Ex-Red Sox Star Reportedly May Be Available; Should Cardinals Consider Making Splash?

How can the Cardinals get back on track?

The St. Louis Cardinals certainly have underperformed this season.

St. Louis won the National League Central title with 93 wins in 2022 and after returning much of the same roster and making some intriguing additions many expected the club to be even better. The Cardinals very well could compete late into the 2023 season, but have struggled to open the campaign and currently sit at 9-13 through the club's first 22 games. 

The Cardinals' offense has been impressive so far this season, but the starting pitching hasn't been as fortunate. The rotation should fortify once veteran Adam Wainwright returns to the fold, but one external candidate they should consider is Detroit Tigers left Eduardo Rodriguez who reportedly may be available according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. 

"I think the Tigers will deal Eduardo Rodríguez at the trade deadline because of his opt-out clause, but he's not low-cost," Bowden said. "The (Seattle Mariners) has been open to trading Marco Gonzales and Chris Flexen. The (Washington Nationals) would move Trevor Williams. The (Colorado Rockies) might move Austin Gomber. The Red Sox would listen to offers on Tanner Houck."

Rodriguez was signed as an international free agent by the Baltimore Orioles and eventually was traded to the Boston Red Sox where he eventually made his big league debut. The lefty spent the first six years of his big league career with Boston and developed into an above starting pitcher and helped lead the club to the 2018 World Series title. 

The 30-year-old joined the Tigers ahead of the 2022 campaign and has impressed since and has an opt-out in his contract and seems likely to use it. Rodriguez has been one of the best left-handed hurlers in baseball in 2023 and has compiled a 2.32 ERA in five starts for Detroit. 

If he is moved, he would make a whole of sense for a Cardinals team that needs a boost in the rotation. Rodriguez may not cost too much, but could help improve a rotation that drastically needs it. If a move were to happen it likely wouldn't happen until closer to July, but that doesn't mean that the Cardinals shouldn't be looking out already. 

More MLB: MLB Insider Links Cardinals Stud Infielder To Dodgers; Would Club Consider Deal?