MLB rumors: 1 more trade the St. Louis Cardinals should make

The St. Louis Cardinals need pitching depth, and the Marlins could help them out after their latest acquisition. 

In the early hours of the morning today, the Miami Marlins acquired RHP Johnny Cueto in what appears to be a depth piece with a potential incoming fire sale to the team’s starting rotation.

The timing for the Marlins to sign another starter is all too perfect. The Cardinals are the favorites for the NL Central, but the team can ill-afford to let a key Miami starter fall to a team like the Cubs, who are mightily improved as it is and after a division crown of their own.

Landing Pablo Lopez via trade for St. Louis puts them over the top. Lopez struggled down the stretch in the 2022 campaign, likely due to fatigue from blowing past his career-high in innings pitched with 180. In the first half of 2022, Lopez hurled a stellar 2.86 ERA in 104 frames. At only 26 years old, Lopez can be more effective after a year of being further stretched out; he has ace potential on any team he plays for.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals should trade for Pablo Lopez

The Cardinals currently boast a rotation of Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery. Adding Lopez would give them the best rotation in the NL Central and would put them closer to the top of the National League as a whole. St. Louis had the fourth-best rotation in the NL a season ago, with a collective ERA of 3.79.

For the Marlins, we already know it’s more than just Lopez available, and rumors have suggested that Edward Cabrera, Trevor Rogers, and Jesus Luzardo can also be had. In any case, the Cardinals have a chance to be the clear-cut favorite in the NL Central. With the very top-heavy National League, the division title is the easiest path to the playoffs.

Unless there is an epic collapse, the top 3 NL East teams, the Mets, Braves, and Phillies, along with the Dodgers and Padres in the West, should all contend for a postseason slot. Therefore, the Cards can not gamble just rolling with what they have.

If Lopez or one of Miami’s key starters ends up in Chicago, it would be a dogfight all season for St. Louis. They need to make a move.