kelly is slashing .278/.367./.441 for Triple-A Memphis this season. What better way to compliment already good hitting than by playing with and learning from Yadi on a daily basis? Honestly, depriving him of that opportunity at this point is only stagnating his growth.

Trevor: Two answers to this.  I want to see Magnueris Sierra back up. He was a really quick spark plug, and just as fast was back in the minors.  Behind Alex Reyes and Carson Kelly, I see Mags as the best prospect in the organization, even above Harrison Bader.

The other guy I want to see is Carson Kelly.  He is the future backstop in St. Louis and he needs to get his feet wet at some point.  He can learn from Yadier Molina as well.  And it is not a stretch to want him up, he is hitting the ball very well in triple-A this year.

Larry-I’m on record as saying Carson Kelly needs to be up here to learn from Yadi, take a quarter of the starts and allow Molina to maintain a higher level of performance by gaining regular rest. Sierra should definitely return in September, and Bader should be here then as well.

6. Besides Alex Reyes, is there a prospect that is untouchable?

Josh: This is also a very tough question. What was once a fairly barren farm system has replenished very nicely. For me, Delvin Perez is completely untouchable. While Perez has struggled a bit early on this season, he is still a teenager with a very high ceiling.

Dr. Miles: I actually liked what Mozeliak said recently on KMOX that there are no untouchable players in the organization. I think that each and every prospect is expendable for the right price and for the right player landed. I also worry telling anyone they are untouchable could lead them to not push hard. Each team needs their prospects to push and push and push.

Tito: If there is an untouchable at this moment, you have to think it is Jack Flaherty. He has shown steady improvement this year, going from double-A to triple-A. He was recently featured in the All-Star Future’s Game as well. Some might say Carson Kelly or Delvin Perez, but good to great pitching is hard to come by.

Unfortunately, it seems like the only way to acquire names mentioned earlier would be to deal someone like a Jack Flaherty. If the St. Louis Cardinals can somehow find a way to keep Flaherty out of trade talks, it will be a good trade deadline.

Nathan: Carson Kelly is probably the only guy the Cardinals would need to see as an obvious overpay, if they’re going to move him. He’s the catcher of the future, and the top overall prospect in baseball his position. It’s not often you have the top prospect at the most important position on the field in your farm system.

Brendan: Paul DeJong. Untouchable might be strong, and I will fully cop to being a prisoner of the moment, but the performance he just put on in the Mets series was incredible.

Aledmys Diaz has the raw tools to produce at the major league level, but his continued development is no guarantee. He’s struggled this year, and the shortstop position is beginning to look more and more like a real question mark. DeJong can plug a lot of holes in an infield with a ton of moving parts.

Shane: I want to say Delvin Perez, but I think the better answer is Carson Kelly. I say that because Perez is still light years away from being in the big leagues. He may seem to have the skill-set and potential for the Majors, but nothing like Kelly. He is one of the best catching prospects and is patiently waiting for his turn.

For me, it’s hard to give up a guy that could go help a Major League team right away. Harrison Bader and Magnerius Sierra would also fall in this category, but I think Kelly is at the top of that group.

Dan: There are a few:  Jack Flaherty, Carson Kelly, Mags Sierra, and Delvin Perez.

Christian: Luke Voit. A big player with decent mobility at first base, Voit has demonstrated offensive and defensive ability that go beyond his size. He has shown a decent eye at the plate, and excellent fielding reaction and mobility, making a couple of web gem diving catches at first that were impressive for his size.

Many of the other potential big league prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system don’t have the potential combination of power, skill, and agility that Voit provides.

Trevor: Carson Kelly.  Going beyond the fact that no team should trade the top catcher prospect, there is another reason the St. Louis Cardinals need to keep Kelly. They have put too much time and energy into grooming him to just trade him away before he gets substantial MLB time.

Remember, Kelly started as a third baseman. They transitioned to catcher early on.  It has not been an easy process, but they are so close it would be unthinkable to give him up.  Oh yeah, not to mention the current franchise catcher is not getting any younger.

Larry: Kelly, but with one caveat — if Mo and Girsch really believe Kelly should remain in the minors through, say, 2019, then they should trade him now. Leaving an asset like that in AAA for two and a half more years is simply absurd.

7. Should the Cardinals try to move any current MLB players at the deadline? If so who?

Josh: If the team can get a decent offer for Lance Lynn, they need to consider it. The team has guys who can slide into the starting rotation tomorrow, if needed. Capitalizing on Lynn’s value in a deal, instead of just potentially getting a draft pick for him, seems like the smart move for a team in limbo.

Dr. Miles: I believe the time is nigh to move Matt Carpenter and/or Kolten Wong. I just don’t see both left-handed infielders remaining on the team. Gyorko helps with this and the names offered above illustrate “replacements” that would improve the team over either or both Carpenter/Wong.

Tito: This obviously hinges on where the Cardinals are at the end of July. Considering I am a buyer, I don’t think the Cardinals should move anyone from the current roster. I think the team still has a chance. However, ask me on July 31st to see if I give you the same answer.

If there is a person to move, then Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, and Seung-hwan Oh are names I would consider moveable. In a stranger world, I also would consider moving Matt Carpenter for the right price.

Nathan: Lance Lynn and Seung-Hwan Oh are the obvious names. The Cardinals have enough starting pitching talent in their system that they might not try to re-sign Lynn at season’s end anyway. He’s exactly the type of middle-of-the-rotation guy contenders are always looking for at the deadline.

Oh has regressed, after his outstanding rookie year, and I’m not sure what his future looks like with the Cardinals should they re-sign him. Closers often rise up unexpectedly, and the Cardinals have plenty of fire-ballers in the minor leagues who could fit that bill should Oh be on his way out. They also still have Trevor Rosenthal.

Brendan: Lance Lynn is the name being tossed around by most. He’s going to try to earn some serious cash when this contract expires, as he should. He doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he’s shown his ability to win ball games as a starter for several years now.

The Cardinals have multiple young arms they’d like to see move up in the organization and Alex Reyes should **knocks on all the wood** return next season. Lynn is beginning to look expendable. Why not try to move him now and see what he can fetch?

Shane: I mentioned it in a recent post, and I think Lance Lynn would be the best current MLB player to be traded. He is not a super dominant pitcher, but gets the job done. What makes him a prime candidate to trade is that he will be a free agent next year and the Cardinals have a plethora of young pitching that could replace him in the majors.

To me, it doesn’t make sense to trade Matt Carpenter because he is a fan favorite and a vital part of the offense. Jedd Gyorko is probably another popular option, but I disagree with that move because he’s been one of the Cardinals top players this season.

Dan: Yes.  The Cardinals should move Lynn and Oh.  I would also try to clear up roster congestion and sell high to the Red Sox or Yankees on Gyorko.  If the return is Andrew Miller-esque, then the Cardinals should consider moving Cecil and Rosenthal.

Christian: They don’t need to try to move players, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t hesitate to. To be honest, there is no player on this team worth trading that will garner much value on the trade market. There’s not much else to say, but listen to all callers and pull the trigger without abandon if someone offers a good deal for MLB talent outside of just a few names.

Guys like Wainwright and Yadi, who are St. Louis Cardinals legends, are untouchable under circumstances outside of them asking for a trade. Some of the young guys should be kept based on what is offered. Other than that, fire away if you get a prospect or fill a need for the next couple of seasons.

Trevor: The guy who will probably get the most value is Trevor Rosenthal.  He is still young and still shows some flashes of what he can be. He still has a 100 MPH fastball as well.  That alone will attract attention from other teams.  Even if he is struggling, other teams will see his live arm and think they know how to fix it.  That will give him value to other teams.

It will all be about what the St. Louis Cardinals want back from the other team.  That price tag will determine a lot.  However, and I have said this for years, they need to sell high on Rosy.  His fastball may attract attention, but his inability to be a pitcher will eventually ward off other teams.

Larry: I think most of the guys should be tradable, but: (A) some don’t have great value right now (e.g., Grichuk, Diaz, probably Wong until he’s healthy), or (B) some we wouldn’t trade without a major improvement to the team (Carp, Gyorko, Piscotty). I would say Lance Lynn is a good guy to deal if we’re not playing for this year.

8. Give your own trade idea for the Cardinals to make, whether that be as buyers or sellers.

Josh: Harrison Bader, Sandy Alcantara, Luke Weaver, Jordan Hicks for Giancarlo Stanton. In this deal, the St. Louis Cardinals will take on the entirety of Stanton’s contract. In turn, this allows the Cardinals to not cripple their entire farm system to add the slugger. The Marlins get money off the books and pieces for their rebuild, everyone wins.

Dr. Miles: I would send Wong and other prospects to Toronto for Troy Tulo. I would also send Carpenter and prospects to Miami for Stanton. It isn’t my money, so that’s what I would do. I would then move Aledmys Diaz to third, Gyorko to second, and keep Voit at first and platoon him with Piscotty there when Stanton plays RF. Oh, and find a way to get Grichuk involved in either going to Toronto or Miami!

Tito: I would trade Luke Weaver, Delvin Perez, Harrison Bader, and Alcantara for Stanton. Would the Marlins do that? Probably not, but what do they know?

Nathan: Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees for infielder Jorge Mateo. Mateo is 22 and signed internationally by the Yankees in 2012. He’s at the double-A level. Formerly the organization’s top overall prospect, he had a rough season last year and has fallen a bit off the radar. However, he is still the team’s fourth overall prospect.

He has a blend of speed and defensive skills that are premium at the shortstop position, and his offensive game has seen positive development this season. With the amount of outfield and pitching depth the Cardinals have at the minor-league level, expect them to target infield talent should they be sellers at the deadline.

Brendan: The Mets might be convinced to take a flyer on outfielder Randal Grichuk, and I like the idea of the Cardinals adding Addison Reed. I haven’t given up on Randal myself, but he’s certainly not untouchable.

Perhaps a package featuring Grich and a low-level prospect would be enough given the fact that Reed’s contract expires in 2017. The Cardinals could add bullpen help without having to give up much of their future. However, that depends greatly on how each of these organizations view Grichuk.

Shane: I don’t have any blockbuster deals in mind. Instead, I can see the Cardinals trading for a middle to low tier player like Chicago White Sox outfielder, Avisail Garcia. These are the type of moves Mozeliak and the front office often make. Nothing that breaks the bank, but they are trades that cost little while still adding value to the team. Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer of the Kansas Royals would also be in this level of players.

Dan: Lance Lynn to the Yankees for Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield.  If you think the Cardinals have an outfield logjam, the Yankees really do.  They need starter help to compete for a wild card spot. The Yankees could flip assets received from the Indians in the Andrew Miller deal to get Lance Lynn for their playoff run.

The Yankee rotation lacks consistency.  Lance Lynn is a model of consistency.  Mo should pull the trigger on this if possible.

Jedd Gyorko to the Red Sox for Rafael Devers.  The Red Sox have a black hole at third base because Pablo Sandoval is visiting an all-you-can-eat donut buffet for the rest of his career.  Sell high on Gyorko.  He causes too much roster confusion to remain on this team.  He is an over-achieving super-utility player.

Rosenthal to the Nationals for Victor Robles and Austin Voth.  The Nationals keep losing games due to their beleaguered bullpen. They likely will not give up Robles for Oh, but they need to throw in another prospect if they want the better guy with more control who throws 100.  The Nationals will do this deal.

Christian: Cardinals acquire: RP Brad Brach, SS Ryan Mountcastle and Orioles acquire: 2B Matt Carpenter, OF Randal Grichuk, SS Paul DeJong.

With the middle infield depth the St. Louis Cardinals have with Kolten Wong soon returning, the team can afford to give away some of its current middle infield talent to fill needs both now and in the future. While Brach could immediately come in as the closer for the team for the short-term, Mountcastle is a versatile prospect on the offensive and defensive end the Orioles are pushing to develop at shortstop.

While the 20-year old’s lack of arm strength will somewhat limit what positions he plays, the combination of speed, power, and vision will make the loss of the hot-hitting DeJong in the trade worth it in the long-term as well.

Trevor: Personally, I think the best trade deal lies with the Tigers.  So that being said: J.D. Martinez and Justin Wilson for Harrison Bader.

Larry: Lynn and a secondary prospect or a middle infielder to the Yankees for Didi Gregorius. The Yanks could really use the pitching, and we could definitely use a proven shortstop til we sort through who else is capable of everyday play there. Plus, it would open up other post-season deals since we have an abundance of middle infielders (DeJong, Diaz, Wong, Garcia, Mejia, Carp if Voit succeeds at first base) from which to choose a second baseman and utility infielder.

John Mozeliak and the St. Louis Cardinals front office will have a lot on their plate in the coming weeks. What they decide to do will set the tone for the rest of the year. Cardinal fans will have to be patient and hope the team will continue to play as well as they were before the break.

The Redbird Rants writers have thrown out their ideas for the trade deadline. Will Mozeliak add one of the players mentioned? Or does he have some of his own ideas up his sleeve? Until something does happen, expect rumors to be rampant and all over the place.

St. Louis Cardinals: Round one of 125 greatest competition

The St. Louis Cardinals are a massive piece of baseball lore. 2017 marks the 125th year and contains a treasure trove of great moments.

No matter what happens, the second half of the season is looking a lot more interesting than it did just a few weeks ago. St. Louis Cardinals fans should be excited about the play of the Cardinals of late and know that the Redbird Rants staff will have plenty more to say in the coming weeks.