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

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.