MLB Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals more likely to trade after Michael Wacha injury
By Hayden Kane
The St. Louis Cardinals took two hits to their starting rotation this week when they placed Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia on the disabled list, both with shoulder injuries. Both are concerning, but it is the injury to Wacha that might be a catalyst for the team’s involvement in the trade market next month.
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The Cardinals were already a team that was putting feelers out there for trades for starting pitchers. With their clear no. 2 guy out, possibly for a long time with a stress fracture in his throwing shoulder, this might increase their urgency to find a starter.
It would still be a surprise if the Cardinals made a splashy trade, however. That’s according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
"But logically we have to assume the injuries and decreased pitching depth will prompt general manager John Mozeliak to consider being more aggressive. The cost for a high-end starter like Tampa Bay’s David Price will be high.And it may even be a little higher for the Cardinals. Opposing general managers will think they have added leverage in dealings with Mozeliak because the Cards are (A) having a mediocre season; (B) now must fret over more urgent concerns about starting pitching."
Maybe not Price, and certainly not Jeff Samardzija or Jason Hammel within the division, but there will still be pitchers for the Cardinals to pursue. In terms of blockbuster deals, Cliff Lee‘s progress would be worth monitoring. And how about a guy like Jorge De La Rosa on the Colorado Rockies? If the Cardinals want them, there will be other options and other deals to make, especially with their loaded farm system.