3 Cardinals trade targets to already dream about and 1 to definitely avoid

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets in action against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on September 03, 2022 in New York City. The Nationals defeated the Mets 7-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

With a 13-25 record, the Cardinals have calmed the seas of drama. Not really. The Cardinals may have to make some moves soon to improve their pitching.

The Cardinals have recently won three games in a row, constituting a winning streak. This isn’t to say that things have drastically improved for St. Louis. They still have their fair share of issues, including pitching.

Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, said he would raise the payroll after last season. Mozeliak did up payroll to get a catcher to replace Cardinals legend, Yadier Molina. Willson Contreras was signed for $87.5 million over five years. He’s been demoted to the team’s designated hitter while he learns the Cardinal Way of catching. While it’s been a bizarre turn of events, he could return behind the plate when there is a level of comfort for Contreras, the pitchers, and manager Oliver Marmol.

This might not be as glaring a concern had Mozeliak upgraded the starting rotation and bullpen. Pitching has been the one glaring issue for the Cardinals for a couple of seasons now, but Mozeliak insists on believing in the pitching staff he has now. The team does have several young pitchers in the minors with loads of potential.

Those young pitchers may be a few seasons away from fully ready to join the Cards in St. Louis. Moves must be made to boost their pitching. Let’s review some options the front office should consider for trade.

St. Louis Cardinals Trade Target: Aaron Nola

Nola is in the final season of a five-year $56.75 million contract and will become a free agent after this season.

In eight games this season, he’s 3-2 with an ERA of 4.44 over 48.2 innings. He’s thrown 39 strikeouts this season. He throws a four-seam fastball that averages 91.7 mph and a curveball that averages 78.3 mph. He induces 39.3-percent ground balls. He has a 29.2% called strikes plus whiff rate, below average.

The Phillies are 18-19 so far and look to get a boost from the return of Bryce Harper. As we get closer to the trade deadline, look for the Phillies and Cardinals to be a couple of teams active. Nola would be an excellent addition to the Cardinals, who need pitching depth. They hope to get Nola to sign on for more time with the Cardinals.

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