Cardinals rumors: 3 trade deadline deals to make, 2 to avoid

Cardinals Deal to Make: Relief Pitching

Relief pitching has been a problem throughout Major League Baseball. The Cardinals are no exception with the bad luck they have experienced in the relief pitching department. These are pitchers who have crafted their expertise to go an inning or two, while throwing the ball as hard as they can and hope for effectiveness. It’s amazing when a pitcher can achieve that perfect balance of efficiently throwing their pitch as hard as they can and get an out without hurting anyone.

Jordan Hicks will be a free agent after this season. It would be great to see the Cardinals get something for Hicks. Drew VerHagen becomes a free agent after this season as well. It’s not likely the Cardinals could get anything of substance for VerHagen, but getting something for VerHagen before he hits free agency.

Chris Stratton also becomes a free agent after this season. It would be nice if the Cards could keep him as he’s done well since he was traded to the Cardinals at the 2022 trade deadline. Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera are the team’s top relievers but, considering their many struggles, it would be great to see this group have a veteran reliever join them for guidance.

Getting a veteran reliever for this bullpen would be profoundly helfpul. After disasterous experiences over the past three seasons, having a powerful, dependable reliever who can close would be amazing. If the Cards can make this happen, they should.