6 starting pitchers the St. Louis Cardinals should consider via trade

The St. Louis Cardinals are in the playoff hunt, but they need rotation help.  Luckily, there are several options available who could help.

Editors note: This article was written before Tyler Mahle and Frankie Montas both injured their right shoulders, with Mahle going on the 15-day Injured List. 

The best opportunity for the St. Louis Cardinals to support their playoff push would be to add an upgrade (or two) to their starting rotation.  Whether that’s from a squad ownership gave up on before the season even started, a team looking to deal pitching for hitting, or a franchise that can’t seem to take advantage of their superstars’ performances, there are multiple paths to improvement.

Perhaps the best pitcher likely to be available ahead of this year’s August 2 trading deadline, Oakland’s Frankie Montas has been connected with the Cardinals in trade rumors for a while now.  And why not?  He’s been very good the last couple of seasons, with his 3-9 record this year a reflection of the awful team he plays for.

Montas has followed up last season’s 3.37 ERA in 187 innings – which earned him a sixth-place finish in American League Cy Young Award voting – with a 3.26 mark in 96-2/3 frames that’s actually a bit worse than his 2021 performance when you consider the deflated offensive environment this year.  Still, an even 100 strikeouts vs. only 24 walks demonstrates a very nice mixture of power and control.

A big bonus with Montas is that he’s making just $5.025M this season, and he is arbitration-eligible once more in 2023, so he’s not just a two-month rental.  Of course, that team-friendly price tag and extra season of control will have an associated cost, so what could the Cardinals offer the A’s to entice them to make a trade?

This trade would have to hurt, and since Oakland needs a little of everything, how about a player who plays a little bit everywhere?  Yep, 2022 breakout rookie Brendan Donovan headlines the package.  But it would take more, and the A’s like volume, so we’ll include Alec Burleson and Packy Naughton, too.

Too much?  Not enough?  We’re spitballing here, but the price of a top-tier pitcher is significant talent in return.  If the Cardinals want to make a deep run in the postseason this year and next, something like this (and quite possibly more) is what it would take.