St. Louis Cardinals Could Trade For A Veteran Starting Pitcher

The surging St. Louis Cardinals return from the All Star break with a record of 50-46.

After a sluggish start to the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Cardinals are only 4.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central Division.

Now, with 66 games remaining in the MLB season, the club may look to bolster their starting rotation with another veteran pitcher.

Entering the season, the Cardinals added free agent right-handers Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson.

Maybe an additional veteran starter can bolster the Cardinals rotation down the stretch.

Starting pitching is in great demand, making the asking price in a trade difficult to accomplish.

However, there are teams in need of outfielders, as well as pitchers.

The Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Royals are all contending teams that may seek to improve their outfield depth by the July 30 trade deadline.

The Cardinals are fairly well stocked in the outfield.

Last December, the team traded Tyler O’Neill to the Boston Red Sox for right-handed reliever Nick Robertson, and right-handed prospect starter Victor Santos.

Cardinals outfield depth remains. They may be able to trade from among several outfielder options.

Veteran outfielders Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Michael Siani, or Dylan Carlson might be attractive to a team like the Phillies, the Braves, or the Royals.

Two Superb Cardinals Outfield Prospects:

To this old scout, the two players noted below might fetch a consequential starting pitcher.

Victor Scott II, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter, has blazing speed, and his potential for success stealing bases and scoring runs.

He has had a brief trial with the parent Cardinals, but his future is in the windshield, for all to see.

Of course, highly regarded Jordan Walker has always been seen as a consequential prospect. The right-handed hitting outfielder is still only 22-years-old. He is viewed as a top talent, and still has to prove himself against big league pitching.

If the Cardinals trade any of their veteran outfielders instead of Victor Scott II, or Jordan Walker, either of those two prospects can slip right into the void created by the veteran outfielder being traded.

Veteran Pitchers The Cardinals Might Target:

1-ERICK FEDDE-RHP-Chicago White Sox-6-4, 204 pounds, age 31

Having a great season so far, Erick Fedde may be able to add a significant veteran presence to the Cardinals rotation. He is having an outstanding year for Chicago. HIs current stats:

7-3 record in 19 starts, covering 111.1 innings. He has a sparkling 2.99 ERA, and 1.13 WHIP. He has yielded 11 home runs.

2-YUSEI KIKUCHI-LHP-Toronto Blue Jays-6-0, 210 pounds, Age 27

Kikuchi will be a free agent after this season, so he may have a reasonable price tag regarding a player return to the Blue Jays. He would bring a left-handed arm to the rotation.His current stats:

4-8 record, in 20 starts, covering 106 innings pitched. He has a 4.42 ERA, and 1.30 WHIP. He has yielded 16 home runs so far.

3-CAL QUANTRILL-RHP-Colorado Rockies-6-3, 195 pounds, Age 29

Quantrill is in his first season with the Rockies. In a tough home park, he is having a credible season. He would add a savvy veteran to the already seasoned staff. Quantrill keeps his team in games, but he has had a tendency to tire after five innings. His current stats:

6-7 record in 19 starts covering 102.1 innings. His ERA is 4.13, with a WHIP of 1.34. He has yielded 14 home runs.

Note: This old scout is not an advocate of trading for Chicago White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet. He has never thrown more than 54.1 innings in a season. He is already at 107.1 innings. He has a spotty injury history, and the risk/reward factor could tilt heavily to risk.

Also, Miami Marlins lefty Jesus Luzardo may sound attractive, but he is currently on the Injured List with a “lumbar stress reaction.” And that doesn’t bode well.

If the Cardinals want to get creative, they can try to fetch a pitcher like Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, or Chris Bassitt from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Those Blue Jays pitchers will be far more costly in prospect players than the Blue Jays Yusei Kikuchi.