4 Cardinals-Yankees trades that just make too much sense at the trade deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals are ready to wheel and deal at this trade deadline, with many contenders already aligning with them for potential trade opportunities. One that just makes too much sense though is the New York Yankees.

We covered how the New York Yankees' reported needs align with the pieces the Cardinals are selling and how one of the Cardinals' early targets is actually a Yankees prospect.

The Cardinals are going to be looking to capitalize on the value of their outgoing pieces, but they'll specifically be looking for a lot of pitching upgrades through those moves. The Yankees offer a variety of pitching prospects to choose from. The Yankees are going to want guys who can fill their holes and help propel them to a playoff run, and the Cardinals can help with that.

The fact that they are familiar with each other in trade negotiations is a huge piece of this as well. The clubs already know how one another operates, they've scouted each other extensively in the past, so finding a deal that works for both sides may come easier to the two clubs.

Here are four trades that I think make a ton of sense for both the Cardinals and the Yankees at this year's trade deadline.

Trade #1

Cardinals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter and RHP Drew Thorpe

Yankees receive: OF Dylan Carlson

Admittedly, I've already thrown out this trade idea recently, but I wanted to lead off with it again because I find it very compelling now. I promise the other trades are brand-new ideas.

Dylan Carlson's name has begun to heat up among Yankees fans, and it's not hard to see why. The switch-hitting Carlson can bring versatility to the Yankees lineup, and although he's struggled batting from the left side as a Major Leaguer, New York would be "buying" on the idea that he still has potential to tap into there. It's easy to forget that Carlson was a top prospect in all of baseball in large part due to his bat-to-ball skills and gap power.

Carlson would also help the Yankees form a dynamic defensive in the outfield, rejoining former teammate Harrison Bader and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge once he becomes healthy. The Yankees get Carlson to help their team today and have him roam their outfield for years to come.

For the Cardinals, they grab two high-upside arms in Thorpe and Beeter. Beeter is the name that has been floated out there for St. Louis and has posted a 2.64 ERA with 83 SO in 71.2 innings in both Double-A and Triple-A this season. He really burst onto the scene last year with his 15.1 strikeouts per nine innings, which was the best in minor league baseball among those who threw 70+ innings.

Thorpe is the Yankees' top pitching prospect, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.27 ERA and 111 SO in High-A this season. Beeter would be ready to make an impact for St. Louis by next spring, but Thorpe would probably be a year or two away.

While some Cardinals fans are down on Carlson, it's still hard to imagine him not bringing back a nice package due to his high upside. If Carlson gets back to being an ascending player, he'll bring great defense with him to New York and a very productive bat that gets on base at a high clip, is a double machine, and hits for 15-20 HRs each year.

Trade #2

Cardinals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter and OF Brando Mayea

Yankees receive: OF Tyler O'Neill and RHP Giovanny Gallegos

Beeter will find his way into each of these trade packages since he is already strongly linked to the Cardinals, but the other names will fluctuate based on who New York is acquiring. In this package, the Cardinals get back a lottery ticket prospect in OF Brando Mayea.

Back in January, the Yankees signed Mayea to a $4.35 million deal as an international prospect, and at just 17 years old, he has the tools to be a special player in the game.

Oddly enough, his tools remind me a lot of Tyler O'Neill. Some scouts think Mayea has plus-plus speed, he has the range and arm to be a great defender, and his raw power already has evaluators thinking he can hit 30+ HRs a year if he hits his ceiling.

There is a lot of risk involved here though, which is partially why he's only their 8th-ranked prospect currently. He's still just in rookie ball, so you could see Mayea shoot up to be a top prospect in baseball in the near future, or taper off and come back down to earth potential-wise.

The Yankees could like O'Neill over Carlson as he would be less expensive to acquire and has a much higher upside as a hitter. O'Neill was incredible at the plate for St. Louis in 2021, and if he recaptures that in New York, the Yankees lineup would improve in a big way. He also brings the defense that Carlson does, so that's still a win for New York as well.

Giovanny Gallegos would make his return to the Yankees to help solidify the back end of their bullpen. While Gallegos has been up and down for the Cardinals this year, he has been one of the best relievers in baseball since coming to St. Louis and would give the Yankees great depth at the back end of their bullpen.

Trade #3

Cardinals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter and RHP Richard Fitts

Yankees receive: RHP Jack Flaherty

Did you know that Jack Flaherty has been one of the best starters in baseball as of late?

Over his last six starts, Flaherty has a 4-1 record with a 3.54 ERA and has helped put the Cardinals in a position to win every outing. That's what you want from a solid number three or four starter, which is what the Yankees would be hoping to acquire here.

With a rotation already consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Domingo German, they do not need to make a huge swing with the starter they acquire. In fact, Flaherty is probably the exact kind of guy they'd need. Ceiling to produce more than what they need, but enough of a floor to be counted on as a number five as well.

Richard Fitts is another arm that would likely be able to contribute in 2024. He's the Yankees' number eight prospect and boasts a plus fastball and plus slider mix that gives him good strikeout stuff. His fastball has a natural cut to it, but he also throws an actual cutter some of the time as well. If his changeup and command develop some more, you've got a nice middle-of-the-rotation arm.

Some people are going to say "Why would the Cardinals need another middle-of-the-rotation starter?". Well, they've been having to pay guys $10-$18 million AAVs to fill that role since they do not have internal options who can do so. Having a guy like Fitts slot into that role on the league minimum allows St. Louis to invest more dollars or assets into front-line pitching.