Cardinals missed trade opportunity could have saved their 2024 season

The St. Louis Cardinals have performed better as of late, having won four of their last six series. Still, they are slipping in the Wild Card standings and are longshots to actually reach the postseason.

They were buyers at the trade deadline, but perhaps they could have been more aggressive. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report listed a trade for a starting pitcher as a move the Cardinals should have made this year.

"If they are going for it, adding an arm or three to the rotation sure would help," Miller wrote. "Miles Mikolas has a 6.44 ERA since the beginning of August. Kyle Gibson (5.77) hasn't been much better. Lance Lynn (knee) hasn't pitched since late July. And Erick Fedde has been quite mediocre since the Cardinals acquired him from the White Sox. Even Sonny Gray hasn't been anything special for a little while now, posting a 5.05 ERA over his last 12 starts."

The only Cardinals starter that has been remotely impressive as of late is Andre Pallante, who claimed a rotation spot in late May and hasn't looked back since doing so.

The rest of the rotation hasn't been setting the world on fire. St. Louis would have done well to acquire a top-level starting pitcher at the deadline such as Jack Flaherty or possibly even Nathan Eovaldi or Zach Eflin.

Instead, the rotation has been quite mediocre. Despite starting out the season well, the aging staff has not held up and it is a big reason why the Cardinals find themselves out of contention with less than 20 games remaining on the schedule.

St. Louis does have a few young arms that appear to be ready and could help the rotation out in 2025, but they also could stand to add a top-level starter in free agency or via trade this coming winter.

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