5 starting pitching targets for St. Louis Cardinals after recent injuries

Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Atlanta Braves in Game Four of the World Series at Truist Park on October 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Atlanta Braves in Game Four of the World Series at Truist Park on October 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Cardinals
John Mozeliak (L) and Bill DeWitt, Jr. managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals talk in the dugout prior to a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on September 29, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Cubs 4-0. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Sean Manaea

The Oakland Athletics have ramped up their fire sale with the trade of Matt Olsen to the Atlanta Braves. Many around the league believe this is the first of many moves in the A’s rebuild, include a trade of Sean Manaea in the near future.

Originally drafted by the Royals, Manaea made his major league debut with the Athletics in 2016, and the A’s pitcher has been a solid starter thus far in his career. The 29-year-old lefty has a career ERA of 3.86, including a 2021 where his ERA was 3.91 across 179.1 innings of work. Like Greinke, Manaea is a dependable innings eater who keeps his club in games, and could really benefit from the Cardinals defense.

Manaea would not be cheap in a trade, but his value would not require the Cardinals to give up any of their top prospects. Adding another lefty to the rotation gives the club another kind of arm, and would really stabilize the rotation heading into the regular season.