MLB Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals could seek trade for starting pitching?

The St. Louis Cardinals have weathered the early storm in 2014. With a couple winning spurts to overcome a slow start to the season, the team is now 26-22 and just 2.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers.

With that the Cardinals can return to the familiar territory of playoff contenders. It is from that spot that they can evaluate their roster and look to possibly make a move to improve their chances at a World Series run.

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As far as potential trades go, could the Cardinals actually be in a position where they need to acquire starting pitching? That is the question posed by Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch:

"“With a surplus of coveted outfield prospects and some young power arms who could entice potential trade partners, will Cardinals GM John Mozeliak be able to pull off a big trade to put his team in position to make another run to the NL pennant? The pieces are there. It depends on how Mozeliak views his team.”"

With Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha at the top of the rotation, the Cardinals might actually be in line for an upgrade in the other starting spots. That is the view of one scout with whom Miklasz spoke:

"“If the Cardinals go for for a big move, they’ll try to acquire a formidable starting pitcher so they can go into a postseason series lined up with Adam Wainwight, Michael Wacha and the elite-level Pitcher to be Acquired Later.”"

The moving pieces for such a trade would likely be outfielder and top prospect Oscar Tavares and right-handed pitcher Carlos Martinez. What the Cardinals do as far as calling up Tavares could set up a series of moves if they trade an outfielder. Martinez has struggled thus far but many thought he belonged in the rotation. If he improved he could either slide into the rotation or be an enticing trade piece.

To make big-season trades requires both that a team have the assets to trade and that they have the willingness to make an aggressive move. If the Cardinals fit that description, they will be in position to make a big move later this summer.