Ranking MLB's top 50 trade deadline candidates

[FrankTheTank]

I just don't see this team making trades, but here are some with Cardinals ties.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/455 ... rren-duran

4. Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
Chance of trade: 20%
Peralta has been a steady presence for years, averaging 140 innings pitched with a 3.49 ERA over the past four seasons. He's on track to do that again, with his heavily used fastball coming in at a career-high average velo of 94.9 mph this season. He has an ultra-cheap $8 million option for 2026.
Best fits: Boston, Houston, Toronto, St. Louis, Arizona, San Diego, Baltimore

8. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Chance of trade: 30%
Kelly doesn't have big raw stuff, posting the second-lowest average fastball velocity among pitchers with 90 innings pitched this season. His changeup is his best pitch by a wide margin, and he gets by with location and off-speed stuff. He was a stalwart in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series, striking out 28 in 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA.
Best fits: Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago Cubs

21. Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 30%
Arenado is around a career best in strikeout rate, and he's still an above-average defender, but his power and patience are both trending down to around the worst of his career. He's still a solid starter but no longer a star, and the team taking him on a deal would still have to pay him like one. Potentially complicating any deal: a full no-trade clause.
Best fits: New York Yankees, Detroit, Milwaukee, Seattle

23. Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 30%
Scouting report: Helsley had the fourth-best WAR among relievers last season and is in a contract year now but has been notably worse this season. His stuff and locations are pretty similar, but the main difference is his fastball is getting hit hard -- with one byproduct being his spiking home run rate.
Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Arizona, New York Yankees, Detroit

27. Reid Detmers, RP, Los Angeles Angels
Chance of trade: 15%
The No. 10 pick in 2020 transitioned to relief this season and has found some success, similar to other highly drafted college lefties including A.J. Puk, Andrew Miller and Drew Pomeranz. He comes with three more years of control after this season and his velo is up 1.5 mph in the new role, so this might be where he fits long term, and trading him away could fetch a hefty return. Some teams still see Detmers as a starter.
Best fits: New York Mets, Arizona, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, New York Yankees

30. Erick Fedde, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 50%
Fedde's strikeout and walk numbers have regressed from his breakout 2024 season (after coming back from a stint in the KBO), but he's allowing less damage on batted balls to keep him in the rotation.
Best fits: San Diego, Toronto, Houston

45. Phil Maton, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

50. Steven Matz, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

[Cusecards]

I just don't see this team making trades, but here are some with Cardinals ties.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/455 ... rren-duran

4. Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
Chance of trade: 20%
Peralta has been a steady presence for years, averaging 140 innings pitched with a 3.49 ERA over the past four seasons. He's on track to do that again, with his heavily used fastball coming in at a career-high average velo of 94.9 mph this season. He has an ultra-cheap $8 million option for 2026.
Best fits: Boston, Houston, Toronto, St. Louis, Arizona, San Diego, Baltimore

8. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Chance of trade: 30%
Kelly doesn't have big raw stuff, posting the second-lowest average fastball velocity among pitchers with 90 innings pitched this season. His changeup is his best pitch by a wide margin, and he gets by with location and off-speed stuff. He was a stalwart in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series, striking out 28 in 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA.
Best fits: Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago Cubs

21. Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 30%
Arenado is around a career best in strikeout rate, and he's still an above-average defender, but his power and patience are both trending down to around the worst of his career. He's still a solid starter but no longer a star, and the team taking him on a deal would still have to pay him like one. Potentially complicating any deal: a full no-trade clause.
Best fits: New York Yankees, Detroit, Milwaukee, Seattle

23. Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 30%
Scouting report: Helsley had the fourth-best WAR among relievers last season and is in a contract year now but has been notably worse this season. His stuff and locations are pretty similar, but the main difference is his fastball is getting hit hard -- with one byproduct being his spiking home run rate.
Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Arizona, New York Yankees, Detroit

27. Reid Detmers, RP, Los Angeles Angels
Chance of trade: 15%
The No. 10 pick in 2020 transitioned to relief this season and has found some success, similar to other highly drafted college lefties including A.J. Puk, Andrew Miller and Drew Pomeranz. He comes with three more years of control after this season and his velo is up 1.5 mph in the new role, so this might be where he fits long term, and trading him away could fetch a hefty return. Some teams still see Detmers as a starter.
Best fits: New York Mets, Arizona, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, New York Yankees

30. Erick Fedde, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Chance of trade: 50%
Fedde's strikeout and walk numbers have regressed from his breakout 2024 season (after coming back from a stint in the KBO), but he's allowing less damage on batted balls to keep him in the rotation.
Best fits: San Diego, Toronto, Houston

45. Phil Maton, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

50. Steven Matz, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

On the fence about trades.
Certainly pending FA’s stand out along with Arenado.
The Cards do have a fair amount of cost controlled position player depth which could line up with a team looking for that and willing to deal a SP?

[82birds]

I would think Matz would be higher than # 50

[JohnnyMO]

This Cubs series could have a big impact on who gets traded. If the Cardinals can take 3 of 4 or sweep then moving guys that are contributing to success like Matz and maybe even Helsley seems unlikely.

[JohnTudor1985]

At this point, Matz/Fedde/MM/RH should all be considered rentals. They will not be on the roster in 2026 so whatever you decline to keep them is the cost of the Aug/Sept rental. (RH could bring a draft pick).

If the Cards decide to go for the playoffs this year, one thing to consider is that Liberatore is on pace for 180 regular season innings. So, if they go for it, they may need to hold on to some inning eaters. Particularly, if the return is not that great.

[FrankTheTank]

I trade Helsley. I think he is slipping and he can be replaced. See what the Dodgers, Blue Jays or someone will give you. Also Fedde needs to be traded for whatever they can get. He can also be replaced IMO.

[moose-and-squirrel]

keep Maton.. and O'Reilly