St. Louis Cardinals: A trade proposal for the Cardinals and Royals

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ST LOUIS, MO – MAY 2: A general view of Busch Stadium during the eighth inning of a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox on May 2, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) /

Redbird Rants and Kings of Kaufman, the FanSided Kansas City Royals site, made a mock trade that should benefit both clubs. The St. Louis Cardinals would get MIke Moustakas and the Royals would get three prospects.

The Kansas City Royals MIke Moustakas, has been tied to many trade rumors involving the St. Louis Cardinals. The left-handed power hitting third baseman would be a nice fit in the Redbird lineup, possibly helping to ignite the offense and solidify the infield defense.

The Kansas City Royals have been shedding talent in June to start a major rebuild project. Already traded this month have been outfielder Jon Jay and closer Kevin Herrera. The Herrera trade alone to the Washington Nationals, indicated the Royals plan to give up on this season and start the rebuilding project.

Mike Moustakas could be the next Royals piece to go. With his trade friendly one year contract, teams mentioned as interested in ‘Moose’ along with the Cardinals are the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets. Therefore, a trade of Moustakas seems to be imminent.

Over the weekend, contributors from Redbird Rants and our FanSided cousins, Kings of Kaufman, negotiated a mock trade.

The negotiations started with the KoK inquiring about the availability of Cardinal top prospects, outfielder Tyler O’Neil, pitcher Dakota Hudson, outfielder Oscar Mercado, and third baseman Evan Mendoza. Also during negotiations, Cardinals’ second base prospect Max Shrock, veteran reliever and current minor leaguer, Edward Mujica, were discussed as possible trade pieces as part of the package in order to secure the services of Moustakas.

After much back and forth, the Redbird Rants contributors offered Mercado and Mendoza to the KoK contributors for Moustakas.

Finally, the King of Kaufman contributors agreed to send Mike Moustakas to the St. Louis Cardinals for Oscar Mercado and Evan Mendoza, if Redbird Rants would throw in AA pitching prospect Colton Thomson. The Redbird Rants contributors agreed and the mock trade was completed.

JUPITER, FL – FEBRUARY 20: Oscar Mercado #74 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a portrait at Roger Dean Stadium on February 20, 2018 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Who did the St. Louis Cardinals lose?

Oscar Mercado, Evan Mendoza, and Colton Thomas all were sent to the Royals for Moustakas.

Oscar Mercado

The right-handed hitting outfielder was considered to be a top 20 prospect for the Cardinals going into the 2018 season. He is currently at AAA Memphis and playing primarily center field for the Redbirds. Mercado is considered to be a good defensive outfielder using his ‘plus plus’ speed. The 23-year-old has a slash line of .302/.368/.440 with six home runs and 31 RBI in 268 AB.

Mercado, a former second round pick in 2014 and originally a shortstop, seems to be destined for a top of the order hitter with his speed.

Evan Mendoza

Mendoza entered the 2018 season considered to be a Cardinal top 50 prospect. The 21-year-old infielder is a solid glove at either third or short, however he has spent 2018 at third base. The right-handed hitter was promoted from A Palm Beach to AA Springfield after hitting a torrid .349 in 37 games. Thus far in Springfield in 36 games, he has hit 13 HR and 26 RBI with a .290 BA.

Mendoza was drafted by the Cardinals in the 11th round of the June 2017 Amateur Draft. Considered aggressive at the plate, Mendoza is expected to develop into a middle of the order hitter.

Colton Thompson

The Cardinals signed the left-handed pitcher in 2016 to a free agent contract. The former New Mexico Lobo, has been gradually climbed the Cardinals minor league system and is now at AA Springfield. Used primarily as a reliever, Thompson was promoted to Springfield after posting a 1.65 ERA in nine games at A Palm Beach. Currently he has a 5.27 ERA in 21 games at Springfield.

Mike Moustakas

The St. Louis Cardinals would receive 29-year-old Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, in our mock trade with the KoK.

MIke Moustakas came to the Kansas City Royals as the second overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft right out of high school. By 2009, he was considered the top minor prospect in all of baseball. Moustakas was called up to the Royals on June 9, 2011 and made his major league debut against the Los Angeles Angels the following night.

Moutaskas is a left-handed power bat that plays a steady third base. In his eight year career with Kansas City, he has a slash line of .252/.306/.429, a career WAR of 12.5, and has averaged 24 HR and 76 RBI. “Moose” as Moutaskas is affectionately called by Royals fans, has two All Star Game appearances, a World Series Championship(2015), and the 2017 AL Comeback Player of the Year.

During the Royals 2014 AL Championship run, he hit five home runs that lead all lead all postseason players. In the 2015 World Series versus the New York Mets, he hit .304 in 23 plate appearances to help the Royals win their first World Series in 30 years.

On March 10, 2018, Moustakas and the Royals agreed a one year $5.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2019. Thus far in 2018, Moustakas has a slash line of .255/.312/.463 with 14 HR, 48 RBI, and a WAR of 1.5.

With the trade market saturated with third base options, the Royals have used him at first base two games this year, in order to show versatility to potential suitors. Manny Machado, Josh Danielson, and Andrian Beltre are other potential third base options teams will be looking at before the Trade Deadline.

Therefore, Moustakas value will be measured against the affordability, health, age, and production of at least four other players.

ST. LOUIS, MO – APRIL 28: A general shot of a St. Louis Cardinals helmet and a bat in the dugout during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on April 28, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3. (Photo by David Welker/Getty Images) /

Conclusion

I believe this mock trade between Redbird Rant and the KIngs of Kaufman that brings Mike Moustakas to the St. Louis Cardinals is a good one. As one might say, “a win-win for both groups.

Here’s why:

-The Cardinals would be getting a left-handed power bat that would fit nicely in the middle of the lineup. The Cardinals don’t really have a left-handed power option in their lineup. Matt Carpenter has returned to lead off and Dexter Fowler doesn’t really fit that role. However, Jose Martinez, Moustakas, and Marcell Ozuna would be a potentially potent right, left, right option for the Cardinals in their middle batting order.

-Moose’ would allow Matt Carpenter to move to second to keep his bat in the everyday lineup. My personal belief is Carpenter is better suited for second base than third base. Jedd Gyorko could still move between third, short, and second, keeping his steady bat and glove in the lineup most days.

-Moustakas could also play first for the Cardinals, possibly to keep his bat in the lineup in late innings as a defensive substitute for Jose Martinez. His work at first has been limited this year with the Royals, but I believe he has the hands and footwork to make a decent first baseman.

-Redbird Rants gave up three fine prospects to complete this mock trade. Oscar Mercado and Evan Mendoza are both highly rated prospects in the Cardinals minor league system. Colton Thompson is a left-handed pitching prospect, while not currently highly rated in the farm system, could be a good piece down the road. Giving them up wasn’t easy and did cause some debate among the Redbird Rants contributors. However, the Cardinals minor league system is fairly deep and we believe can absorb the loss of these prospects.

-Mike Moustakas’ very friendly contract of one year, $6.5 million, the Cardinals can easily absorb. Also, Moustakas is a better option than the now often injured aging Josh Donaldson and the 39-year-old Andrian Beltre.

-Finally, Manny Machado would be much more expensive to the Cardinals as far as prospects, for a likely one year rental. The Cardinals will have a better chance to bring back Moustakas for 2019 and beyond at a more affordable price than Machado.

We feel at Redbird Rants this is a low risk, low cost, and possibly high reward trade for the St Louis Cardinals. Also, if made in the near future, it could make a difference in this team making the 2018 post season.

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What do you think of this mock trade? Would you make it? Let us know.

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