Re-tooling the St. Louis Cardinals Roster for 2020

We can all agree that the 2019 St. Louis Cardinals have failed expectations due to underperformance and poor roster construction. It is time for a re-tool, of sorts.

I am careful to use the word re-tool here instead of rebuild. Nobody wants to see a prolonged losing stretch like that of the Marlins come to the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, I would like to take advantage of the current trade market while also keeping the team in a place to compete again as soon as next season.

The Yankees did a great job of doing this in the past, and now they find themselves built for the long haul. It is going to take a lot of roster churn, but should the Cardinals give up on 2019, there are a lot of options to turn current players into a talent for down the road.

To do this, I have come up with five separate trades to move on salary and a bit of roster gridlock. The concept is this: move veterans who still hold trade value to open spots for younger players.

Trade #1: Three team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians

Cardinals get: Marcus Stroman and Ken Giles

Blue Jays get: Alex Reyes, Tyler Freeman, Luis Oviedo, and Yu Chang

Indians get: Marcell Ozuna and Jose Martinez

Start with a blockbuster, huh? Stroman and Giles are attractive pitchers for this type of re-tool due to their extended contractual control. They fit the bill for competing next year, while also improving upon what is currently in St. Louis.

The Indians need outfield help more than any team in baseball. That makes two big-hitting corner outfielders that much more attractive. This would solve a big need in Cleveland, without completely selling off the future.

Toronto gets the big haul they desire for their best pitchers. Reyes is a former top prospect with an electric fastball and knee-buckling curveball. Slowed by injuries, a change of scenery may be just what he needs.

Freeman (Indians #3, MLB #86 prospect) is a 20-year old bat first middle infielder who is currently in A ball. Oviedo (Indians #8) is a hard-throwing right-handed starter with three reliable secondary pitches. He is also currently in A ball. Lastly, Chang (Indians #11) is a right-handed SS/3B power bat. Currently in AAA, Chang has the potential to hit for power at a premium position.

Trade #2: Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals get: Jay Groome and C.J. Chatham

Red Sox get: Carlos Martinez and Kolten Wong

The Red Sox need bullpen help like almost no other (sorry, Nationals). Martinez represents a major upgrade to the back end of a bullpen that sorely misses Craig Kimbrel and is in major need of a reliable arm. Wong would make a very nice, slick-fielding, left-handed insurance plan on Dustin Pedroia‘s knee.

Both players are under control for a number of years beyond 2019, and both are flexible in their roles. Martinez has the ability to go multiple innings, and could even start in 2020. Wong has played center field in the past, and his elite defense should translate all over the diamond.

The Cardinals would be getting something they haven’t had in quite a while: a left-handed starter with big upside. Groome (Boston #4) was taken 12th overall in the 2016 draft and has struggled with injuries during his short pro career. However, when healthy, Groome has showcased the fantastic curveball and mid-90s fastball that gave him so much draft intrigue. Chatham (Boston #8) is a high contact, slick-fielding shortstop currently in AA.

Trade #3: St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres

Cardinals get: Ryan Weathers, Osvaldo Hernandez, and Gabriel Arias

Padres get: Matt Carpenter, Michael Wacha, Dominic Leone, and Tyler Webb

The Padres have been a pleasant surprise thus far in 2019. However, they could use a veteran pitcher to help stabilize a rotation of youngsters. Enter Wacha. While inconsistent, Wacha has shown flashes of the pitcher that set St. Louis buzzing in his rookie year of 2013.

As recently as last year, Wacha recorded a 3.20 ERA in 15 starts. Add in the help he will receive from Petco Park, Wacha could really hold value for a young Padres team. Carpenter represents a left-handed corner-infield power bat that would complement a predominantly right-handed offense. Not to mention, Carpenter has played second base in the past, a spot currently manned by the aging Ian Kinsler. Leone and Webb would add depth to a mediocre bullpen.

Weathers (San Diego #6, MLB #72), a high-floor, well-rounded lefty, has stuff that won’t blow hitters away but will allow him to become a useful, dependable starter. His high-spin fastball sits in the low 90s with deceptive run.

Also possessing a similarly effective changeup and curveball, he is capable of turning into a Jake Westbrook-esque major-league arm. Hernandez (San Diego #23), who has had recent success in rookie-level and high-A ball, profiles as a farther-down-the-road, similar style arm to Weathers. Arias (San Diego #20) is a slick-fielding shortstop with some potential in his bat currently in high-A.

Trade #4: St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals

Cardinals get: Luis Garcia and Tim Cate

Nationals get: Miles Mikolas and Andrew Miller

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you Washington! With a large need on the pitching side of things, Mikolas shores up a top-heavy rotation and Miller helps stabilize what is, once again, an awful bullpen.

It’s hard to make (and advance) in the modern postseason without a lock-down pitching staff. A rotation of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasbourg, Patrick Corbin, Miles Mikolas, and Anibal Sanchez would be hard to beat, especially once the postseason rolls around and Sanchez can pitch from the ‘pen.

Garcia (Washington #2, MLB #61) is a potential 4 tool player, lacking only over-the-fence power. He plays good defense and is a quality hitter at a premium position (when at shortstop). His versatility makes him even more attractive. Cate (Washington #5) has three distinct offerings, with the curveball being the best by far. His ceiling is that of a 2 or 3 starter in a quality rotation.

Many of you are probably thinking, who would play the rest of the year? With these trades, playing time opens up all over the field. My ideal starting position players would be Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman, Paul DeJong, Yairo Munoz, Tyler O’Neill, Harrison Bader, and Dylan Carlson. For those of you who don’t know Carlson’s name, look him up. He’s the real deal. The idea here is to give your younger guys playing time down the stretch and see what they are really made of. Especially with O’Neill, who seems to only get about four or five starts at a time.

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The rotation would go, Marcus Stroman, Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson, Daniel Ponce de Leon, and Adam Wainwright. I believe that it is a safe assumption that Wainwright will retire at the end of the year. He’s 38 and had a wonderful career. That leaves an open rotation spot to be claimed by any of the aforementioned trade acquisitions or current minor leaguers.

The bullpen, however, would be patchwork, besides Giles closing. The bright side of this is that it only takes an offseason to rebuild a bullpen, and we would now have plenty of prospects to get it done.

The St. Louis Cardinals would simply be re-tooling, not rebuilding.

They would have a young, fresh, energetic team going into 2020, along with a robust farm system to account for any needed bullpen trades. This farm system would gain the #61 and #71 MLB prospects, along with a plethora of young talent. Oh, don’t forget about Stroman and Giles. Giles and Hicks would go on to form one of the best 1-2 bullpen combinations in baseball.

A rebuilt farm system and a refreshed lineup seem to be exactly what the Cardinals have needed for about a year now. Sadly, I am not in charge to make these trades myself. One can only hope John Mozeliak reads this himself and takes the hint.

Cowritten by Andrew Meng, a good friend and fellow nerd