4 potential blockbuster trades for the St. Louis Cardinals

Jose Ramirez

Cardinals Receive: INF Jose Ramirez 

Guardians Receive: SS Paul Dejong, 3B Jordan Walker (#2 prospect), LHP Zach Thompson (#6 prospect), OF Alec Burleson (#14 prospect)

Starting out with a bang here, Guardians INF Jose Ramirez is one of the hottest names on the market right now. Cleveland is in no rush to move him, but given the right package, the team would be willing to move him.

This would be a huge swing for the Cardinals, but it can be argued that the club would be World Series contenders if they made the deal. Jose Ramirez batted .266/.355/.538 with 32 HRs, 32 doubles, 103 RBIs, and 27 SB across 152 games. As a switch hitter, Ramirez brings power from both sides of the plate and another elite hitter to an already strong lineup. He can step in at second base and allow Edman to shift to shortstop, and could give the club this potential line:

2B Jose Ramirez

1B Paul Goldschmidt

LF Tyler O’Neill

3B Nolan Arenado

RF Dylan Carlson

DH Nolan Gorman/Juan Yepez

CF Harrison Bader

C Yadier Molina

SS Tommy Edman

Jose Ramirez is under team control for $12 million and $14 million the next two seasons, and provides flexibility, being able to play any of the four infield positions.

This trade comes at a price though, as the Cardinals would part ways with rising prospect Jordan Walker, who at this rate will be at top 10 prospect in baseball by years end. Paul Dejong gives the Guardians a solid shortstop to compete with or to deal for additional prospects later. Guys like Zack Thompson and Alec Burleson gives Cleveland other future quality big leaguers to accelerate their rebuild.

Craig Kimbrel

Cardinals Receive: RP Craig Kimbrel

White Sox Receive: SS Maysn Winn (#5 prospect) and RHP Austin Love (#15 prospect)

The Cardinals have a lot of uncertainty in their bullpen, and acquiring an arm like Craig Kimbrel could solve that issue.

After two straight down years in the North Side of Chicago, Craig Kimbrel found himself rejuvenated while playing for both the Cubs and White Sox in 2021. Kimbrel had an ERA of 2.26 across 59.2 innings for the ballclubs, serving as the Cubs closer and then the White Sox set-up man. Kimbrel did struggle more as a member of the White Sox, and that may be attributed to a mid season role change. Kimbrel is under contract for $16 million this year, and the South Side just brought in Joe Kelly on a two year deal.

There are rumors that the White Sox are willing to deal their set-up man, and may be drawn to acquiring a high upside prospect in Maysn Winn who has the potential to be a great short stop or reliever, and future bullpen help in Austin Love. For the Cardinals, parting with these two prospects would be painful, but would bring in a high level bullpen arm that the club desperately needs.

Frankie Montas

Cardinals Receive: RHP Frankie Montas

Athletics Receive: RHP Alex Reyes, OF Joshua Baez (#6 prospect)

Frankie Montas really emerged as a high level starter for the Oakland Athletics in 2021, posting an ERA of 3.37 across 187 innngs of work. With one year left on his contract, it is very likely that the club would want to move him for prospects and young talent.

Montas would provide the Cardinals a high level, dependable arm that can pair with Wainwright, Hudson, Matz, and Mikolas, and hopefully a healthy Jack Flaherty. Montas provides the Cardinals with a high strike out starter that they do not currently have.

The A’s gain a high-risk, high-reward of arm in Alex Reyes, who has shown flashes of being a dominate reliever or starter in this league, but has struggled with injuries and consistency. OF Joshua Baez is another high risk, high reward prospect, who has huge raw power, and could be a plug hitter if it all comes together.

John Means

Cardinals Receive: LHP John Means

Orioles Receive:  LHP Zach Thompson (#6 prospect),1B Juan Yepez (#7 prospect), RHP Michael McGreevy (#10 prospect)

Baltimore seems to be in a never-ending rebuild, but continuing to build their prospect pool by dealing an arm like John Means could be the final “bottoming out” move before they begin to rise back into contention.

Like the Montas trade, the Cardinals receive a high level arm, this time a lefty in Means, who can provide stability and production that the club needs badly. Means was an All-Star and finished second in the Cy Young voting in 2019, and had an ERA of 3.62 over 146.2 innings in 2021. At age 28, Means still had three years of team control, so the Orioles may ask for a guy like Matthew Liberatore, but may be able to get a deal done with a collection of top 10 organizational prospects.

For the Orioles, rather than going all in on an MLB top-40 Prospect like Liberatore, they acquire multiple prospects with good potential, who can help this club build out stronger depth and a more well rounded team over the next few seasons. Zach Thompson can be a solid starter or higher level reliever. Juan Yepez’s bat has broken out in a big way, with the potential to be a high level bat at 1B or DH, and another solid starter who throws strikes in Michael McGreevy.