Cardinals, Orioles Reportedly Linked In Potential Deadline Blockbuster Deal

Should the Cardinals deal one of their brightest stars?

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in baseball but still likely will end up being sellers ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. 

St. Louis has won six straight games and eight of its last 10 games but currently is 44-53 and is 10 games back of the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Although they have looked much better lately, the trade deadline is set to come and pass August 1 and the Cardinals likely will be one of the busiest teams around. 

The Cardinals are loaded with talent and have some intriguing players that will be extremely attractive to contenders. One player who has found his name in trade rumors this season is left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery and one team that reportedly could be an interesting trade partner is the surprising Baltimore Orioles, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. 

"The Orioles are committed to trading for a starting pitcher at the deadline, but they’re also committed to not trading any of their top prospects, including Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, Joey Ortiz, Coby Mayo, Samuel Basallo, or even DL Hall," Bowden said. "However, their farm system is so deep, a deal could still get done for a pitcher such as Montgomery, perhaps with a package of something like lefty Cade Povich and third baseman Max Wagner. Povich, 23, has an eye-popping 115 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings this season in Double-A, with a 4.83 ERA in 17 starts. Wagner, 21, has hit .240/.374/.409 with 10 doubles, nine homers, and 23 stolen bases in 69 games in High A."

Montgomery has without a doubt been the Cardinals' best pitcher this season. The 30-year-old has compiled a 3.19 ERA across 19 starts and has tallied an impressive 101-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio. While St. Louis likely would want to retain Montgomery, he will be a free agent this upcoming offseason and may sign elsewhere. The starting pitching trade market is sure to be extremely competitive and Montgomery likely will be in the second tier of pitchers available. 

No matter what happens, the Cardinals likely will look very different on August 1.

More MLB: NL Central Rival Reportedly Could Land Ex-Cardinals All-Star In Potential Deadline Deal