Ranking the Cardinals' needs at the trade deadline

2. Mid-to-high-leverage reliever

This need is actually due to injuries this year. Keynan Middleton, Mozeliak's relief signing this offseason, and Riley O'Brien have both been battling injuries all year. O'Brien has started his rehab stint, but Middleton won't throw a pitch all year.

The Cardinals' bullpen has probably been the team's strongest positional group this year. Ryan Helsley leads the league in saves, and JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge have been near the top of the league in holds this year. While some cracks have begun to show amongst the three, they are still reliable arms late in games and in high-leverage situations.

However, they've been deployed relatively frequently this year, and teams are starting to get quite familiar with what was once the best three-headed relief corps in baseball. Therefore, another reliever, particularly a right-handed one who is comfortable in high-leverage situations, should be a primary target for Mozeliak at the deadline.

The Cardinals' relievers have the 4th-best ERA as a staff in baseball. They've thrown the 15th-most innings this year, so fatigue isn't too much of an issue at this point. Regardless, teams could always use bullpen help at this point in the year.

The cost of a reliever isn't always clear at this time of the year. The Kansas City Royals gave up quite a bit to land Washington Nationals' reliever Hunter Harvey a couple of weeks ago; that could provide a template for the remaining teams who wish to make swaps this deadline.

Ideally, this reliever will be a left-handed guy. With John King and Matthew Liberatore being slotted as middle relief guys, JoJo Romero is by himself at the back of the 'pen. A righty to spell Kittredge from time to time would do well, too. Either way, another mid-to-high-leverage reliever would do wonders for an already strong bullpen group.

1. Starting pitcher

The foremost of the team's needs this trade deadline would be nabbing a starting pitcher, particularly one who can slot in above Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn, Andre Pallante, and even possibly Kyle Gibson. The Cardinals have their #1 pitcher in Sonny Gray. His last few starts have been a bit rough, but he's been strong overall throughout the year.

The reason a starting pitcher is the preeminent need this offseason is because the team's rotation won't be able to stack up against others in the playoffs. Most teams in the postseason have two dominant pitchers and a third who can hold his own most nights. Right now, the Cardinals have one strong starter and a collection of guys who may or may not keep the game close on any given night.

One more reliable starter would change the rotation down the stretch and in the playoffs. Right now, the Cardinals' starting staff ranks 21st in ERA, 17th in K's per nine, and 17th in FIP. A strikeout pitcher who can slot in as the team's number two starter would go a long way not just in the final two months of the regular season but also in a playoff series.

Nathan Eovaldi, Erick Fedde, and Zach Eflin have all been linked directly to the Cardinals. Should the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays decide to be sellers this year, two of those three will be available, and Max Scherzer could even be had. John Mozeliak will stay away from Garrett Crochet due to his exorbitant cost; outside of those five pitchers, there aren't many other options for starters.

Landing Eovaldi would be the biggest fish, but even Erick Fedde would change the shape and feel of the rotation. In a playoff environment that requires two high-end starters to advance, the Cardinals must prioritize a starting pitcher who can slot in just behind Sonny Gray.