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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 potential fits for Jose Abreu

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox grounds out in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 12, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox grounds out in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 12, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 16: Marcell Ozuna #23 of the St. Louis Cardinals takes an at bat against the Minnesota Twins during the interleague game on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cardinals defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 16: Marcell Ozuna #23 of the St. Louis Cardinals takes an at bat against the Minnesota Twins during the interleague game on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cardinals defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

3. St. Louis Cardinals

Thanks to their stellar pitching staff, the St. Louis Cardinals remain right in the thick of things in the NL Central. Little to none of the credit for the team’s 25-19 start can be given to the offense. Of the regulars with more than 100 plate appearances, only Tommy Pham, Jose Martinez, Yadier Molina and Paul DeJong have an OPS+ over 100. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, both Molina and DeJong are out for an extended period of time as they recover from a groin and hand injury, respectively.

The big addition of Marcell Ozuna has not paid off at all for the Cardinals. The All-Star is hitting just .234/.275/.316 with five doubles and three home runs. Dexter Fowler, Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter have all been even worse, collectively hitting well below .200 with a slugging percentage hovering just above .300.

It’s hard for a team like the Cardinals to win games with three key members of their lineup teaming up to hit like a pitcher. St. Louis went through a similar stretch last April and May before their veteran hitters got hot.

Any hopes the Cardinals have of getting back to the playoffs this year could hinge on getting the offense untracked. The starting rotation has been very solid, but the bullpen has also been riddled by injuries. Look for St. Louis to be in on a big hitter as the trade deadline approaches. That could mean Manny Machado or Josh Donaldson, but don’t rule out a shot at Abreu, especially if Jose Martinez cannot keep up the solid hitting at first base.

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