The St. Louis Cardinals have a few top trade chips they could shop ahead of the trade deadline this season.
Two of the top names on the roster are Nolan Arenado and Ryan Helsley. Both players make sense as trade chips for the Cardinals if they can find the right suitor.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently outlined a theoretical deal in which the Cardinals would trade Helsley, Arenado, and cash to the Detroit Tigers to land superstar prospect Kevin McGonigle. This is the kind of trade that would shake up the entire league.
The Cardinals have stuck in the wild-card race, but this would be a deal for the future. They would acquire McGonigle, an elite prospect who can flat-out hit and can play any infield position,” Bowden wrote. “The 20-year-old is clearly one of Detroit’s top-three prospects. The Cardinals could play McGonigle at second base or third base long term, wherever they feel he fits best.
“The only reason the Tigers would consider making this deal is if they felt Arenado would be a difference-maker at third base, both offensively and defensively. More importantly, they’d add Helsley, an impact closer to go along with high-leverage relievers Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle — a strong trio, especially in the playoffs.”
This trade seems very, very unlikely for a few reasons.
