Cardinals Exec: "We're Going To Trade People"; Top 3 Candidates To Be Moved

Normally, two or three weeks out from the trade deadline, teams try to play their cards close to the vest. But in St. Louis, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is making no bones about it: He's ready to wheel and deal:  

Right now, I can tell you that we're going to trade people. 

The Cardinals are Trade Deadline sellers.

For some time now, that has been obvious from their record.

Now it’s official. ⬇️ @MLBNetwork https://t.co/fvqEHFYXsr

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 12, 2023

Now, Mozeliak isn't quite holding a fire sale. As he says, "We're not just going to give away players, we want to get some value in return, we want to get some value that will help us in 2024 [and beyond]."

It's clear to him that his team's performance just hasn't cut it this year.

"Right now,  when you're looking at overall performance, it's just not there ... there's no excuses, we're just not playing like we hoped we would, now it's just ... how do we look at the next three weeks, and what changes can be made," said Mozeliak. 

We know that one Cardinals superstar has already voiced questions about whether even he is safe from trade talk, though something that extreme seems unlikely. 

Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Dylan Carlson Are Top Trade Candidates

But free agent-to-be starting pitchers like Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery? They're almost as good as gone. One of their abundance of viable outfielders? Like Dylan Carlson? Expect to see some movement there as well. 

Injuries have derailed Flaherty's career in recent times, though it was only as far back as 2021 that he was a dominant starter—even if only for half a season. He's back this year, though hasn't quite gotten back to his peak. But he could be worth a gamble on the chance that he regains his touch. 

Montgomery has been the Cards' best pitcher this season, with a 3.23 ERA and 96:27 K/BB ratio. Although he's just a two-month rental, the southpaw would be a big boost to a contending team's rotation, and he should fetch St. Louis some assets.

Carlson finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year balloting just two years ago, though overall he's been a disappointment in his first three seasons, and it appears the Cardinals are ready to move on. He is still just 24 with plenty of upside to tap into. Other St. Louis outfielders to watch include Alec Burleson, Tyler O'Neill and Tommy Edman.

Should be an interesting time in the Gateway to the West over the next few weeks.

Photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports