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3 Cardinals players who will not be on the roster after the 2024 trade deadline
Change is coming, and these players are the obvious choices to go.
Trade rumors are swirling as fans prepare for the chaos that is the MLB trade deadline. Contenders are looking to add new talent to complete their rosters as they gear towards an October run. The majority of the league is middling with no clear answer on what direction they will take. Given the postseason has now expanded, teams are less encouraged to be aggressive in building a playoff-caliber team. Even with the half-in/half-out approach, every team is looking to improve. The St. Louis Cardinals will most certainly be one of those teams.
The Cardinals have made it public on what they are looking for with improvements. They need an established fifth starter, assurance in the bullpen, and a player who can play centerfield but one who is right-hand hitting to balance a lineup full of left-handed bats. The farm system is currently depleted and the organization is working towards building it back up to its once prominent status. So it looks like the best option for improving the roster is by getting rid of existing players on the Major League roster. So what players should be considered as trade bait? Here are three players that you should expect to be moved before the 2024 trade deadline.
1. Dylan Carlson
After being given chance after chance after chance, the window for the once highly touted prospect is finally closing. Carlson cannot figure out how to approach right-handed pitching and he is not providing any value facing left-handed pitching either. He is slashing .167/.529/.208 (.468 OPS, 37 OPS+) versus right handed pitching and is slashing .182/.290/.212 (.502 OPS, 46 OPS+) versus left handed pitching. This would be an easy demotion or DFA candidate for most teams, but most teams cannot stomach the decision to do either with a once-top prospect in baseball who was supposed to be a big part of the team's future.
The Cardinals have no choice but to use Carlson in a trade package to salvage whatever value remains with him.
2. Steven Matz
Matz was a hefty investment from John Mozeliak given his extensive injury history and short amount of pitching success. With much hype built around him in New York as a part of the Mets' upcoming pitching tandem in 2015, he never amounted to the expectations. He had a good year in Toronto which became his platform year before hitting free agency leading to a four-year, $44 million dollar contract in St. Louis in 2022.
Since inking his deal, he has been worth only 1 WAR in three seasons and is still under contract until 2026. He is a failed starter in St. Louis which was the whole reason why he was signed. Expect Matz to be in the trade package when the team is shopping for their new fifth starter.
3. Brandon Crawford
A veteran presence in the clubhouse is always a plus for contending teams. The problem in St. Louis is that the clubhouse is overloaded with veterans and the team is not contending. Too much talent is on this roster to not be above .500 in the month of June. Veterans Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn are performing well and as expected by the front office. Matt Carpenter looks like the Matt Carpenter Cardinals fans last knew from 2021: washed.
As for Brandon Crawford, why is he still on this roster??? His only value added to the team is being the clubhouse DJ. The Texas Rangers won a World Series by queuing up Creed which takes two seconds to search on Sportify. Sportify cost in 2024: $144/year. Brandon Crawford cost in 2024 taking up a roster spot which can go to Jose Fermin or someone acquired at the deadline: $2,000,000.
Enjoy retirement, DJ Crawford.
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