Cardinals: 3 Opening Day starters who should be replaced by the trade deadline

1) The Cardinals may consider parting ways with shortstop Paul DeJong

A big part of the Cardinals success during the team’s run to a division title during the 2019 season was the contributions of shortstop Paul DeJong.

DeJong was an All-Star that year, posting a .233/.318/.444 slash line with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs in 664 plate appearances. It’s been a bit of a step backwards for DeJong since then.

In 178 plate appearances this season, the 27-year-old is slashing .169/.271/.354 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs. He’s missed about a month due to a rib fracture but he hasn’t been able to find a groove before or after the injury.

DeJong has 10 homers, but has just three doubles on top of struggling to drive-in runs in the middle of the lineup. With runners in scoring position this season, DeJong holds a .205 batting average. The Cardinals struggling to score runs shouldn’t entirely fall on DeJong, but his inability to produce reflects a team that owns the ninth-lowest batting average (.235) with runners in scoring position in the majors.

It might be too early to give up on DeJong given his age and the idea his best playing days are still ahead. He still has two-years, $15.4 million remaining on his current deal along with a $12.5 million team option in 2024 and a $15 million team option in 2025.

It would mean selling low if he’s traded in the upcoming weeks, but DeJong is playing his way out of the team’s future plans with other options such as Edmundo Sosa emerging as replacement candidates.