Blue Jays Have 'No Plans' To Deal Possible Cardinals Trade Target Despite Rumors

It sounds like Toronto isn't going to trade the rumored Cardinals' target

What's next for the St. Louis Cardinals?

St. Louis already is in a much better spot than it was when the 2023 season came to a close. The Cardinals had one of their most underwhelming seasons in recent memory and clearly have been trying to improve the roster.

The Cardinals made a specific effort to improve the starting rotation and did so by adding Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson quickly. St. Louis also has bolstered its bullpen.

It's unclear if the club will make another addition, but some have speculated if they do, it would be a trade for a starting pitcher. Multiple hurlers have been floated as options with the most recent being Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Alek Manoah.

While this is the case, Toronto reportedly has "no plans" on trading the young hurler, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

"Teams have asked the Blue Jays about Alek Manoah’s availability via trade, but sources say the Jays are telling clubs they have no plans to move him," Morosi said. "I’m told Manoah has had a very good offseason of workouts. He’s expected to be in the Jays’ rotation."

Manoah had a difficult 2023 season, to say the least, but still would be a very interesting pickup if the Blue Jays changed their minds. He is just 26 years old and finished in third place in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022 after logging a 2.24 ERA and 180-to-51 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

He may have had a bad 2024 campaign, but he's certainly a bounce-back candidate.

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