Two Stars Reportedly Linked To Cardinals As Potential Trade Deadline Candidates

Should the Cardinals make a major splash?

The St. Louis Cardinals are going to be very busy ahead of the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline. 

St. Louis struggled to open the 2023 season but is 12-4 over the 16 games and is starting to look like the club everyone expected them to be. The Cardinals won 93 games in 2022 and seemed poised to compete for a World Series title this season. That very well still may be the case, but the Cardinals likely will need to make a move or two to put themselves over the top. 

The Cardinals' starting rotation certainly is what needs the most work. St. Louis' offense has plenty of top-tier firepower and the bullpen has been solid. St. Louis has been in trade rumors already this season with the expectation being that the club will deal at least one outfielder for a starting pitcher as we get closer to the August 1 deadline. Two players that could be options who have reportedly been linked to St. Louis are Detroit Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. 

"Starting pitching is the Cardinals' biggest need," Rosenthal said. "Top-of-the-rotation types figure to be scarce. The (Milwaukee Brewers), if they trade righty Corbin Burnes, likely will want to send him anywhere but St. Louis. Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will be an option but in heavy demand. Ditto for righty Dylan Cease, if the White Sox even make him available." 

If either Rodriguez or Cease is dealt ahead of the trade deadline, the Cardinals would make perfect sense. St. Louis needs another No. 1 or No. 2 starter and Rodriguez and Cease both would fit this description. Rodriguez has been one of the most impressive pitchers in all of baseball so far this season compiling a minuscule 2.19 ERA in 10 starts for Detroit. The lefty has struck out 61 batters so far this season to go along with just 14 walks. 

Cease has somewhat struggled this season at points, but there's no reason to believe he won't turn things around. The 27-year-old has compiled a 4.60 ERA so far this season in 11 starts. Last season, Cease compiled a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts for the White Sox and a 3.91 ERA in 2021 across a league-leading 32 appearances. The righty finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 and at just 27 years old, likely will find his way back to success.

Both Cease and Rodriguez would be clear upgrades for the St. Louis rotation. A move may not happen until we get closer to the deadline, but Cardinals fans should be keeping an eye out on both stars.

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