White Sox Reportedly Close To Firesale; Cardinals Could Target Cy Young Contender
Could the St. Louis Cardinals kickstart their season by adding a dependable starting pitcher with Cy Young upside?
The Chicago White Sox have gotten off to a horrible start and could be nearing a complete firesale according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal -- St. Louis is primed to take advantage.
Of Chicago's impending free agents, right-hander Lucas Giolito would be the most logical target for the Cardinals.
Giolito has not lit Major League Baseball on fire to start the season but has a respectable 4.50 ERA with an encouraging 28-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .248 batting average against in 28 innings this season.
The intrigue for Giolito comes from his past. The 28-year-old finished sixth, seventh and 11th in American League Cy Young voting between 2019 and 2021, respectively.
Even in a down season, Giolito would be considered one of the Cardinal's top starters and certainly is capable of having an elite second-half run that could mirror what Jordan Montgomery did for St. Louis a season ago.
With free agency looming, the Cardinals could get the veteran without parting ways with a top prospect and have the depth in both the big leagues and farm system to acquire Giolito's services without skipping a beat.
The Cardinals have gotten off to a 10-16 start and should make the call sooner rather than later.
More MLB: White Sox Star Could Be Perfect Answer To Get Cardinals Season Back On Track