MLB Trade Deadline: 15 trades that need to happen

14. Lance Lynn to the Rockies

After missing the entire 2016 season while rehabbing from Tommy John, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn has picked up right where he left off before the elbow injury. He is 8-6 in 19 starts with a 3.40 ERA. Lynn has been particularly effective of late, which will only serve to boost his trade value. Over his past four starts, Lynn has gone 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA. His two more recent starts have been scoreless outings covering a total of 13.1 innings with only one walk.

Lynn has been very good this year, posting 13 starts with two earned runs or fewer and five starts with zero runs allowed. His ERA and home-run rate were driven up by back-to-back starts in June where he allowed seven earned runs apiece and six total home runs. As they fall further back in the NL Central standings, the Cardinals need to think about swapping Lynn for a solid prospect, particularly a power-hitting outfielder, which is something the Colorado Rockies always have in excess.

For the Rockies, Lynn would provide the veteran, workhorse presence needed to protect the young arms of Kyle Freeland, Jeff Hoffman, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez in the second half. Colorado is in no particular danger of missing the playoffs entirely barring a total collapse, but reducing the workload on their young pitchers is the biggest benefit of adding a starter at the deadline. The Cardinals could even look to maximize their return by packaging Lynn with power-armed reliever Trevor Rosenthal.