Tier ranking the St. Louis Cardinals' players and prospects for the trade deadline

Untouchables

Jordan Walker, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbaar, Tink Hence, Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman, Cooper Hjerpe

Untouchables are players and prospects that I see no scenario where the Cardinals would trade them away. Of course, no one is truly untouchable, but it would take an insane opportunity to even consider it (Ex. getting a Shohei Ohtani, Corbin Carroll, Jackson Holliday, etc.)

Coming into the season, I thought it was universally understood that Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado were untouchable. Apparently, there's a growing group of fans and media who do not agree with me.

Still, I believe this is a loud minority, as I think most people would agree that you do not trade two top-3 MVP candidates when you're this close to contention. Yes, I know, they have been terrible this season. But every day I see more and more stats and reasons to believe that this team is better than their record has shown, and I truly believe they are a legit contender this time next year. But you need Goldschmidt and Arenado for that to be true.

One of the major reasons I see them being a legitimate threat in the National League next year is how good Jordan Walker is becoming. I was all aboard the "Jordan Walker is a future superstar" hype train coming into the season, but you still need to actually see it in action before you truly run with expectations. Walker has been one of the best hitters in baseball since he was called back up, and I can't imagine how good he'll be during year two of his development.

Lars Nootbaar has had a very similar impact on the Cardinals. They need his mix of on-base skills, power, clutch hitting, and stabilizing defense every day. When Nolan Gorman is on, he propels this Cardinals' offense to new heights and has shown the ability to come up clutch in the biggest moments.

When it comes to Masyn Winn, Tink Hence, and Cooper Hjerpe, I just don't see how the Cardinals can justify dealing any of them. Winn is a dynamic player at the plate, in the field, and on the basepaths, and should be the Cardinals' starting shortstop for a very long time. Hence and Hjerpe represent the Cardinals' best opportunities at developing impact arms, and with how bad they've been at that in recent years, there's no way they let arms with that potential go again.

Only to acquire elite talent

Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, Brendan Donovan, Gordon Graceffo, Ivan Herrera, Jordan Hicks, Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Leonardo Bernal, Jonathan Mejia

These are players and prospects that I would only be willing to move if it brings in top-end talent for this club.

Here's something that everyone just needs to accept as a reality. If you want to acquire elite talent, you have to be willing to part with valuable talent. Putting together trade packages of your least favorite Cardinals' and a random prospect does not get you top-end pitching talent or whatever you're trying to trade for on the market. Side note, that truly makes the Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado trades that much more impressive.

I love the names on this list, and of course, I don't want to move on from them, but if you're not willing to trade guys from this list or the untouchables, then I'm sorry, you're not acquiring a significant talent in return.

Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Brendan Donovan are the most valuable players on this list. Alone, none of them get you the kind of upgrade most fans are wanting to see. But if two of them are packaged together or with a few other names from this category, you begin to have something cooking.

Gordon Graceffo has had a down 2023, and I still think the Cardinals would prefer to hold onto him since they lack arms with bright futures, but if they had to part with an arm, he's the top one I would designate. Ivan Herrera has been so good in Triple-A this year but is clearly blocked from a long-term future in St. Louis.

Jordan Hicks has pitched his way from a borderline DFA candidate to now a guy I would be very careful not to trade away or let walk in free agency. He's only 26, and a guy I think St. Louis needs to give the closer reigns to and lock up beyond this year. Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos can form a formidable trio with Hicks, which is needed to go deep into October.

Leonardo Bernal and Jonathan Mejia are guys I think are tricky to trade away, as they represent the "high-end" of the Cardinals' "down the road" prospects. From an organizational building standpoint, you need guys who are multiple years away so that you are constantly churning out young talent. I think these two guys who be toward the top of the Cardinals' prospect ranking by next year.

Too complicated to move on from

Willson Contreras, Miles Mikolas, and Adam Wainwright

These veterans in theory could be moved to pave the way for better talent, but I don't see how the Cardinals part with any of them for various reasons

Let's be honest, the Cardinals just aren't going to move on from any of these guys, and I really don't know how they could in a way where they get enough talent in return to justify it.

I've already seen some people say that Willson Contreras should be moved off of now to avoid a Dexter Fowler situation. Our own Andrew Heckroth sees parallels with how the Cardinals treated the two former Cubs, but neither of us thinks Contreras will fall off as Fowler did. Contreas was batting an awful .152/.264/.333 over his last 30 games, but over the last 7 games, he's gotten his OPS up to .807, and a lot like the hitter the Cardinals thought he would be.

Miles Mikolas is not above being moved talent-wise, but I see him as a guy who's more valuable to the Cardinals than he would be to someone else. And with the lack of clarity in the rotation for next season, I'm not sure they can afford to move on from him at the moment.

I know Adam Wainwright's contract is bad. I've said that many times. But they can't go back and change that, and shaving his salary from the books this year doesn't help the team this year or next year. He's a Cardinal, and I really don't think anyone wants to see him pitch anywhere else.

Open to offers

Jordan Montgomery, Alec Burleson, Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Paul DeJong, Andrew Knizner, Moises Gomez, Luken Baker, Zack Thompson, Genesis Cabrera, Juan Yepez

These are players and prospects they may not be trying to get rid of, but they will for sure be open to putting them in trades to get a deal done

If the Cardinals are in the race come late July, a Jordan Montgomery trade becomes a lot less likely. But even then, the Cardinals may be interested in moving him while also acquiring an arm with control beyond 2024.

Here's how that could work. Let's say for example the Cardinals acquire a starting pitcher like Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. They could then flip Jordan Montgomery to a contender to capitalize on his value since they'll be losing him in free agency. They get an arm for this year and beyond but still get value from Montgomery in a market that is very thin on starting pitchers. Whether St. Louis is in the race or not, I think this can make a lot of sense if the right deal is there.

Alec Burleson, Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Luke Baker, Juan Yepez, Moises Gomez, and Zack Thompson all represent young players and prospects who could be smaller parts of a big package for St. Louis or could be a part of smaller deals to acquire talent this July. I don't think the Cardinals mind holding onto any of them, but they won't cause them to walk away from the table.

Paul DeJong is a guy they could capitalize on the value of if he continues to hit again as he has of late. If the Cardinals want to promote Ivan Herrera, Andrew Knizner is a guy who would be available. I doubt Genesis Cabrera gets dealt, but if a team really likes him, he could be available.

On the trade block

Tyler O'Neill, Jack Flaherty, Drew VerHagen, Chris Stratton, Steven Matz, Oscar Mercado, Dakota Hudson

These players are guys I fully expect the Cardinals to move on from this deadline, or that they would be more than willing to part with if they can.

Unfair or not, Tyler O'Neill just looks like a player who is on his way out the door for St. Louis. Again, I really like him as a player and I bet he bounces back for another club, but I just do not see him having a future with the Cardinals. For as bad as this past calendar year has gone for him, there will still be teams out there who want to tap into his potential.

Jack Flaherty is the guy I think the Cardinals will be very open to moving at the deadline in a similar kind of scenario that I talked about with Montgomery. If the Cardinals are in contention, I think they'd rather move Flaherty for a package and let Montgomery walk on a qualifying offer in free agency. Again, with how desperate teams are for pitching, you are going to see a lot of interest in Flaherty.

Drew VerHagen and Chris Stratton are guys who could be moved if a contender is looking for bullpen depth this deadline, and I think it's a real possibility. I doubt teams will be calling on Oscar Mercado or Dakota Hudson, but I think the Cardinals would be very open to offers.

Steven Matz is someone they'd love to move on from, similar in the vein of Mike Leake from seasons ago, so if a team is willing to take a flyer and the Cardinals will send some cash, I'm sure a deal could be made.

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