Big Game Hunting: Four superstars the St. Louis Cardinals should swing for

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 05: Mike Trout #27 speaks to Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 5, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

MIKE TROUT

There is no need for an explanation of why a baseball team would want Mike Trout.

However, for the St. Louis Cardinals in particular, Mike Trout wearing the Birds on the Bat would be the most poetic baseball move I could possibly think of. As Albert Pujols went to finish his career in Los Angeles, the Cardinals would return the favor and take on the Angels’ best player ten years later. Yeah, I know he signed a contract with the Angels that lasts through 2030. But just hear me out for a second:

About ten years ago, Albert came off of his third MVP win. He was the leader of a team that had been to the playoffs in six of his first nine seasons, and the undisputed best player in baseball. This offseason, Mike Trout celebrated his third MVP and reminded us that he is still the best in the game. The difference is that he has a grand total of one postseason hit, having made the playoffs once in his first nine seasons.

The Angels’ struggles are well-documented, but Trout’s willingness to sign the long-term extension was supposed to be a sign of his commitment to staying in Los Angeles either way. I find that hard to believe.

It’s become increasingly more common in the sports world for star players to request trades when their team fails to be competitive. We can look once more to Arenado as an example of a superstar signing an extension, and then growing disappointed in his organization as they lose repeatedly.

There is a less than one percent chance that Mike Trout gets traded. But what if 2024 rolls along, and the Angels still haven’t found postseason success? After seeing the reception that Cardinals fans gave his teammate and friend Albert Pujols last summer, it’s not crazy to think that St. Louis would be a top destination on Trout’s list.

Despite the fantastic fit, the Cardinals would have to give up an enormous amount of talent to acquire any of these four. Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore, even Dylan Carlson as well as significant major league talent would be necessary to complete a deal. Not to mention the large contracts that most of these players would then require in order to stay around.

Whether it is at the trade deadline, next offseason, or in 2024, these four names are unlikely to be part of future St. Louis Cardinal teams. Nevertheless, the Cardinals won’t be afraid to go after the big fish and swing big for these stars.

As long as there is baseball, there will be fans clamoring for a big trade. Here’s to the next one working out in favor of the Cardinals– whether it’s Arenado, Bieber, or someone else, a superstar goes a long way towards winning another championship.