St. Louis Cardinals: Three outfield trade targets that won’t break the bank

The St. Louis Cardinals need to improve their offense without spending much money. Here are three potential trade targets that would achieve both goals.

Now that the offseason has begun, it is time for the St. Louis Cardinals to upgrade the offense. We’re already off to quite a whirlwind start, but we’re still talking about how below-average the lineup has been. Now that the hot stove has been turned on, let’s get into some potential trade targets.

With the exceptions of Paul Goldschmidt at first and Paul DeJong at short, pretty much every position on the Cardinals is open for a new addition. Dylan Carlson will get playing time, and Tommy Edman too, but other than that the Cardinals have the ability to improve everywhere.

The outfield has been the focus of trades for the last few years. From defensive-minded Jason Heyward to underperforming (in St. Louis) Marcell Ozuna to not-reaching-his-potential Tyler O’Neill, it hasn’t been a lack of effort from the front office, but lack of production. With payrolls expected to drop drastically this season, many quality targets might become available.

Here are three outfield trade targets for the St. Louis Cardinals that will improve the lineup without breaking the bank. While there are plenty of other names out there to consider, these three are young and don’t carry an expensive contract. Each player will come at a high price, but they could each be difference makers as the Cards look for stability and production in the heart of the order.