1 player the St. Louis Cardinals should steal from each NL West team

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John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks to the media before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Who is one player from an NL West club you would like to see the St. Louis Cardinals trade for? Alex Wood? Antonio Senzatela?

With baseball back and activities resuming, it’s great to see free agents moving and trades being completed to improve clubs. It’s spring training and baseball is back. What will the St. Louis Cardinals do this season to make improvements if needed?

While some trades would be fun until you have to think about restructuring the massive deal to make it make sense for your team, it’s kind of fun to consider what reasonable moves could be made. Spring training can expose injuries that were hidden in an offseason marred by a lockout that prevented clubs and players from communicating (see Fernando Tatis, Jr.).

New needs can be exposed. Where one team thought they had a lot of good options in their lineup or rotation, something comes up and puts that in question. All 15 national league clubs now need a dependable hitter with the universal designated hitter and this could definitely initiate some trade activity. It’s baseball. Things happen.

This look into trade candidates from NL West teams is meant to be fun. I’m not going for candidates with outrageous contracts though. I’m looking at players I do think would be interesting fits for a club with some remaining needs.

Let’s take a look at some players from the NL West.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 01: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tosses his bat after being called out on strikes against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Chase Field on October 01, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Arizona Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte

If the Cardinals find themselves in need of a shortstop or second baseman this season, getting a player of the caliber of Ketel Marte could be fun.

In 2021, Marte hit .318/.377/.532 with a +139 wRC, 14 home runs, 50 RBI, 29 doubles, and 31 walks in 90 games played. He had a hard-hit rate of 48.4% and only had 60 strikeouts with a 16% K-rate. He had an average exit velocity of 91.1 mph, a 1.9 mph increase over 2020.

This season will be the last of a five-year deal worth $24 million, although he will have club options for 2023 and 2024. The switch hitter will enter his age 28 season this year. He is currently day-to-day with irritation in his left eye that is preventing him from fully participating in baseball activity.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 05: Antonio Senzatela #49 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on August 5, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Cubs 6-5. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Colorado Rockies: Antonio Senzatela

The Colorado Rockies think so highly of Antonio Senzatela, they signed him to a 5-year contract worth $50.5 million with a club option for 2027. In 2021, he was 4-10 in 28 games started, with 156.2 innings and 105 strikeouts.

He induces 51.2% groundballs with his pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball, a slider, a changeup, and a curveball. This is typically a pitching profile beloved by the Cardinals as it allows a pitcher to trust in the defense behind them. In the Cardinals case, the pitcher would be trusting a Gold Glove-winning defense. What pitcher wouldn’t love that?

The Cardinals and Rockies have been trade partners in the past. The Rockies fan base may not want their team trading with the Cardinals again, but Senzatela would certainly be an interesting fit. While he doesn’t have the best record, it is quite possibly a result of the defenders behind him. Or lack of defenders.

Even though the Rockies do have him locked into a good deal, it will be interesting to see what if any moves the club makes to help Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon.

Senzatela would be an interesting trade chip and the Cardinals are always looking for good pitching.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 14: Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the third out of the fourth inning against Wilmer Flores #41 of the San Francisco Giants in game 5 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on October 14, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Dodgers: Juilo Urias

He is a young, innings eating, strike-throwing lefty. It would take a lot of trade chips, but getting Julio Urias would be amazing for the Cardinals.

Urias is eligible for free agency in 2024 but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either the Dodgers, or a team he’s traded to, sign him long-term to avoid arbitration.

In 2021, Urias had an amazing season going 20-3 in 32 games started. He had 185.2 innings thrown and tossed 195 strikeouts. Urias’ curveball is his put-away pitch. He also relies on a four-seam fastball and a changeup. He uses a slider and a sinker sparingly.

Urias will be a fun pitcher to watch. It would be even more fun if he were in a Cardinals uniform. As mentioned before, the Cardinals are always looking for pitching and this would be a good one to try to get.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 27: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres reacts to David Fletcher #22 of the Los Angeles Angels grounding out to end the eighth inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 27, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

San Diego Padres: Joe Musgrove

Joe Musgrove is in the final season before entering free agency. The 29-year-old right hander should have an impressive campaign and, if so, could become a trade chip before the trade deadline.

In his first season with the San Diego Padres, Musgrove was 11-9 in 32 games. He threw a career high 181.1 innings, striking out a career high 203 batters. He had two complete game shutouts.

Musgrove uses his curveball and sliders to put-away batters. He also relies on a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a sinker and a changeup. About 43.5% of his pitches induce ground balls. The reliance on offspeed pitches allows for the pitcher to lean on the defense behind him.

Musgrove would be a fun addition to the Cardinals pitching staff. While the need may seem necessary with injuries, a pitcher like Musgrove probably wouldn’t be available until around the trade deadline … if it all!

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 11: Alex Wood #57 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game 3 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

San Francisco Giants Alex Wood

A 31-year-old lefty arm, Alex Wood induces 50.8% groundballs with his pitches, making him an ideal candidate for the Cardinals.

Wood signed a 2-year contract with the Giants worth $25 million this offseason.

In 26 games started for the Giants in 2021, Wood was 10-4 throwing 138.2 innings, striking out 152 batters. He had an impressive 32.2 called strike percentage. He did have a career high 16 batters hit by pitch and seven wild pitches.

Wood uses his slider as his put away pitch. He also uses a sinker and a changeup. His sinker averaged 91.8 mph with a 20.9-inch vertical drop and an active spin of 99%. The slider averages 84 mph with an 41.3-inch vertical drop and an active spin of 26%. The changeup average 85.3 mph with 36.2-inches of vertival drop and an active spin of 95%.

While the Giants are likely having him as an important piece of their rotation, if Wood were to become available it would be an intriguing get for the Cardinals.

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