7 former Cardinals the team can trade for at the deadline

The 2024 version of the St. Louis Cardinals is not without its holes. The team likely needs a starting pitcher, a reliable reliever, and a right-handed hitting outfielder at the deadline. While the tertiary option is more of a want than a need with Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar, and Jordan Walker working their way back to the majors, the first two are significantly more pressing.

The teams who will be selling at the 2024 MLB trade deadline are currently unknown. The National League Wild Card race has 9 teams chasing just 2 spots, and the teams are all separated by only 3-4 games in the standings. The only true sellers at this moment are the Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Angels. Others such as the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays may soon join them.

This limits both the quantity and quality of the players John Mozeliak can target prior to the trade deadline.

Despite this dearth of players available, there are ample former Cardinals who could help the team in 2024, and they're all likely on the trade block. Some have played quite well this year, and a trade would help fill a hole on the current roster. "He wanted to be here" was a line fans heard ad nauseam this offseason, and the motto can ring true this summer as well.

These 7 former Cardinals are available via trade and could help the team this year.

LHP Jordan Montgomery

Jordan Montgomery is the least likely pitcher to be traded on this list. The Arizona Diamondbacks are mixed up in the malaise for the NL Wild Card. They may decide to be buyers, especially given the fact that they're close to returning everyone to a healthy status. However, Monty's contract had a vesting option in it; he's already surpassed the 10-start mark meaning he'll make at least $20 million next year. If he eclipses 23 starts, his salary increases to $25 million for next year.

That's a steep price tag, especially for a pitcher who is at his career low right now. Montgomery has made 12 starts, and he has a 6-4 record with a 5.71 ERA. His 1.571 WHIP is the worst it's ever been, and he isn't striking batters out like he has in the past.

Monty's last 3 starts in June have given some credence to the idea that his late start to the season held him back; he's thrown 11.2 innings in his last 3 starts, and he's allowed just 5 runs in that stretch. His ERA has fallen 1.09 points as well. There are signs that he's returning to his once-reliable self.

If the Cardinals trade for Jordan Montgomery, they're banking on the fact that he'll continue to turn back the clock and find his former self. The team is familiar with the southpaw after his year in St. Louis as well, so he may continue this improved stretch of starts. What he'll cost is a bit of a mystery at the moment.

Relievers John Brebbia and Luis Garcia

Either one of these relievers would be a fine acquisition this deadline. Neither is pitching the lights out in relief, but the Cardinals don't exactly need a brute stopper in the bullpen; they have Ryan Helsley, JoJo Romero, and Andrew Kittredge for that.

John Brebbia is currently with the Chicago White Sox, so he'll definitely be available. Brebbia, 34, has a 5.72 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 1.200 WHIP, and he's striking out an impressive 11 batters per nine innings; he's thrown 28.1 innings in 32 games so far. The discrepancy between Brebbia's ERA and FIP indicates that he's due for some positive regression, however.

Brebbia has found plenty of success against left-handed batters. They're hitting just .212/.255/.462 against him, and he's struck out 18 of the 55 lefty hitters he's faced. Brebbia has pitched primarily in low-leverage outings, so he wouldn't alter the bullpen dramatically. His addition would simply deepen a relief corps that is desperate for reinforcements.

The same goes for Luis Garcia of the Los Angeles Angels, who played for the Cardinals in 2021. Garcia, now 37, has pitched 33 innings across 35 games this year for the lowly Angels. In that time, he has a 4.64 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.303 WHIP, and he's striking out nearly 10 batters every 9 innings while limiting hits and home runs.

Garcia is also due for some positive change in his ERA due to his lower FIP; he's been able to limit righties to a .233/.282/.301 slash line. Garcia has seen most of his time in low-leverage situations as well, so he won't be a game-changer out of the bullpen. He would be a depth piece in the middle of games, a bridge player of sorts.

Neither of these relievers would require much in exchange, so the Cardinals can send over a minor league player as repayment.

OF Harrison Bader

One stated interest of John Mozeliak this deadline is a right-handed hitter who can play some center field. Harrison Bader has primarily been a center fielder, but he may still be an interesting trade acquisition. He recently turned 30, and he's had a rebound year with the New York Mets.

Bader is slashing .262.308/.374 this year for a wRC+ of 97. He has 4 home runs and 9 stolen bases to go with a league-average hitting profile. That's already an improvement upon Dylan Carlson and Michael Siani, the Cardinals' current center field options who have wRC+ scores of 35 and 55, respectively.

Bader wouldn't be a step back defensively with the Cardinals; he's very familiar with Busch Stadium after having played there for 5.5 years. Bader has racked up 5 Outs Above Average and 2 Defensive Runs Saved this year. He would provide great defense in center with an improved offensive profile for the Cardinals.

Bader is making $10 million this year, so the Cardinals would be on the hook for a little less than half of that should they acquire him. It's not a lot of money, but it will require some finagling to finalize a fair deal. The Mets could ask for one of the Cardinals' #15-20-ranked prospects in exchange depending on financial compensation on their end. Seeing Harrison Bader roam the friendly confines of Busch Stadium one more time would be remarkable, and his personality would add to an already revamped clubhouse.

LHP Jose Quintana

When the St. Louis Cardinals acquired left-handed starter Jose Quintana in the summer of 2022 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, no one expected him to start Game 1 of the National League Wild Card that year for the team. Quintana was the team's best pitcher in the second half of the season, and he deserved the nod in the first game of the playoffs.

Quintana has always spoken fondly about his time in St. Louis; in fact, Willson Contreras reached out to Quintana prior to signing in St. Louis that offseason and Jose said that he would love to rejoin the Cardinals in the future. That desire may be mutually held by the Cardinals' front office.

Quintana's numbers aren't quite what they used to be, but he's still a serviceable depth starter at the ripe age of 35. He has thrown 78.2 innings across 15 starts, and he has a 4.58 ERA, 4.87 FIP, and a 1.322 WHIP. He isn't posting great numbers this year, but a change of scenery may do him well. He is in the final year of a 2-year, $26 million deal that he signed with the Mets, so he, too, is a true rental pitcher.

His sub-par stats, his age, and his lack of team control will make Quintana a cheap, acquirable pitcher. If John Mozeliak is looking for a fifth starter who is familiar with the organization and will give you 5-6 innings a night, Jose Quintana is his guy. Acquiring him won't boost the rotation much, but it will provide depth should more injuries arise. Even though the Mets have won 8 of their last 10 games, they still sit 3 games below .500. If the National League Wild Card race sees any semblance of separation, the Mets will surely sell off their expiring pieces.

RHP Jack Flaherty

Aside from possibly Jordan Montgomery, the bulk of players on this list have been fringe additions that will supplant players already on the roster. Should John Mozeliak trade for Jack Flaherty this deadline, it would alter the rotation fairly dramatically. While Flaherty and Cardinal catcher Willson Contreras had some disputes last year, that appears to be water under the bridge at this point.

Flaherty will likely be one of the best starting pitchers available depending on what teams like the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers choose to do at the deadline. He signed a 1-year deal worth $14 million for the Detroit Tigers over the offseason, so he's a true rental starter.

Jack has been reminiscent of his 2019 self this year; he has a 2.92 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 0.972 WHIP, and he's struck out one-third of the batters he's faced this year. His walk rate, 4%, is the lowest of his career by a long stretch. Flaherty has been one of the most dominant pitchers all year. His fastball velocity, now averaging close to 94 MPH, is one explanation for his success. When his fastball is touching 96 consistently, he's tough to hit.

A trade package for Jack Flaherty would likely exceed what the Cardinals got for Jordan Montgomery last year. The Cardinals received Tekoah Roby, Thomas Saggese, and John King from the Texas Rangers. Roby, the no. 11 prospect for Texas at the time and unranked nationally, and Saggese, no. 14 in Texas's system and also unranked nationally, were the true prizes of the trade.

Texas's farm system last year was drastically better than the Cardinals' is right now, so the Cardinals would likely have to part with two of their top-10 prospects in exchange. Hopefully, Tink Hence, Victor Scott II, Quinn Matthews, and Cooper Hjerpe are spared, but even if just one of them departs, that would not hurt too much.