St. Louis Cardinals: Four players likely to be traded this offseason

Lane Thomas

No other player on the team this year was played less than Thomas was when he was on the MLB roster. The epitome of what a player looks like when the team has no plans for him, Thomas was up in the Majors the majority of the year but was sent up and down four times during the season.

He appeared in 34 games at the MLB level but started just three of those, all in one week. In those three starts, Thomas went 5-12 with six RBIs. Did that change how the team played him? Nope. It was right back to the bench, not to be seen again until a missing person report was filed on him.

Thomas then broke his wrist and was sidelined the last month of the season, ending what was surely a frustrating time for the rookie. In all, Thomas his .316 with a 1.093 OPS and four homers and 12 RBIs over the 38 at-bats he received in his rookie season and could seemingly do nothing to get in the lineup more.

That is why I believe he’ll get his name called for a trade in the offseason. Why else would the team not play the rookie who is clearly performing? He likely isn’t in the plans and the team is shutting him out when he tries to butt his way in. Thomas played a positive defensive center field and has speed on the bases.

There is nobody else that I could see more likely to turn out like the Oscar Mercado trade. If the team trades him, they will probably end up regretting it.

There aren’t any real exciting trades that I believe are likely this offseason, but of these complementary players, the Cardinals could exchange them for other pieces that they need. As has been the case in recent years, there is a ton of outfield depth which is where I believe a trade should come from. Whether or not they do, we will find out in the coming months.