6 Cardinals who could be traded if they make seller's moves at the deadline

Kyle Gibson could be traded

Kyle Gibson was brought in on a one-year contract with a club option for the 2025 season. Gibson has been quite effective as a middle-of-the-rotation starter recording a 3.97 ERA in his first 20 starts this season. His ability to go deeper into games and notch quality starts is extremely valuable in an era of load management. By consistently giving the Cardinals a chance to win with each outing, he's the second most valuable starting pitcher on the roster by quite a wide margin.

With the market of starting pitching looking extremely thin, especially if teams like the Texas Rangers don't sell at the deadline, Gibson could be one of the better arms available for teams looking for innings. If the Cardinals do decide to sell, Gibson would certainly bring back quite an impressive return for a rental. Given the package the Rays got for Zach Eflin, and what other sellers will certainly get for their arms, it could be very favorable for the Cardinals.

Ryan Helsley could be traded

Even if the Cardinals don't fully sell at the deadline, Ryan Helsley could find himself on the move. The market for relief pitchers looks incredibly thin, and considering the Angels got for rental closer Carlos Estevez, the Cardinals could get an absolute haul for their All-Star closer. Unlike Estevez, Ryan Helsley comes with an extra year of control and has a much stronger track record.

The Phillies gave up their 7th and 12th-ranked prospects for half a season of Estevez, so imagine what the Cardinals could get from the Dodgers or Orioles for an extra season of Ryan Helsley. It's unlikely St. Louis would extend Helsley past the 2025 season, considering the massive contracts top closers have been getting, and with the volatility of relievers, it may be best to sell high on one of the best closers in baseball. It may not be popular, but a Helsley trade would not be surprising at all.

Paul Goldschmidt could be traded

Paul Goldschmidt trades have been a topic of discussion amongst many Cardinals fans even before this rough stretch. Putting it simply, Goldy just hasn't lived up to his career standards, and his sharp decline has left many wondering if his presence on the team is a detriment to the club. If the Cardinals buy or stand pat at the deadline, Goldy isn't going anywhere. Despite his struggles, trading him would go counter to the way the Cardinals organization operates, as they would not want to sever ties with a future Hall of Famer in the final year of his contract. However, if they sell, it could be a different story.

While the Cardinals wouldn't get much of a return for their struggling veteran first baseman, they could offload Paul Goldschmidt's contract, allow him a chance at a World Series title with a contending team, and allow some of their younger players more playing time. If they retained some of his salary, they could get some interesting names in return. Otherwise, they'll probably have to settle for lottery ticket names.

Lance Lynn could be traded

One day before bringing in Kyle Gibson, the Cardinals brought back old friend Lance Lynn to bolster the rotation, serving a similar role as Gibson. However, while Gibson thrived in his role in St. Louis, Lynn has struggled greatly. He's been a fine backend starting pitcher, but his efficiency has been problematic. Unlike Gibson, Lance Lynn hasn't been able to give the Cardinals as many quality starts, often leaving games early with bloated pitch counts.

His 4.17 ERA has certainly been playable, but his underlying metrics indicate he hasn't been great at all. However, with pitching at a premium this year at the trade deadline, Lynn could bring back an interesting return as well. He certainly won't garner as big a return as Kyle Gibson, but if Mozeliak plays his cards right, they may get something worthwhile.

Andrew Kittredge could be traded

Andrew Kittredge has been a solid relief arm for the Cardinals in high-leverage situations this year, and he's on an expiring contract with no options for next year. So, if the Cardinals choose to sell, he'll probably be one of the first to go. Kittredge got off to a fantastic start this season, and while he's slowed down a bit recently, his 3.26 ERA through 49 appearances, mostly in high-leverage, will entice any contender looking to bolster their bullpen.

The Cardinals brought in Kittredge for Richie Palacios, an interesting outfielder with significant control, so they could probably expect something similar at the deadline. With relievers at a premium, the Cardinals could definitely get an exciting name or two in exchange for Kittredge.

Tommy Edman could be traded

Editor note: It has since been reported that multiple clubs are interested in acquiring Tommy Edman.

Like Ryan Helsley, Tommy Edman could be moved by the Cardinals even if they aren't sellers. The Cardinals have reportedly gotten interest in their injured utility man. If an opportunity presents itself, Edman could be moved in a Bader-Montgomery-style trade if St. Louis tries to add to the roster at the deadline. It could be a creative way to add a starting pitcher without giving up significant prospect capital and not depleting the Major League roster.

However, if they become sellers, Edman is perhaps an even likelier candidate to be moved. With uncertainty surrounding his injury status and a contract extension running through the end of 2025, the Cardinals don't really have room for Edman moving forward. With Victor Scott II still looming in Triple-A, the emergence of Michael Siani, and other options both in the infield and outfield, Edman was probably going to be forced out of St. Louis at some point anyway. He could bring back quite the prospect return from a team such as the Dodgers, looking for options at shortstop and in the outfield.