The St. Louis Cardinals are not far out of a playoff spot in the National League Wild Card, but with plenty of assets that could fetch decent value at the MLB trade deadline, there is speculation over what the Cardinals will do.
But, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, during a segment on Fair Territory, he believes the Cardinals will look to sell at the deadline. This is largely in part due to where the team stands, and views themselves and their odds of winning the World Series.
"It seems to me it would be possible," Rosenthal said. "The Cardinals have slid back now, they're not quite where they were. Still in the middle of the NL wild-card race, but if you're looking at this realistically, are they going to win the World Series this year? Probably not."
While Rosenthal doesn't point out specifically that the Cardinals will be sellers, the implication is that St. Louis would sell come the trade deadline. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Cardinals did sell, especially considering the assets they have that could be on the move.
Nolan Arenado is the headliner, but there are plenty of other names to watch for as well. Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas are starters in the final year of their deals, and both could be moved in July. Ryan Helsley, who was once one of the top relievers in the game, could also be on the move as he's in the final year of his deal.
Sonny Gray, despite having some control and being expensive, could have suitors. Pedro Pages would be a solid backup catcher, while Jordan Walker could be a change-of-scenery player for a team to acquire.
That group of players doesn't include Lars Nootbaar, who could be moved, or Alec Burleson, who'd also fetch a high price if on the market. The Cardinals have some of the best assets available, and if they sell, they could drive the price up and get strong returns for nearly every player they are considering moving.
Amid the speculation, this report from Rosenthal paints a clear picture: the Cardinals are prepared to sell at the MLB trade deadline. Considering this market will be a seller's one, the Cardinals have more reason to try and offload as much as they can, since teams will be scrambling for top players at the trade deadline.