Tigers' Ace Linked To Cardinals In Potential Blockbuster Trade

St. Louis could add a frontline starter for the foreseeable future

Could the St. Louis Cardinals recover from their rocky start to the season by adding a hot-handed lefty to the rotation?

The Detroit Tigers have had a solid start at 16-18 but are expected to sell at the deadline. If that is the case, their top starter will be one of the hottest commodities on the market -- and a perfect fit to join the struggling Cardinals.

"(Rodriguez) has an opt-out clause in his contract after this season, and he’ll probably use it if he keeps pitching this way," The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote Monday. "His salary is affordable given market rates, and if he were traded to certain teams, like the (San Diego) Padres or Cardinals, he might be willing to eradicate the clause because he’s still owed a guaranteed $41 million between 2024 and 2026. The Tigers’ rebuild is going to take time and he’ll be their best asset at the deadline."

Rodriguez is off to a hot start this season at 3-2, with a 1.81 ERA, 39-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .176 batting average against and 0.78 WHIP in 44 innings pitched this season.

The struggling Cardinals rotation sits with an overall ERA of 5.26 -- ranking No. 22 in Major League Baseball. A blockbuster trade for Rodriguez would make sense.

The Cardinals reportedly are looking to exchange their excess of outfielders for an improved pitching staff, starting with Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, Alec Burleson and Juan Yepez. 

St. Louis likely will dangle those outfielders first when trying to swing a deal for Rodriguez. 

Detroit will use their elite southpaw as a top asset in the team's rebuilding process -- meaning they'll likely demand prospects as well. 

The Cardinals currently sit at 12-24 with the third-worst record in baseball and will need to make a notable deal sooner rather than later if they want to have any chance at competing this season. 

Either way, the Cardinals should be in the mix for Rodriguez, as they'd be smart to get him in the building to work on a long-term extension. Locking up a long-term frontline starter would be the single greatest move they could make at the deadline this summer. 

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