MLB Rumors: Grading 3 trade packages to fix the St. Louis Cardinals

MLB Insider Robert Murray grades three potential St. Louis Cardinals trade packages as they hope to turn around their rough start.

The St. Louis Cardinals do not pass the vibe check.

They are 9-15 and are 3-7 in their last 10 games, including two gut-wrenching losses against the San Francisco Giants. They need help, and fast, especially in the rotation. And the need is pressing enough for Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak to be motivated to add external help.

With it being so early in the regular season, it’s tough to forecast which players will be available at the deadline. But with the White Sox struggling early, perhaps some teams call about star right-hander Dylan Cease. There figure to be other names mentioned on the trade market, too.

Here are a few trade proposals submitted by FanSided writers to help fix the Cardinals.

Note: It should be noted that none of these trades are necessarily likely to happen right now. We’re simply grading them on viability and fit. The trades are graded on a 1-10 scale based on that criteria.

MLB Rumors – Trade proposal: Cardinals deal Dylan Carlson

H/T: FanSided.com’s Kevin Henry

Robert Murray’s analysis: I don’t see this trade happening. The Cardinals like Carlson and have invested a lot of time and resources in him. Trading him now would represent selling low on him, which is not something I expect them to do.

Yarbrough was non-tendered by the Rays in the offseason and the Cardinals could have signed him as a free agent. He has a 7.62 ERA in seven games this season and hasn’t had an ERA below 4.50 since 2020. Cruz, meanwhile, has a 4.05 ERA in Double-A for the Royals and wouldn’t help at the major-league level this season.

If the Cardinals were to trade Carlson, they’d need much more than this.

Grading the trade package: 2/10.