The St. Louis Cardinals have some gaps to fill by the trade deadline. Could the Toronto Blue Jays be the solution?
The St. Louis Cardinals have fought their way back into contention after a rough 15-24 start, which initially hinted at a repeat of their 2023 season. However, they’ve caught fire and taken control of the second Wild Card spot in the National League. Despite this, there are still areas they need to improve before the trade deadline to become a playoff threat.
One such area is their bench, which is heavily left-handed. The team has struggled against left-handed pitching, and adding a right-handed bat could provide an offensive boost. Toronto Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith mentioned Justin Turner as a potential trade candidate and identified the Cardinals as a possible destination.
A Cardinals-Blue Jays trade to bolster St. Louis’ lineup
Turner is versatile, capable of playing three out of four infield positions and serving as a designated hitter. The Cardinals might consider using him at second base against left-handed pitchers, given that their current second baseman, Nolan Gorman, struggles against lefties. Turner could provide a different option in this scenario.
In this proposed trade, Toronto would receive right-handed pitcher Adam Kloffenstein, who ranks as the Cardinals’ No. 16 prospect. Kloffenstein, acquired from Toronto in last year’s Jordan Hicks deal, is known for his command and control. His fastball and sinker range in the low to mid-90s, and he excels at generating ground balls, boasting a 49.4 percent ground ball rate in 2023. The 23-year-old also has an effective low-80s slider, producing swings and misses at a 39 percent rate.
This trade would reunite the Blue Jays with a former prospect while providing the Cardinals with a right-handed bench option to address their issues against left-handed pitchers. As a rental, Turner wouldn’t be too costly for the Cardinals, who are looking to bolster their offense for the 2024 stretch run.
Be the first to comment