Major Shakeup Reportedly Could Be Coming For Cardinals Ahead Of Trade Deadline

Could a firesale be imminent for the Cardinals ahead of the trade deadline?

The St. Louis Cardinals can't seem to get out of their own way.

St. Louis entered the 2023 season with high expectations and hasn't been able to live up to them. The Cardinals currently are in last place in the National League Central with an abysmal 35-51 record and are 12 and a half games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds. 

At this point, it's seeming more and more likely that the Cardinals will be sellers ahead of the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, but there are still about three weeks until the August 1 deadline. If the Cardinals decide to sell, three players who may draw some serious interest around the league are pitchers Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and Jordan Hicks, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"The Cardinals have three talented pitchers who are free agents-to-be — Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and Jordan Hicks — plus an obvious glut of hitters," Heyman said." 

Montgomery and Flaherty have had their names in trade rumors seemingly all season to this point. Both are set to be free agents at the end of the season and if the club isn't going to turn things around, it may make sense to deal either for prospects. Hicks also could be an interesting trade piece. The fireballer has pitched to a 4.15 ERA this season, but his advanced metrics are more impressive. Hicks is in the 100th percentile in fastball velocity, 95th percentile in strikeout percentage, 93rd percentile in average exit velocity, and 89th percentile in whiff percentage. 

St. Louis has been in trade rumors all season and other players who have found their names in rumors are outfielders Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson, super utility man Tommy Edman, and even 2022 National League Most Valuable Player Paul Goldschmidt. At this point, there's no way to know for sure what the club will do, but there could be a firesale on the way for St. Louis if things don't turn around immediately. 

More MLB: Cardinals Reportedly Make Three Intriguing Additions As Club Looks To Get Back On Track