One trade candidate from every MLB team the Cardinals should consider

As the St. Louis Cardinals enter the offseason, one thing is clear: They need pitching. With Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz the only two pitchers assured of a rotation spot in 2024, neither of whom can be deemed reliable, the door is wide open for the other three spots. 

The top of the free agent class among pitchers this year comprises Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray and Blake Snell. The Cardinals will ideally be in on one or more of these hurlers, but free agency isn't the only way they can acquire a pitcher. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said the team will attempt to get three pitchers from outside the organization, and as the Cardinals have a plethora of talent on the position player side, especially in the infield, they could afford to flip a player or two for some help in the rotation.

The bullpen could use some tinkering as well, as Giovanny Gallegos had a down season by his standards, and Ryan Helsley was unable to recapture his 2022 form.

While not every team makes perfect sense as a trade partner with the Cardinals, I will attempt to make a case for one player from each team who could make sense for the Cardinals to acquire in a trade. The vast majority of players will, unsurprisingly, be pitchers given the Cardinals’ desperate need for arms, but there are a couple of teams where a position player seems more applicable to the Cardinals, especially the teams who have the same strengths and weaknesses as the Cardinals.

Here is one player from each major league team who could fit the Cardinals.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Joe Mantiply, LHP

The 32-year-old Joe Mantiply was somewhat of a late bloomer, not receiving anything more than a cup of coffee in the major leagues until 2021. But Mantiply evolved quickly, earning an All-Star nod in 2022. However, in 2023, he took a step back, with a 4.62 ERA and a trip to the minor leagues. Back with the big club, he finished the season strong, with a 1.38 ERA in September and a .208 opposing batting average.

Although not blessed with overpowering velocity, Mantiply displayed excellent chase rates and ground ball rates in 2023, and his FIP of 3.85 was almost a full run better than his ERA. 2024 will be Mantiply's first year of arbitration, and he will likely be due a decent raise. If the small-market Arizona Diamondbacks aren't interested in paying that salary, they could look to deal him.

The Cardinals could be interested in getting their mitts on Mantiply; despite his age, he only has 146.2 career innings under his belt and has strong ground ball numbers. The Diamondbacks are unsettled in the outfield, as Tommy Pham is set to be a free agent, and the Cardinals could deal from their deep crop of outfielders to make a trade work.

Atlanta Braves: Michael Soroka, RHP

The Atlanta Braves had high hopes for Michael Soroka after his standout rookie season in 2019, where he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, but he has since been afflicted with numerous injuries over his career. He missed two full seasons in 2021 and 2022, and when he returned in 2023, he wasn't the same pitcher, amassing a 6.40 ERA and surrendering nine home runs in only 34.1 innings before going on the shelf yet again.

Soroka might not crack the Braves rotation next season, but he could work as a reclamation project for the Cardinals. If his flyball tendencies from last season return, they could be mitigated in the homer-suppressing Busch Stadium. Injuries will always be a concern for Soroka, but if the Cardinals think he can return even partially to his 2019 form, they could take a flier on him before he hits free agency in 2025.

The Braves' sole position in question is left field, where Eddie Rosario has a club option for 2024. If the Braves decline it, a swap of Soroka for another often-injured player who flashed MVP potential, Tyler O'Neill, might make sense.

Baltimore Orioles: Cole Irvin, LHP

The Baltimore Orioles, much like the Cardinals, are looking to beef up their rotation in 2024, making the two teams unlikely to be trade partners. If the Cardinals were to make a trade with the Orioles, it would likely be for a player in Baltimore's top-rated farm system, not someone on the major league roster. However, one player the Orioles could be looking to flip is left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin, who started 12 games for the Orioles in 2023 and came out of the bullpen in his other 12 appearances.

Baltimore left Irvin off of their playoff roster after a season where he had a 4.42 ERA, but he was more successful as a reliever, with an ERA of 3.26 as opposed to 4.81 when starting games. Irvin is not a fireballer, but he has shown an ability to induce weak contact, with a hard-hit rate of only 34.6%. The Cardinals have stated that they are looking for strikeout stuff, but if their infield defense can rebound, a pitcher like Irvin could still have a place on the team.

If the Cardinals were to acquire Irvin, he would likely serve as a long reliever or spot starter from the left side if Zack Thompson is given a spot in the rotation.

Boston Red Sox: Tanner Houck, RHP

The Boston Red Sox recently fired Chaim Bloom, who headed their front office, so how aggressive they'll be on the market remains to be seen. The Red Sox are one of many teams searching for pitching help, as their rotation struggled throughout the season. Although pitching is a weak spot for Boston, according to an article in The Athletic, the Red Sox could be searching for a suitor for Tanner Houck.

Houck, a St. Louis native who attended the University of Missouri, was a piece of the Red Sox' rotation for much the 2023 season, although he missed some time after a batted ball hit him in the face and caused a fracture. Houck's 5.01 ERA was less than stellar, but he induced ground balls at a career-high rate of 53.3%. At 27 and with a contract not reaching arbitration until 2025, Houck could entice the Cardinals to take a look at him.

The Red Sox' biggest need outside of pitching is behind the plate. Ivan Herrera is a prime candidate for the Cardinals to deal given the presence of Willson Contreras and Andrew Knizner, so a trade involving Herrera and Houck could pay dividends for both teams.

Chicago Cubs: Hayden Wesneski, RHP

Hayden Wesneski was unable to follow up on his strong 2021 rookie campaign, as he lost his spot in the Chicago Cubs rotation in June of 2022 after a 5.33 ERA in 10 games and received a demotion to Triple-A in early July. The Cubs have a young rotation consisting of Justin Steele, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks, and some combination of veterans Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly and Kyle Hendricks could also return, leaving little room for Wesneski.

Wesneski's best pitch is the sweeper, which he deployed successfully, eliciting a .140 average against it last season. Wesneski also possesses a sinker, the pitch the Cardinals emphasized for their arms over the past several seasons. If he can utilize it more effectively, he could induce more groundouts from left-handed hitters, whom he struggled against in 2023, allowing a .298 average.

The Cubs are not a likely trade partner given the division rivalry with the Cardinals, but if Cody Bellinger departs in free agency, they may have a hole in center field that the Cardinals could supply a solution to. Wesneski was the Cubs' eighth-ranked prospect last season, so he still has enough shine on him that the Cardinals could see a way to unlock his potential.

Chicago White Sox: Dylan Cease, RHP

Dylan Cease's name was floated in trade rumors throughout the season, and although the Chicago White Sox didn't trade him at the deadline, it would be a surprise if he is not dealt in the offseason. Cease had an inflated ERA in 2023, as it increased from 2.20 to 4.58 despite similar peripherals to 2022. An inflated .331 BABIP was one of the culprits of the down season for the 2022 second-place AL Cy Young Award finisher.

Cease has the strikeout stuff that the Cardinals are reportedly looking for, and his whiff percentage was in the 84th percentile last season according to Baseball Savant. With two years of team control remaining, Cease is an attractive option for pitching-needy teams such as the Cardinals, and the White Sox' needs could force them to flip him.

The White Sox need outfielders and middle infielders — positions that are strengths for the Cardinals. A trade of Nolan Gorman, painful as it may be, could let the Cardinals net Cease and give them an immediate front-of-the-rotation option.

Colorado Rockies: Justin Lawrence, RHP

Reliever Justin Lawrence was one of the few bright spots in 2023 for the perennially underperforming Colorado Rockies. His 3.72 ERA was second on the team to Brent Suter, and his 1.4 WAR trailed only starter Kyle Freeland. Lawrence's arsenal consists of only two pitches: a sinker and a sweeper. The sinker is a necessity in the homer-friendly Coors Field, but the Cardinals have had a propensity for sinkers for several years.

Lawrence had a 50.1% ground ball rate last year, but he isn't a pitch-to-contact type; he struck out 78 batters in 75 innings. The Cardinals would love a pitcher who gets ground balls and also racks up a fair number of K's, and Lawrence fits that box.

The Rockies aren't looking to compete anytime soon, so they will likely be on the hunt for young pitching talent. Although the Cardinals aren't overflowing with pitching prospects, their longtime emphasis on the sinker could mean they have a player at the lower levels who shows some promise to be able to pitch in Colorado.

Detroit Tigers: Reese Olson, RHP

The Detroit Tigers are scouring for middle infield talent, and their young rotation could be a position to deal from. Reese Olson, a 13th-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018, was traded to the Tigers for Daniel Norris in 2021, and that deal is looking shrewd for Detroit.

Olson wasn't effective in Triple-A before his debut, as he sputtered to a 6.38 ERA, but when called up as a reinforcement, he did surprisingly well. In 18 starts in his rookie season, Olson had a 4.32 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. In September, he was among the best pitchers in the game, with a 1.44 ERA.

Olson's pitches have a lot of movement to them, as Baseball Savant puts his slider at 4.1 inches of drop above average. His best pitch appears to be his least used: Olson's curveball had a .167 opposing batting average and 5.5 inches of vertical break above average.

If the Cardinals were to acquire Olson, they should emphasize his curveball, as he threw it only 101 times in 2023. The 24-year-old is rife with potential and could be a key piece in a trade for a Cardinals infielder.

Houston Astros: Jose Urquidy, RHP

The Houston Astros have one of the best rotations in baseball, and Jose Urquidy is on its periphery. The 28-year-old had a career-worst 5.29 ERA in 2023, but the numbers under the surface weren't all bad, as despite a career-high walk rate, which was expected given his change in strategy this season, he had a chase rate in the 90th percentile. He also allowed an average exit velocity of only 86.6 mph, which was in the 91st percentile.

Urquidy missed some time with a shoulder strain and lost his starting job for the Astros late in the season, but if he were to bring his deceptive stuff to the Gateway City, he could find a spot in the rotation. Urquidy's changeup has been his top pitch for most of his career, and that continued in 2023, as opponents hit only .172 off of it.

Houston is set at nearly every position, but they could be looking to upgrade center field. where Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon are projected to battle for a spot. The Cardinals could consider dealing Tommy Edman, who has adapted well to that spot in the outfield, for Urquidy, who isn't eligible for free agency until 2026.

Kansas City Royals: Brady Singer, RHP

The young pitching crop of the Kansas City Royals hasn't panned out as hoped, as Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch and Asa Lacy, among others, haven't done much in the major leagues. The best of the bunch from the 2018-2020 drafts has been Brady Singer, who was solid in 2022 but backslid significantly in 2023 to the tune of a 5.52 ERA. His FIP was more promising, though, at 4.29.

Singer won't be a free agent until 2027, but unless the Royals think they can be competitive at that time, Singer might be useful as a trade chip for prospects who would project to come up within Kansas City's next window of contention. Singer had a strong 50.6% ground ball rate in 2023, although many of his other stats, such as a 48.1% hard-hit rate, were less encouraging.

If the Royals wanted to trade Singer, they would be selling low after his subpar season, but the Cardinals could be willing to part with a minor league player who could ostensibly help the Royals in the future.

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout, OF

The Cardinals aren't devoid of outfield talent, but amid the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes are whispers that the Los Angeles Angels could try to deal Mike Trout. If Ohtani signs elsewhere, the Angels might opt for a full rebuild. One of the faces of baseball, Trout would command quite a haul in return. A recent article covered three potential packages the Cardinals could offer for Trout.

Trout's resume speaks for itself; just go to Baseball Reference, and you'll see bold italics plastered all over his stat sheet. But injuries have hampered Trout over the past few years, and a rare back condition makes his future even murkier. The Angels owe Trout $260 million over the next seven years, so if a trade were to occur, they would likely have to take on much of that salary.

Trout is still among the best hitters in the game when healthy, but whether the usually risk-averse Cardinals would want to give up significant capital to acquire him is a big question. That said, if the Cardinals are truly in "win now" mode, they could take a hard look at him and send some younger pieces to the Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Alex Vesia, LHP

The Los Angeles Dodgers' biggest need, much like the Cardinals'. is the rotation, and the Dodgers will likely be one of the teams with deep pockets looking to spend in free agency. Their bullpen, however, is much sturdier, and left-hander Alex Vesia could be on the outside looking in after a wobbly 2023 campaign.

Vesia began 2023 abysmally, with a 7.84 ERA and an opposing .434 batting average in 10.1 innings, but after a demotion, he emerged as a much better pitcher, with a 3.43 ERA from May 30 onward. He is reliant on his fastball, throwing it 68.3% of the time last season. Vesia may have run into some bad luck with his heater, as batters hit .271 off of it, but its expected batting average was .229. He still showed a nearly elite strikeout rate after the minor league reset, fanning 49 batters in 39.1 innings.

The Cardinals have one strong left-handed reliever in JoJo Romero, and John King was effective as well, but Vesia is two years younger than King and likely offers more upside. If Vesia's resurgence upon being promoted back to the major leagues was real, he could be a crucial piece in the Cardinals bullpen.

Miami Marlins: Braxton Garrett, LHP

The Miami Marlins have become quite the pitching factory over the last few years, and 2016 first-round pick Braxton Garrett might be another success story. Garrett pitched to a 3.66 ERA in 2023 and displayed excellent control, walking only 29 batters in 159.2 innings and forcing a solid number of chases, ranking in the 76th percentile.

Garrett has a sharply breaking slider with 4.1 inches of drop above average, and his sinker nets ground balls at a strong rate. He was the Marlins' second-best pitcher according to WAR, behind only Jesus Luzardo. Garrett did allow fairly loud contact, with an average exit velocity of 90.2 mph, but he only surrendered 1.1 home runs per nine innings.

The Cardinals would love to get their hands on a young pitcher like Garrett who has wipeout stuff, and the Marlins could use help on the hitting side, as they finished near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. But with their ace, Sandy Alcantara, set to miss 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, it remains to be seen whether the Marlins will make Garrett available in trade talks.

Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes, RHP

Although a trade between NL Central foes is unlikely, the Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers match up as potential partners in terms of team needs. Corbin Burnes is entering his final year of team control, and the small-market Milwaukee Brewers could look to deal him before he shoots out of their price range.

Burnes is coming off of his third consecutive All-Star campaign, and while he was not as dominant as in recent years, he still led the National League with a 1.069 WHIP. But after he lost his previous arbitration hearing, the relationship between Burnes and the Brewers could have been irreparably harmed. Despite the tension, the Brewers could feel that they need to hold on to Burnes given that Brandon Woodruff, another star pitcher for Milwaukee, is expected to miss much or all of 2024.

The Brewers are in need of infield help, so the Cardinals could deal from their surplus to get a deal done. With Brewers shortstop Willy Adames likely to get paid in arbitration and be on the move, Masyn Winn could make sense as their long-term shortstop. Landing Burnes, even for just one year, would take a lot of talent away from the Cardinals, but they might have the depth to overcome it.

Minnesota Twins: Louie Varland, RHP

Louie Varland pitched out of the bullpen in seven of his 17 appearances last season, and the differences were stark, as he struggled to a 5.30 ERA when starting a game as opposed to a 1.50 ERA when coming out of the bullpen. It's not too surprising given his reliance on his fastball, throwing it about 75% of the time, leading hitters to square it up after seeing him a couple times.

Varland has said that he would prefer to start, and the Cardinals could give him that chance. They might want to emphasize his slider, which has 63% more horizontal break than the average slider. He also gets elite extension on his pitches at 6.9 feet, ranking in the 90th percentile.

The Minnesota Twins might be in the market for an outfielder alongside Byron Buxton and Max Kepler, and the Cardinals could make for a fitting trade partner should the Twins want to go that route. Minnesota might be hesitant to part with Varland given the years of team control remaining, but a swap of him for a young outfielder might work for both squads.

New York Mets: Adam Ottavino, RHP

A ground ball machine for much of his career, Adam Ottavino, the Cardinals' first pick in the 2006 draft, displayed more of the same in 2023 with an outstanding 56.2% ground ball rate. Although Ottavino will turn 38 on Nov. 22, he hasn't seemed to lose much of his stuff. While his FIP of 4.52 was quite a bit higher than his ERA of 3.21 last season, opponents hit only .209 off of him, and he showed an impressive ability to avoid barrels, with only a 3.7% barrel rate.

Ottavino has a club option for 2024, and if the New York Mets decide not to exercise it, the Cardinals could sign Ottavino as a free agent. But if the Mets pick up the option, they could theoretically flip him to the Cardinals, who could use a ground ball expert like Ottavino to provide quick outs with a hopefully vastly improved defense behind him.

The Mets aren't likely to spend as much as they did when they went for it all last season, but if the Cardinals possess a player in the major or minor leagues who the Mets believe would be a good fit, a trade of Ottavino back to where it all began for him might benefit the Cardinals as they seek to contend again.

New York Yankees: Clarke Schmidt, RHP

Clarke Schmidt pitched to middling results in his first full season in the New York Yankees rotation, ending with a 4.64 ERA and opposing batting average of .268, but his underlying numbers are reason for optimism, as his spin rates rank among the best in the game, with fastball and curveball spins in the 98th and 95th percentiles, respectively.

According to an article from Pinstripe Alley, Schmidt became too focused on spinning the ball and let his command get out of whack at times. If the Cardinals can right that ship and help Schmidt trust his natural stuff, he has a chance to blossom into a star. Schmidt's biggest bugaboo is two-strike counts, where he often misses his spot and puts the ball over the plate.

If the Cardinals think they can get the most out of Schmidt, they have the talent to get a deal done. With the Yankees looking for an outfielder, the Cardinals could turn to their surplus of hitters to swing a trade for Schmidt, who could bolster the Cardinals rotation immensely with some tweaks.

Oakland Athletics: Paul Blackburn, RHP

The Oakland Athletics have precious little talent on hand that other teams would be interested in, but Paul Blackburn has intriguing upside and is likely to be dealt as the Athletics seek out young talent for what looks to be a lengthy rebuild. Blackburn will be on his last year of team control in 2025, and with nearly no chance of competing next season, the Athletics will probably see what prospects they can get in return.

Blackburn put up the highest strikeout rate of his career in 2023, whiffing exactly a batter per inning. The emphasis on his slider was a key aspect, as he utilized it effectively last season, allowing a batting average of .217 against the pitch. Although his fastball only averaged 91.8 mph, with his newly minted slider, Blackburn could fill a high-leverage relief role for the Cardinals.

Blackburn is coming up on his second arbitration year, and while the Athletics are in need of players at virtually every area of the diamond, the major leagues aren't their focus at this time. Oakland will likely have several suitors for Blackburn, and the Cardinals have the minor league talent to land him.

Philadelphia Phillies: Taijuan Walker, RHP

With the Philadelphia Phillies potentially losing Aaron Nola in free agency, it's unlikely that they will be interested in dealing any further from their pitching staff. But Taijuan Walker recently expressed his dissatisfaction of not being used in the playoffs, and if there is a rift between him and the Phillies, the team could be willing to eat some of his contract and trade him.

Walker didn't set the world on fire in his first year with Philadelphia, with a 4.38 ERA and unspectacular Statcast metrics, including low extension and whiff rates. But he performed well at forcing ground balls, and he held hitters to a respectable .238 batting average. If the Cardinals believe they can coax similar numbers out of Walker, he might be worth calling on.

Walker is still under contract with the Phillies through 2026, but if a divide grows between Walker and the organization, cutting ties might be for the best. Even if that doesn't happen, the Phillies might put Walker on the market to see what they can get, and he could be a decent innings-eater at the back of the Cardinals' rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Keller, RHP

Coming off his first All-Star season, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Mitch Keller will likely receive a raise in 2024, his second year of arbitration. Whether the Pirates want to pony up that much is a question they'll need to answer soon. If they decide to deal Keller, he will receive some attention on the market given his results in 2023.

Keller had a 4.21 ERA and a 3.80 FIP last season, and his 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings were undoubtedly bolstered by his strong spin rates, with his fastball in the 83rd percentile. Keller also had a career-high 6.6 feet of extension on his pitches in 2023. In addition to the strikeouts, Keller also keeps the ball on the ground, amassing a 44.2% ground ball rate.

Trades within the division are always tough to pull off, and the Pirates' young talent is coming up to the major leagues at the right time. But if they revert to their small-market traditions of selling a player as soon as he becomes expensive, Keller could be on the move. Pittsburgh would ideally like another outfielder, and Tyler O'Neill could be a tempting offer in a package for Keller.

San Diego Padres: Juan Soto, OF

The San Diego Padres could be in fiduciary trouble after news broke that the team took out a $50 million loan to help cover payroll. If the Padres are struggling to cover their players’ salaries, they could look to dump some of their pricier assets, including young superstar outfielder Juan Soto, whom the Padres have under control for one more season.

Soto hit a career-high 35 home runs in his first year with the Padres despite a rather pedestrian (by his standards) .275 batting average. He still has possibly the best batting eye in baseball, taking 132 walks, and at only 25 years old, Soto should have many years of Hall of Fame-level production left in him.

If the Padres shed some salaries, they would likely force a team to take on another player's contract as well, but the reward of Soto should be worth it. If the Cardinals were to enter the fray for Soto, they might not have to surrender as much as some fans think because Soto’s value is lower than it was when he was traded to the Padres.

The Cardinals would likely deal several players in the major leagues and from the farm system if they were to acquire Soto. The competition would be fierce, as he is a generational talent whom every team would want to build around.

San Francisco Giants: Kyle Harrison, LHP

The San Francisco Giants possess one of the best pitching prospects in the game in Kyle Harrison, who held his own in seven major league starts last season, with a 4.15 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He also managed to get his walks under control after they were an issue in the minor leagues.

Harrison, MLB.com's No. 20 prospect in all of baseball, had a scintillating strikeout rate throughout the minors at over 14 per nine innings, and all the tools are there for him to be a star in the major leagues. The Cardinals' responsibility if they were to swing a trade for him would be to utilize the new pitching approach that the front office promised in 2023, which emphasizes missing bats above all else.

Harrison is the crown jewel of the Giants organization, but the team is searching for infield help. An article from June broke down one potential trade, sending Harrison and Carson Whisenhunt to the Cardinals for Paul Goldschmidt. If the Giants decide they need bats badly enough, they might be tempted to offer Harrison in a trade for a big bopper.

Seattle Mariners: Logan Gilbert, RHP

The Cardinals and the Seattle Mariners were linked as potential trade partners all season, and with the Mariners in need of an impact bat, a trade of one of their best starters in Logan Gilbert might be feasible. Gilbert was connected to the Cardinals in rumors earlier in the season, and that talk could heat up as the offseason arrives.

Gilbert's standout Statcast metric is his extension, as he had a 99th-percentile 7.5 feet, allowing his pitches to play up, especially his fastball, which averaged 95.7 mph in 2023. Gilbert also has pinpoint control, walking only 1.7 batters per nine innings last season. He is eligible for four years of arbitration given his Super Two contract status, and the Mariners are likely to ask for some significant young talent in return.

With Seattle being set in the pitching department but needing help on the position player side, a deal of someone like Lars Nootbaar and/or Nolan Gorman would fit both clubs, as this article suggests. The Mariners have to upgrade at second base, where Kolten Wong was a disaster, and Gorman or Brendan Donovan could solve a lot of their problems there. The Cardinals could choose a lower-ceiling Seattle starter and give up less, but if they want to shoot for the moon, Gilbert is the one to pursue.

Tampa Bay Rays: Tyler Glasnow, RHP

Tyler Glasnow's 2024 contract worth $25 million would be a record for the Tampa Bay Rays if they were to commit to it, but it is highly unlikely that they will. Glasnow is one of the most tantalizing trade options on the market, and although the Rays look to have fleeced the Cardinals in the Randy Arozarena trade, the Cardinals might be tempted to go back to them for Glasnow.

Glasnow has a lengthy injury history, but when healthy, he dominates. In 2023, he pitched a career-high 120 innings and fanned 12.2 batters per nine innings. His swing-and-miss rate is among the best in the game, coming in at the 95th percentile. His ridiculous 7.5 feet of extension makes his already fearsome fastball even more deadly.

The Rays could have a problem at shortstop given the Wander Franco allegations, and if Franco doesn't play next season, the Cardinals may be able to alleviate that with some of their options, including Brendan Donovan and Masyn Winn. Glasnow would be an expensive addition, but if he is able to remain healthy, he can be one of the best pitchers in the game.

Texas Rangers: Brock Burke, LHP

The newly christened World Series champion Texas Rangers will have three starting pitchers enter free agency this offseason, leaving the Rangers and the Cardinals with similar needs. Texas' bullpen should be more settled, and one player they might be willing to part ways with is reliever Brock Burke.

Burke showed himself to be a control artist in 2023, walking only nine batters in 59.2 innings, but his 4.90 FIP could use some fine-tuning. Burke achieves phenomenal extension on his pitches, at 7.1 feet. He also greatly improved the chase rate on his pitches in 2023, rocketing up from the 26th to the 69th percentile in that category.

With Burke about to enter his first year of arbitration, the Rangers might decide that he's not worth keeping around. The Cardinals have a strong southpaw in their pen already in JoJo Romero, but it never hurts to have more options on the table in case of injuries or ineffectiveness.

Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Berrios, RHP

Jose Berrios was a solid weapon in the Toronto Blue Jays rotation in 2023, owning a 3.65 ERA and 1.186 WHIP in 189.2 innings. But with the Blue Jays looking for an outfielder after Daulton Varsho's struggles and Kevin Kiermaier's likely departure in free agency, the Cardinals could have the antidote if Toronto is willing to part with a high-end starter like Berrios.

Berrios rebounded well after a shaky 2022, where he led the American League in hits allowed and earned runs allowed. In 2023, he significantly reduced opponents' hard-hit rate and average exit velocity while maintaining his strong walk and chase rates. While Berrios doesn't quite have ace-level stuff for most teams, he would provide an immense upgrade for the Cardinals if they were to deal for him.

A player such as Lars Nootbaar has to be on the table given the Blue Jays' outfield situation. Berrios also has three years guaranteed on his contract before a 2027 opt-out clause, so how that would shake out would be integral in deciding how much value the Cardinals give up in a prospective trade.

Washington Nationals: Joey Meneses, 1B

Joey Meneses burst onto the scene as a 30-year-old rookie in 2022, hitting .324 with a .930 OPS. He couldn't repeat those numbers in 2023, hitting .275 and hitting the same number of home runs as he did last season (13) despite 389 more plate appearances. He might get squeezed out of the Washington Nationals' everyday designated hitter role and probably wouldn't play a big role on the next contending Nationals team.

Meneses hits fastballs well, with a .301 average against them in 2023, but the breaking ball stymied him; he hit only .228 against them, a far cry from his unsustainable .343 average against breakers in 2022. Even so, Meneses proved that he can be a useful bench bat and occasional first baseman. With the Cardinals potentially getting Paul Goldschmidt more days off his feet at age 36, Meneses could find himself inserted into the lineup more than expected.

The Nationals outperformed expectations last season, but they're still a rebuilding club. Washington will be in search of prospects to develop, and given Meneses' crash back to earth last season, he wouldn't require a massive haul.

Not every team works as a logical trade partner for the Cardinals, but every organization has something to offer on the major league side for the right price. The Cardinals should explore every nook and cranny to find the players they need. Sometimes even the most seemingly insignificant trades can reap huge rewards, as the Cardinals have witnessed from the wrong side several times lately.