Ranking the Cardinals' top 8 trade targets after the MLB GM Meetings

While the Major League Baseball General Manager Meetings ended prematurely due to a virus, the Cardinals made quite a bit of headlines throughout both public comments and reports surrounding the team.

The Cardinals remain connected to every starting pitcher available on the free agent market, including the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, and Sonny Gray. Reports continue to indicate they will be strong players at the top of the market, but it remains to be seen if they can sign one of those top guys.

The payroll flexibility the Cardinals have this offseason lends them the ability to make significant moves, but it's unlikely they can pull it all off in free agency unless the DeWitt family opens up their pockets books substantially.

That's why the Cardinals continue to be connected to the trade market, as there are a number of options, both front line and back end of the rotation, who could be a bit for St. Louis this offseason. With the position player market being extremely thin in free agency this year, the Cardinals can use the abundance of talent on their roster to acquire starting pitching, and each of the names on this list fits the bill for what they have to offer.

Let's take a look at eight different trade targets the Cardinals could target this offseason to improve their pitching staff in light of the information we got from the GM Meetings.

Honorable mentions (could be available via trade this offseason but are unrealistic for the Cardinals)

Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers)
Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)
David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates)