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MLB trade rumors: Cardinals to move Jose Martinez?

By Brad Berreman

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 16: Jose Martinez #38 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning of the interleague game on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 16: Jose Martinez #38 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning of the interleague game on May 16, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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As interim manager Mike Shildt prioritizes defense, the St. Louis Cardinals are ready to trade Jose Martinez.

Last weekend’s firing of manager Mike Matheny, as right as the move probably was, obscures the fact the St. Louis Cardinals are in the thick of the NL Wild Card race and could be buyers as the trade deadline nears. But according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Cardinals could move first baseman Jose Martinez soon.

In three games with Mike Shildt as interim manager, including Friday, Martinez has come off the bench in each. Going back to Matheny’s last game as manager, Martinez has now not been in the starting lineup for four straight games.

Shildt is going somewhat against the grain, and turned the clock back to the 80’s era Cardinals in some respect by trying to prioritize defense in his lineup deployment. Matt Carpenter has become the first baseman, with Jedd Gyorko at third base and Dexter Fowler in right field. Fowler is struggling at the plate, with a .172/.265/.291 slash-line entering Friday, but his reported communication breakdown with Matheny should be noted and he registered three hits over the two games heading into the All-Star break.

Martinez has mostly played first base for the Cardinals this year, and he has seen a bit of time in right field. His Defensive WAR is bad (-1.3, via Baseball Reference), but a solid .299/.365/.478 slash-line (.843 OPS) with 13 home runs and 56 RBI gives him some sort of value.

Martinez will turn 30 next Wednesday, and with over 3,600 minor league plate appearances on his resume he qualifies a late bloomer. But he is also not yet arbitration-eligible, and that level of team and cost control will definitely appeal to teams in search of a right-handed bat for the stretch run.

Related Story: 5 candidates to replace Mike Matheny as Cardinals manager

Even with a market likely limited to American League teams who are looking for a DH-type, the Cardinals should have no trouble moving Martinez.

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