Pair of Cardinals veteran relievers listed as trade candidates
The Cardinals are three games back of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and in control of the third Wild Card spot.
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They could potentially buy, hold, or mix buying and selling together. They could even remain in contention if they did this, similarly to the Detroit Tigers last year.
Katie Woo of The Athletic notes that relievers Phil Maton and Steven Matz are trade candidates.
"Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, Phil Maton and Miles Mikolas are in the final years of their contracts. If St. Louis intends to add via subtraction like Detroit, offloading impending free agents is a sensible place to start," Woo wrote.
"Matz and Maton will generate considerable interest as high-leverage relievers, and the value of bullpen arms tends to peak around the deadline."
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Maton is 1-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 33 appearances with St. Louis and has also recorded two saves. Matz has made 22 relief appearances and two starts. He is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
The Cardinals could potentially take the path the Tigers took last year, opening up playing time for younger players, and thus strengthening the team for the present and future.
If 2024 was any indication, teams will be willing to pay a hefty price for rental relievers that may even include a top prospect or two.
Matz and Maton have both performed well enough to land solid returns from teams in contention if the Cardinals decide they want to sell at all at the deadline.
They'll be an interesting team to watch in terms of how they operate in the coming weeks.
More MLB: St. Louis Cardinals named as bubble team as deadline approaches
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