Cardinals Need to Pursue Trade Package for Starter and Reliever Before Deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals have had an up-and-down year, but with the trade deadline just over a week away, they find themselves holding onto a slim advantage in the race for a Wild Card spot.

But, if they want to separate themselves from the pack, they're going to have to pursue a trade package that would bring them both a starter and a reliever before the July 31 deadline.

The rotation has struggled to produce this year. The Cardinals rank 23rd in the league with just 4.7 fWAR, and their collective 4.76 FIP is the 10th-highest mark in all of baseball. The only qualified starter on the team with an ERA below 4.00 is Dakota Hudson, but his 5.13 FIP suggests he's been absurdly lucky.

The bullpen has fared better, but injuries, not performance, are the biggest cause for concern. Flamethrowing closer Jordan Hicks suffered a torn UCL late in June and ultimately needed Tommy John surgery. His absence has placed pressure on the likes of Andrew Miller and starter-turned-reliever Carlos Martinez to fill the void.

With an inconsistent rotation and makeshift bullpen, a package deal to bring in both a starter and a reliever is simply a no-brainer. There's plenty of options to fill both needs on the market, the most obvious being a deal with teams like the Giants or Blue Jays that could offer up both rotation and bullpen help.

Time will tell how the Cardinals decide to address these needs at the deadline, but there's simply no doubt that something must be done.