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

Should the Cardinals consider trading one of their young infielders?

The St. Louis Cardinals haven't gotten off to the start they hoped for.

St. Louis is 8-11 through the first 19 games of the season and the biggest issue facing the club has been the starting rotation. The Cardinals' starting rotation has gotten off to a very slow start but all has not been bad. St. Louis' offense has been impressive to open the 2023 season and the club currently sits fourth in the league in batting average at .274 and second in on-base percentage at .354. 

One player who has been impressive so far this season for the Cardinals is shortstop Tommy Edman. The 2021 Gold Glove winner has impressed both with his glove as well as his bat and he's currently slashing .274/.366/.435 to go along with two home runs and seven RBIs. 

Edman has been impressive enough that he even is catching the eye of shortstop-needy teams and The Athletic's Jim Bowden even linked him to the Los Angeles Dodgers if St. Louis opted to deal. 

"If I were the Dodgers, I would target Jorge Mateo of the (Baltimore Orioles) because they could play Gunnar Henderson at short and Ramon Urias at third if they trade him," Bowden said. Mateo is well-above-average defender and one of the fastest players in the league. I'd also call the Cardinals to see if they would move shortstop Tommy Edman or their top shortstop prospect, Masyn Winn, who appears to be major-league-ready." 

At this time St. Louis has no reason to deal either Edman or Winn. Both are under team control for the foreseeable future. Edman has impressed so far this season at the big league level for St. Louis and Winn is at the Triple-A level and nearing an MLB debut of his own. The only way a deal would make sense for the Cardinals is if the club were able to greatly improve its pitching. 

Los Angeles has Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Noah Syndergaard, and Michael Grove all currently in the starting rotation. The Dodgers have Walker Buehler as well, but he will miss the 2023 campaign. If St. Louis could aim for the stars and nab someone like Urias or May in a deal, then a deal certainly would make sense. Urias will be a free agent at the end of the season so a move potentially could be made.

At the end of the day, Edman and Winn both likely won't be going anywhere in the near future unless the Cardinals are blown away by a deal. 

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