(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
For the first time in President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak’s tenure, the St. Louis Cardinals are approaching the trade deadline as true sellers.
The team has had a disastrous season as they sit in fourth place in the NL Central with a record of 45-56.
They’re 11 games out of first place and nine out in the Wild Card race.
More than likely, starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty will be traded.
Both would be pure rentals for contending teams.
On Twitter, Cardinals writer Brenden Schaeffer predicted that this deadline is a perfect opportunity for teams to capitalize on what the Cardinals have to offer.
On paper, it should be a slam dunk of a trade market to exploit for what the #STLCards have to offer. https://t.co/Ul43wGacM8
— Brenden Schaeffer (@bschaeffer12) July 25, 2023
St. Louis has several players on expiring contracts.
In addition to Flaherty and Montgomery, relievers Jordan Hicks and Chris Stratton are also free agents at the end of the year.
It appears likely that none will be back with the team in 2024.
St. Louis desperately needs to retool its pitching staff for next season as they look for controllable young arms.
Other pieces may also be dealt.
But this is the first time in a while that the Cardinals have been true sellers at the trade deadline.
Their hopes of a comeback are essentially squashed, and they are set to pivot to 2024 and make moves for the future.
With rental starters such as Flaherty and Montgomery coming at a high cost, there is a good chance that the Cardinals could receive a decent haul for them if and when they are traded.
The deadline is now a week away.
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