Cardinals: How rumored trade targets have played since trade deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals made a few moves at the deadline, but there were other rumored moves that would have panned out differently.

The St. Louis Cardinals were active at the MLB trade deadline, acquiring Jordan Montgomery, Jose Quintana, and Chris Stratton to bolster their roster for the postseason. These were not necessarily the names that Cardinal fans had been hoping for or planning on their team acquiring, but the moves have paid dividends.

On August 2nd, the Cardinals sat 2 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, and as of September 12th, now hold an 8 game lead. Needless to say, their trade deadline worked out incredibly well.

Even so, there were plenty of rumored trade targets for St. Louis in the month leading up to the deadline. Big names, depth pieces, and everything in between were suggested for St. Louis to acquire in order to bolster their chances at making the postseason.

How have some of these players faired since the deadline? Are there any players that St. Louis may wish they had acquire? Here are how five of the Cardinals rumored targets have played since the trade deadline.

Noah Syndergaard

Noah Syndergaard is a big name St. Louis was rumored to acquire both at the trade deadline and in the offseason, but his play in 2022 has not matched up with the value his name carries.

Since being acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies, Syndergaard has gone 4-1 but has a 4.61 ERA in 41 innings of work. Although the Phillies did not have to give up much to acquire the right-hander, he has been far from the kinds of pitchers that Montgomery and Quintana have been for St. Louis.

Had St. Louis acquired Syndergaard, perhaps he would have found some of the same magic that those Cardinals starters have found. His 3.39 FIP with Philadelphia shows that me may be a better pitcher than stats are showing at the moment, but he likely would not have been the same success for the club that their other acquisitions have been.