The St. Louis Cardinals weren’t supposed to be here. Going into the season, they looked like a team ready to rebuild, but at 45-38, they’re just a half-game back in the National League Wild Card race.
They’re also only 3 1/2 games behind in the NL Central. That’s contender territory.
So what happens at the trade deadline? It’s anyone’s guess. The Cardinals could realistically go either direction – buy or sell depending on how the next few weeks unfold.
One name that’s surfaced as a potential target is Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sports Illustrated’s Nick Selbe recently predicted Kelly could end up in St. Louis if the D-backs decide to move him before he hits free agency this winter.
Kelly’s got playoff experience too. During Arizona’s 2023 World Series run, he posted a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts. That’s the kind of resume that gets noticed when teams are evaluating rental pitchers.
This season, Kelly’s been solid – 7-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 17 starts. He’s not flashy, but he eats innings and gives you a reliable presence every fifth day.
The question is whether Arizona will actually sell. They’re not out of the Wild Card race entirely, but they’re behind enough teams that it’d take a pretty good run to get back in it.
If they do decide to move pieces, Kelly makes sense for St. Louis. The Cardinals’ rotation has been inconsistent lately, with Erick Fedde, Andre Pallante, and Miles Mikolas all struggling in recent starts.
Kelly wouldn’t be a quick fix for everything, but he’d give them stability. At 36, he knows his role and delivers what you’d expect from a solid number two starter.
The Cardinals would likely have to give up some prospects in return. That’s just the market for rental pitchers these days, especially ones with Kelly’s track record.
It’ll be interesting to see how aggressive St. Louis gets. They weren’t supposed to be buyers this year, but sometimes the season dictates its own timeline.
