Cardinals Rumors: Xander Bogaerts a “realistic” trade option for St. Louis

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is reportedly a “realistic” trade option for the St. Louis Cardinals.

As we recently wrote, Xander Bogaerts is being connected to the St. Louis Cardinals already. It makes sense, especially in the aftermath of Paul DeJong being optioned to Triple-A Memphis, leaving a gaping hole at shortstop.

But I think that a trade is unlikely for a multitude of reasons. The price to acquire Bogaerts, which would likely cost Nolan Gorman and more. The need to extend him to a nine-figure contract. The organization not wanting to part with Gorman, or any other top prospect, while already having two massive contracts (Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt) on the books.

Could I be wrong? Jon Morosi of MLB Network says that “a Xander Bogaerts trade to the Cardinals could be realistic this summer if the Boston Red Sox continue to struggle” and later went on to say that he doesn’t know if there is a better fit in baseball than Bogaerts in St. Louis.

To be fair, what Morosi said is accurate. It’s hard to imagine a better fit than Bogaerts and the Cardinals. It would solve both their short- and long-term shortstop problems and give them a top-5 shortstop in baseball. Just imagine their infield with Goldschmidt, Arenado, Bogaerts and Tommy Edman. Pretty good.

But I’m in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” crowd. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has been adamant about not parting with any of his top prospects even for a player signed long-term. It’s hard to envision him parting with Gorman for two or three months of Bogaerts, who is going to opt out of his contract after the 2022 season to become a free agent.

Trading for Bogaerts would represent a major philosophical change and since Mozeliak has operated this way since coming to St. Louis, I have a hard time seeing him changing his ways now. I could be wrong, of course. But that’s just how I see it from my vantage point.