While this has been a disastrous season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a reporter for the team says that fans should not expect them to be sellers at the August 1 MLB trade deadline.
Compared to last season, 2023 in the MLB has been very strange. Outside of the Atlanta Braves being the league’s top team and en route to an easy defense of their National League East title, most of the top teams from last season are struggling.
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The New York Mets and San Diego Padres have garnered a lot of headlines for their poor play due to their massive payrolls or the bold roster moves they have made over the last year that have raised their expectations to championship levels. However, the St. Louis Cardinals have quietly — on a national level — had a miserable season as well.
After winning the NL Central by seven games in 2022, the team is dead last heading into July and is a shocking 14 games under .500. Similar to the Mets and Padres, it has led many around the league to speculate the St. Louis Cardinals could be sellers on the trade block this month and look to gain some long-term assets for some of their very valuable veterans. Well, one team reporter does not expect that to happen.
St. Louis Cardinals won’t shop stars at MLB trade deadline
Reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt would be one of the most sought-after players on the trade block if he were made available. However, on Sunday The Athletic St. Louis Cardinals insider Katie Woo explained how the seven-time All-Star is still a part of the team’s contention plans for next season.
“The haul for Goldschmidt would be massive. The Cardinals could jump-start whatever degree of restructuring they feel necessary. The reality? Not happening, and that’s even without taking into consideration Goldschmidt’s no-trade clause. As [president of baseball operations John Mozeliak] stated, the Cardinals are avoiding a rebuild. They aim to contend next season.
“If that’s the organization’s goal, the last thing it needs is young, unproven talent. The Cardinals need experienced, established names to complement the young talent already rostered. If the Cardinals shop Goldschmidt, it would indicate a true teardown, something Mozeliak has avoided throughout the entirety of his tenure as president of baseball operations and has already voiced his reluctance to do this summer.”
– Katie Woo
If Goldschmidt is unlikely to get dealt and the team hopes to contend in 2024, it also likely means rival organizations should not expect Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar, and Jordan Walker to end up on the trade block as well.