3 Cardinals players the Cubs should (but probably won't) trade for

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The odds of the Cubs and Cardinals hooking up on their first trade since... 2007 are slim, to say the least. Trades within the division are rare, but even more so when it comes to these longtime NL Central foes.

When you think 'Cubs-Cardinals trades', all that comes to mind is probably the disastrous Lou Brock deal back in 1964, in which Chicago sent the future Hall of Famer to St. Louis, only to watch him go on to win a pair of World Series championships and earn six All-Star appearances with the Cardinals, hitting

But we're in recently uncharted waters here. It's the Cardinals, not the Cubs, already headed for selling at the deadline (although Chicago could very well wind up joining them) - could that be cause enough for these two historic rivals to get together on a deal?

3 Cardinals players the Cubs should (but probably won't) trade for - #3: Jordan Hicks

If you're a team in need of bullpen firepower, Cardinals right-hander Jordan Hicks is surely on your radar. At the top of the food chain in terms of fastball velocity, averaging 101.1 MPH on the season, Hicks has struggled in 2023, racking up both the walks and strikeouts.

With 55 punchouts in just 36 2/3 innings of work, it's not hard to see why he will hold appeal to teams seeking reinforcements in the relief pitcher department. He's got overpowering stuff and, if he can cut down on the free passes, could quickly become one of the most formidable late-inning arms in the game.

Chicago's bullpen inconsistencies this year are well-documented. Hicks may not provide the calming, stable presence you might like to see injected into the mix, but he's a powerful arm on an expiring contract who's going to have plenty of suitors. The Cubs should be among them.

3 Cardinals players the Cubs should (but probably won't) trade for - #3: Chris Stratton

On an affordable one-year deal with peripherals that suggest he's been a victim of the Cardinals' big-time defensive regression here in 2023, right-hander Chris Stratton could be an under-the-radar trade target for any team not looking to break the bank while shoring up their bullpen for the stretch run.

A 4.20 ERA isn't much to look at, but there's a lot to like about a 2.99 FIP and 1.133 WHIP. The spin rates on both his breaking ball and fastball are elite (and we know the Cubs love themselves a good spin rate guy). He's probably not going to settle in as a setup man or closer, but we've seen firsthand this year how critical those middle innings can be.

Stratton isn't a flashy add, by any means. But he's the perfect piece for St. Louis to dangle if they're looking to re-tool for next year. He's far from a household name across the league, but has a solid enough body of work that he's probably capable of helping a team like the Cubs make a run at October.

3 Cardinals players the Cubs should (but probably won't) trade for - #1: Paul Goldschmidt

Yes, he checked in as a 'long shot' (and that's putting it mildly) trade target in my recent piece, but the Cubs have a first base problem and the Cardinals have one of the best and could turn the page in hopes of getting younger.

Paul Goldschmidt would not only solve Chicago's first base woes, but bring a still-potent offensive presence to the middle of the Cubs order. Despite nearing his 36th birthday, the reigning NL MVP, four-time Gold Glover and five-time Silver Slugger continues to produce, evidenced by a 130 OPS+ on the year.

It's a far cry from what he turned in last season, but would still represent an otherworldly improvement at the position for a Cubs team that's tried just about everything at this point, ranging from Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini to Matt Mervis and, most recently, Jared Young. Nothing has worked out and if this team is going to make a run, this is a position the front office has to address.

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Goldschmidt is under team control through the end of 2024 - so there's no long-term risk. You're going to have to come off quality prospects and take on the remainder of his $26 million salary for this year and the same amount for next season, but he's a proven performer who could help get the Cubs back to the postseason this fall.

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