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7 trade targets the Cardinals can acquire from the Rangers
These players have a high chance of being traded and the Cardinals will be active
The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers are experiencing what many call the World Series hangover. With the trade deadline a week away, they will look to keep their main core together while retooling for the future. The Rangers are in a unique spot where they have many desirable assets for contending teams. The Rangers won a World Series with these players, so odds are many of these players can take their winning experience with them.
The St. Louis Cardinals will be active as they are on the other side of the coin. With a wild card berth within reach, the Cardinals are looking for pitchers and outfield depth who provide power from the right side. A trade between these two teams looks very plausible, and these 7 Rangers are potential fits for the Cardinals.
1. Nathan Eovaldi
This is the most popular choice amongst fans and the media. Eovaldi has been a very reliable arm for over half a decade and continues to produce at a high level. In 2024, Eovaldi has a 2.1 WAR on the season with a 3.36 ERA and 1.071 WHIP in 99 IP. This is a very strong middle-of-the-rotation arm and can easily be the number two arm behind Sonny Gray going into October. What makes this move attractive is the postseason success. He established his legacy during Game 4 of the 2018 World Series where he dominated in long relief late into the Los Angeles night.
Even with the years passing by, the Rangers would not have won the 2023 World Series without the body of work Nathan Eovaldi provided to the pitching staff. The Cardinals are well aware of his resume, as they are targeting him going into the trade deadline.
2. Adolis Garcia
Who doesn't love reunions? The Cardinals are desperate for right-handed bat production and have plenty of left-handed depth to move in a trade. Garcia has blossomed as a star for the Rangers since being traded by the Cardinals, getting designated for assignment by the Rangers, then....coming back to the Rangers. If you are upset about the front office trading Garcia, don't be. Even his current team didn't see the potential until it got unleashed.
The two-time All-Star has established himself as the very athletic power hitter who has arguably the biggest upper half in baseball. The 2023 ALCS MVP might be having a down year in 2024, but he was a key contributor to the 2023 World Series championship and could very well do the same with the Cardinals.
3. Dane Dunning
Fans want to see the Cardinals stop acquiring old veteran arms who do not provide a long-term fix with the rotation. Dane Dunning can be the answer to all of your prayers. Dunning has experience as a reliever and as a starter where he is able to cover innings in any role. The Cardinals have this currently with Andre Pallante, but he has limited experience in this role. Dunning pitched over 150 innings in 2022 and 2023 with an ERA average of around 4.20. He is not the ace fans want, but he is a young controllable arm that can become a mainstay for the next several seasons. He is not a free agent until 2027 which comes with affordable arbitration contracts. This move can cover innings in 2024 but will also provide certainty to the team going forward.
4. Max Scherzer
Remember how we mentioned reunions earlier? Well, this one has been a long time in the making. Max Scherzer to the Cardinals has been a long-time want by the fans, desire by Scherzer himself, and haunting memory by the front office. Once drafted by the team, they have watched a Hall of Fame career take place of pure dominance for over a decade. With the chance of signing him during the 2014 offseason, now is the time to redeem yourself.
Will the Cardinals get one of the best pitchers in the game currently? No, not at all. But what they will get is one of the best pitchers of his generation who has plentiful postseason experience and can help lead this young Cardinals team through several rounds of the postseason. Management loves their veteran leadership, and this move would provide a local to St. Louis who can still be productive.
5. Jon Gray
Another depth piece that can help supplement the struggling aged pitching staff is Jon Gray. A native of nearby Oklahoma, this would not be a drastic change of scenery for Gray. He is having a good 2024 season posting a 3.96 ERA and 1.320 WHIP in 86.1 innings pitched. He is pitching very close to his career average marks in slash line metrics and advanced metrics.
The Baseball Savant Page has a mix of red and blue with nothing standing out. This would be the equivalent of trading for a first-half Kyle Gibson or Lance Lynn which does not seem exciting. But Gibson and Lynn are showing their fatigue and the Cardinals now have to look into the overpriced trade market to try and keep the rotation held together. Acquiring a younger arm with 1200 IP over nearly a decade of experience might be a wise investment if the Cardinals don't want to watch their rotation implode during the postseason push.
6. David Robertson
This was one of the targets I mentioned back in the offseason that the Cardinals should have gone and signed. Now we will have to trade prospects to get him. Robertson is having a great 2024 season, pitching to a tune of 3.16 ERA, .0961 WHIP, and holds a 1.1 WAR in over 42 innings pitched. He might be 39 years old, but he is still a very good reliever and has long outplayed the career duration of most relief pitchers. The Cardinals do not shy away from age and this move made perfect sense during the offseason.
Now they get the chance to trade for him with the need for additional back-of-the-bullpen depth. Giovanni Gallegos is not a factor anymore and will most likely see a reduced role going forward. The three-headed monster of JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge, and Ryan Helsley have carried this team in many close games and cannot withstand that workload over a whole season. Robertson would provide much cushion for the bullpen going into the dog days of summer.
7. Kirby Yates
Who would've thought Kirby Yates could return to his all-star form? The long-time big league reliever has had a great career where he once was a top closer in the game. The 2019 NL saves leader has battled injuries, including TJ surgery, over recent seasons and has struggled to return to his old form. But in 2024, Kirby is an all-star again and will be a hot commodity at the deadline. Kirby holds a 1.24 ERA, 0.908 WHIP, 17 SV, and 1.8 WAR in 36.1 innings pitched.
The Cardinals do not need a closer with Ryan Helsley dominating all of MLB. But he can provide a second option to help prevent taxing the bullpen and help keep closing out games. The Cardinals have been known to play close games in 2024 and need additional support if the offense cannot provide a wider run differentiation.
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