Cardinals: 5 teams that should trade for Harrison Bader

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 05: Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the on-deck circle against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park on May 05, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 05: Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the on-deck circle against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park on May 05, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 8: Tyler O’Neill #27 (L) and Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals watch a ball hit by Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 8: Tyler O’Neill #27 (L) and Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals watch a ball hit by Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays feel like a trade partner made in heaven for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rays consistently pump out more pitching talent than they know what to do with, and have major holes in their lineup at the moment, specifically in the outfield. The Cardinals desperately need starting pitching and have depth in the outfield to trade from.

One trade that could make a ton of sense is a Tyler Glasnow-Harrison Bader swap. Glasnow has been rehabbing from elbow surgery that he has last summer, but was a Cy Young candidate in the American League before his injury. The Cardinals could throw in Alec Burleson and another prospect and ask for one of their other arms in return (Ryan Yarbrough, Jeffrey Springs, etc.), giving the Rays multiple new bats for their lineup while only dealing away one arm that is currently throwing for them.

Both Glasnow and Bader are free agents after 2023, so each club can determine if they want them in their plans long term. With money coming off the books for the Cardinals in the next two years and uncertainty around Jack Flaherty, making a move for a guy like Glasnow makes a ton of sense for the club. Swapping Bader in a package for him still allows the club to deal from their prospect depth to acquire 2022 ready arms as well.