Cardinals Rumors: Crucial roster move, Arenado trade lols, Jordan Walker is safe
By Mark Powell
Cardinals Rumors: No, Jordan Walker won’t be traded
While the St. Louis Cardinals do have a surplus of outfielders, the likelihood of Jordan Walker, a former top prospect, being dealt is zero to none. Walker is seen as the future of the franchise, and though he needs to work on lowering his ground-ball rate some, he’s still shown flashes this season in the big leagues.
John Mozeliak has discussed acquiring pitching in hopes the Cards can rebound in 2024. Any trade for said starting pitching will not come via Walker. Call To The Pen’s Jared Wolfe hinted as a potential deal involving Walker and Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. It’s been reported that the Cards are interested in Gilbert, who is just 26 years old and an ace in the making for Seattle.
In a mock trade package, Wolfe dealt Walker and Nolan Gorman to Seattle for Gilbert and pitching prospect Emerson Hancock. In his argument, Wolfe made it clear that Walker could be the eventual odd man out in St. Louis, as he’s struggled with his outfield defense and the DH spot is unlikely to be available in the interim.
"“On the flip side for Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals, for how much they love him and his future potential, it begs the question of where does he fit in the field? If they are truly unwilling to give up Nolan Arenado or Paul Goldschmidt as Mozeliak said today, he will have to be a DH or continue in the outfield (where he has been miserable to watch). He just does not fit the roster construction with those two blocking possible infield positions, and especially with Willson Contreras seemingly placed in the DH role.”"
I, for one, would be surprised if such a trade went down. Walker is young and athletic enough to improve his outfield defense over time. And if not, St. Louis will find another position for him. Goldschmidt, for example, is only under contract through 2024. There’s no long-term hold in the infield or DH spot that would keep the Cards developmental staff from finding a home for Walker.