St. Louis Cardinals: 4 disappointments who should be replaced by the trade deadline

MLB trade deadline moves could see Wade LeBlanc replaced by the Cardinals

It has not just been a lack of offensive production from the middle infield that has plagued the Cardinals this year. Their pitching staff has been less than stellar, especially the underwhelming starting rotation. While left-hander Wade LeBlanc has pitched better since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles, he has not been the revelation the Cardinals hoped for on the pitching staff.

Though he has been able to lower his ERA on the season from a disastrous 9.45 to a somewhat respectable 5.60 since joining the Cardinals, it really feels like he is a stop-gap on this pitching staff and nothing more. He is on a cheap, expiring contract and could be taking up a roster spot for a younger Cardinals’ starting option or bullpen arm. There is an incredibly limited ceiling with him.

While he has boasted a strong 3.27 ERA in five games with the Cardinals, that number is more than a full run below his career-average ERA of 4.57. So one should expect a regression to the mean at some point from him during his 2021 run with the Cardinals. Though he did pitch well in his first start with the Cardinals, we must wonder how much longer before the other shoe drops.

It may serve the Cardinals to sell high on LeBlanc at the deadline if he is not coming back next year.