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

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ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 24: St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak watches the Opening Day game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates from the upper seats at Busch Stadium on July 24, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

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.

MITCH HANIGER

Mitch Haniger has been brought up in Cardinals trade rumors for a few years now. Jerry Dipoto and the Seattle Mariners love to deal, and Haniger might be a tick too old to be valuable once their top prospects reach the majors. We know there is a relationship with the Cardinals, too, as they traded for Marco Gonzalez a few years back.

A Haniger trade would be the definition of buying low. The 29-year old was an All-Star and received MVP votes in 2018. In 2019, however, he slugged .463 in a limited 63 games before a gruesome foul ball injury sidelined him from June to the end of the year. Unfortunately, that was the last time he took the field, as the pandemic kept Haniger’s rehab from ever really getting off the ground.

There are definitely some risks here with Mitch Haniger. The recent injury history is scary, and he’ll be 30 when the season starts in 2021. Additionally, he brings another right-handed bat to a St. Louis Cardinals lineup that needs more left-handed balance.

The upside, however, might make this worth it. Haniger has two years left on his contract– this year at three million and then one last year in arbitration. You’d be getting a solid player on a friendly deal, which is even more valuable in the fallout from this strange year. Haniger is also consistent in the outfield, playing all three positions throughout his career. A true five-tool player, a healthy Mitch Haniger would immediately improve the lineup.

The question, of course, is what the price would be. There’s a chance the Mariners would want the Cards to pay 2018 value on Haniger, which would be too much. But if the Cardinals can get a discount on this productive superstar, it could be just the right move.

ANDREW BENINTENDI

Prepare yourself to look at the strange young career of Andrew Benintendi. Drafted 7th overall in 2015, Benintendi made his debut the very next season for the playoff Red Sox. Quickly establishing himself as the everyday left fielder, Benintendi finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 and hit .290 with 87 RBI in 2018.

Injuries took much of his season in 2020, but 2019 was a difficult year for Benintendi as well. The entire Red Sox team struggled, and Benintendi posted career lows in every batting stat, while also striking out more often. Either the Red Sox succeeded because of Benintendi, or Benintendi struggled as the surrounding players in Boston got older and worse.

The only thing I’m sure about is that Benintendi is due for a rebound. Only 26 years old, it could be that the former top prospect simply needs a change of scenery. Boston can be a tough place to play, and it must have gotten tougher as they have started a rebuild. Maybe a trade to St. Louis, where Benintendi has some connections, might be just the thing he needs.

The Cardinals might not want to pay all of Benintendi’s contract– he is arbitration-eligible for the last time in 2022 before free agency in 2023. In addition, the Red Sox will surely demand a lot for one of their top players. The fit, however, is pretty great. Slotting Benintendi’s left-handed bat into the lineup and top-notch defense into left field would be a huge improvement for the Cardinals. If I’m John Mozeliak and looking to acquire young talent, this would be the first player I call about this offseason.

BRANDON MARSH

Most baseball fans know Mitch Haniger and Andrew Benintendi. This guy is more of a wildcard. For those that don’t know him, Brandon Marsh is the current top prospect in the Los Angeles Angels farm system. He is also the number 73 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. Most importantly, the 6’4” left-handed power hitter is 22-years old and might be available in a trade.

The Angles have no pitching and an abundance of outfielders. Ahead of Marsh is veteran Justin Upton (signed through 2022), last year’s top Angels prospect Jo Adell, and a guy named Mike Trout. With Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols taking at-bats at DH, there really isn’t that much playing time available for Marsh in 2021. As the clock ticks on LA’s competitive window, Marsh might be most valuable to the Angels as a trade asset.

The Cardinals would probably prefer to add a more proven bat to their lineup. However, it would be tough to pass up the opportunity to acquire this talent. Marsh can play all three positions in the outfield, he is a threat on the basepaths, and maybe most importantly, he would be under team control for multiple seasons.

It would be tough to pry Brandon Marsh away from the Angels this offseason– they still haven’t agreed to a deal with a new general manager, but I assume that whoever the new GM is will be careful during their first offseason in charge. That being said, the future would be quite bright in St. Louis if the Cardinals are able to make this deal.

Jul 8, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) on the field during the Boston Red Sox Summer Camp at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

I have no doubt that John Mozeliak is inquiring on all three of these outfielders, and if the Cardinals were to acquire any of them, it would be a big win for the organization. Questions will remain about whether Benintendi or Haniger would resign after their contracts expire, but that is a risk you have to take.

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.

MITCH HANIGER

ANDREW BENINTENDI

BRANDON MARSH

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