MLB Rumors: Padres fire sale, Cardinals upstaged, Yankees failure

MLB Rumors: Cardinals will struggle to acquire Logan Gilbert

St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak has maintained interest in Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert, who is just 26 years old. Mozeliak hasn’t hid from the fact that the Cardinals plan to acquire young, controllable starting pitchers at this year’s trade deadline. Mozeliak knows his team has expiring assets, and he plans on trading away those players with an eye towards 2024.

Gilbert was initially named as a Cardinals target, but it’s unclear if the Mariners are interested in making such a deal. As Ken Rosenthal points out, there are several factors working against St. Louis. First, they may not have the assets to acquire a player of Gilbert’s value. Second, were Gilbert available, it’s likely the Cardinals could be outbid:

"“To move, for example, right-hander Logan Gilbert, the Mariners likely would require a massive haul…An outfielder such as Lars Nootbaar would be only the starting point for a return package. And if the Mariners indeed were willing to trade a pitcher such as Gilbert, they would market him to the entire sport. Imagine what the Orioles might give them. The Diamondbacks. The Dodgers. And so on.”"

Gilbert has four extra years of club control. Seattle has no real reason to part ways with him, especially if they plan on contending anytime soon. He fits pretty much any competitive window the Mariners have.