The St. Louis Cardinals face a critical crossroads this season. With the team hovering near contention, there’s logic in either direction: making a push for the playoffs by buying at the trade deadline, or selling off expiring contracts to prepare for a stronger run next year. If they opt to buy, however, they’ll need to bolster their pitching staff.
Sports Illustrated’s Nicholas Selbe recently floated a bold prediction, suggesting the Cardinals could trade for Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. While Kelly hasn’t earned All-Star honors or Cy Young consideration, he’s quietly been one of MLB’s most dependable starters since joining from the KBO in 2019. His 3.78 ERA over that span ranks 14th among pitchers with at least 800 innings — ahead of names like Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola. Selbe also noted Kelly’s strong 2023 postseason, where he posted a 2.25 ERA in four starts during Arizona’s World Series run, proving his playoff reliability.
Still, acquiring Kelly might not be the wisest move for St. Louis. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and adding him would mean the Cardinals are relying on three starters — Kelly, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas — who could all depart in free agency this winter. Giving up promising prospects for a short-term rental may not make sense for a team that’s not yet a true championship contender. Rather than trading for expiring contracts, the Cardinals would be better served targeting players with longer-term control as they look to build a sustainable contender over the next couple of seasons.