Cardinals rumors: 1 dream trade, 1 savvy play, 1 to avoid altogether

Cardinals Rumors: Don’t trade this prospect at all cost

The St. Louis Cardinals will likely have to part ways with some of their prized prospects to win a World Series with this core, but one of those prospects should not be Tink Hence. Remember when I mentioned the future aces the Cards let go? Hence could be the next, if they make that mistake.

Per The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan, Hence is on the fast track to the major leagues. Help is coming for the Cards rotation, but those players remain in the minor leagues and are getting their reps in, for now, Hence included. Per one MLB scout, “He’s 20 years old and throws four pitches, all of which are average or above, and he’s a strike-thrower with command. I saw him in the past when he first signed as a second-rounder in 2020, and he was interesting then. Now, he looks like he’s got a chance to be on the fast track.”

Hence is just 20 years old and is ranked No. 61 in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list. He’s got a lot going for him at an early age, and is in the early stages of his development. Trading him now would be disastrous, and unless the return is Shane Bieber or a similar ace-level talent, it’s just not worth it.

His fastball hits 98 mph, and he has a filthy slider that will haunt major-league hitters for years to come. You don’t trade a pitcher like that, and it’s a lesson the Cardinals have learned the hard way.