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MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Yonder Alonso

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 13: Yonder Alonso #17 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated after scoring on a bases loaded balk in the second inning during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 13, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 13: Yonder Alonso #17 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated after scoring on a bases loaded balk in the second inning during a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 13, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – JUNE 30: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals returns to the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on June 30, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JUNE 30: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals returns to the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on June 30, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

4. St. Louis Cardinals

The Milwaukee Brewers may make this a moot point by the time the trade deadline arrives in three weeks, but for now, the Cardinals are still alive in the NL Central. They’re keeping their record close to .500 thanks to an excellent pitching staff and bullpen that has recovered fairly well after an ugly April. Having the fourth-best ERA in the league would typically translate into a winning record, but the Cardinals are 10th in the NL in runs and slugging and 11th in home runs.

If the Cardinals do not do something to upgrade their lineup, they are in danger of finishing the season with a negative run differential. Dexter Fowler’s first season with the team has been a disappointment, while Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk have not materialized into productive starters. Matt Carpenter is having the worst year of his career and Aledmys Diaz had to be sent to the minor leagues to work on his swing. That leaves Jedd Gyorko and Tommy Pham as the two most productive hitters on the Cardinals this year — exactly how they drew it up in Spring Training.

During their current run of playoff appearances, the Cardinals have rarely had to make a big trade at the deadline. Their farm system has always been able to deliver what the MLB club needs, but not this year. The front office will not (and should not) blow up the farm system to try and push this floundering team back to the playoffs, but they are not that far off. The pitching is there, and with a solid bat like Yonder Alonso’s, the Cardinals could go on a run.

Trading for Alonso gives the Cardinals the power bat at first base they have been seeking while allowing Carpenter to slide back to second base. This season has not fully gotten away from St. Louis, but they must act quickly if things are going to turn around.

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