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Cardinals: Why trading Paul Goldschmidt might make sense
Cardinals fans, I hear you. This concept is not one that fans have even begun to remotely consider. And it's highly unlikely that this will happen. But with the way things have gone this season, you can't rule anything out just yet.
Paul Goldschmidt had a season to remember in 2022, hitting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBI. The veteran slugger also reached base at a .404 clip, slugged .578, and had an OPS of .982. All of this was enough for him to earn the National League MVP Award at the end of the season. Given all that, it's easy to understand why Cardinals fans would scoff at the idea of him being traded. And if the Cardinals creep back into contention, then this wouldn't make sense, as Josh Jacobs discussed on the site recently.
The Cardinals picked up Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks prior to the 2019 season. In that deal, the Cardinals sent Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, and Andrew Young back to Arizona. The move immediately gave the Cardinals a much-needed offensive boost after years of lacking a true middle-of-the-order threat. The 35-year-old was one of five Cardinals to be selected to the NL All-Star squad last summer, joining Ryan Helsley, Nolan Arenado, Miles Mikolas, and Albert Pujols. He was even the starting first baseman on the team.
This season, he's homered 10 times and hit for a .286 average while driving in 27 runs and posting a respectable OPS of .876. But with the trade deadline looming and the Cardinals currently in limbo on what direction they'll be headed in, this is something that may be considered. Here are three reasons why it might make sense for the Cardinals to trade Goldschmidt.
Here are some reasons why trading Paul Goldschmidt may make sense for the Cardinals
The Cardinals May Be Out Of Contention
As much as we all hope this isn't the case come the trade deadline, it's very possible that by then, the Cardinals will be well out of postseason contention and longshots to reach the postseason for a fifth straight year. There's still time for them to turn it around, as John Mozeliak has constantly preached, but the clock is ticking, and fast.
At 26-37 as of Friday, the Cardinals are in last place in the NL Central and own the third-worst record in the National League as a whole. They're eight games back of the Brewers for first place and seven back of the Pirates in the Wild Card race. This next stretch against the Reds and Giants could very well define their season. If the Cardinals continue to slip, then there will certainly be teams calling around for the services of Goldschmidt, whether they want to trade him or not. It might be worth seeing what they can get for the future in exchange.
His Value Will Be High, Even At 35
To go off of that, it's obvious that if the Cardinals decide to dangle the reigning MVP in trade discussions, he'll generate a ton of interest and teams will be willing to meet a steep asking price.
Goldschmidt is 35 and will be a free agent after the 2024 season. If the Cardinals are out of it by the trade deadline, they could ship him off for some Major League-ready talent, and not just prospects. Assuming the Cardinals are out of contention by the deadline, a little more youth on the roster could ignite some hope for 2024 as the team assesses its young talent and prepares for the future.
This would also clear the way for some players such as Jordan Walker, Juan Yepez, Masyn Winn, and Luken Baker, or could even bring in a young power bat to build around in the years to come. This may not be the year for the Cardinals, and in that case, if a team is willing to give them some Major League-ready talent, they may want to pull the trigger on the deal, especially with Goldschmidt's contract set to expire next year, which will be his age-36 season.
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It might also free up a little extra money for the front office to spend on a pitcher in the offseason, though we know now that the Cardinals can't exactly be trusted when they say they're going to increase payroll.
Next. 6 trade deadline ideas for the St. Louis Cardinals. 6 trade deadline ideas for the St. Louis Cardinals. dark