Cardinals Rumors: St. Louis in talks with Nationals about trade

Nelson Cruz #23 of the Washington Nationals celebrates scoring a run during a baseball game against at the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on July 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Nelson Cruz #23 of the Washington Nationals celebrates scoring a run during a baseball game against at the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on July 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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As the St. Louis Cardinals look for both offense and pitching upgrades, they are reportedly in talks with the Nationals about a trade.

It’s the season for teams around the league to start making trade calls. And that’s exactly what the St. Louis Cardinals are doing.

The Cardinals have reached out to the Washington Nationals, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. But the talks have not just been about pitching; it’s been about the Cardinals seeking to upgrade their offense.

It’s not a surprise that the Cardinals are looking to upgrade their offense, considering that at the time of Morosi’s report they were in the midst of a 2-6 stretch and had scored only 11 combined runs. Since then, they are 2-0 and have scored a combined 13 runs. But it would be smart for them to seek offensive upgrades, especially considering the unit’s overall inconsistencies this season.

The Nationals have two prime trade candidates: Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz. On the surface, Bell would seem to be an unlikely target – he’s a first baseman and the Cardinals have Paul Goldschmidt – but there’s no denying the type of offensive firepower that he presents. He’s hitting .304/.386/.491 with a .877 OPS, 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 367 plate appearances and is widely regarded as among the top bats available ahead of the Aug. 2 deadline.

Perhaps St. Louis has their eyes on Cruz, a designated hitter who would seem to be a more realistic target. But even then, Cruz has struggled this season, hitting .241/.326/.363 with eight home runs and 47 RBI. After hitting a mere .226/.283/.442 after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays last season, it’s fair to wonder if old age (Cruz is 42 and in his 18th major-league season) is starting to creep up on him.

The odds of either Bell or Cruz ending up in St. Louis would appear to be low, as the Cardinals are prioritizing pitching upgrades. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see them end up with a bat, and Morosi’s report suggest that they are at least looking for one.

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