The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves at a crossroads this season, teetering between playoff contention and the possibility of retooling for the future. With the trade deadline approaching, they face a crucial choice—either bolster the roster to make a postseason push or offload expiring contracts to build for next year.
If the team chooses to buy, adding pitching will be a must. Sports Illustrated’s Nicholas Selbe recently projected that the Cardinals might swing a surprising trade for Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly.
While Kelly hasn’t earned All-Star recognition or Cy Young votes, he’s been one of the most reliable pitchers in the league since joining MLB from Korea in 2019. His 3.78 ERA over that time ranks 14th among pitchers with at least 800 innings—better than names like Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola. He also proved his value in the 2023 postseason, posting a 2.25 ERA over four starts during the Diamondbacks’ World Series run.
Despite his current strong form and affordable $18 million contract, the move raises questions. Kelly becomes a free agent at season’s end, and acquiring him would give the Cardinals three starters—Kelly, Miles Mikolas, and Erick Fedde—set to hit free agency this winter. Giving up valuable prospects for a short-term rental might not be worth it, especially since St. Louis isn’t viewed as a serious championship threat this year. A more strategic path might be targeting pitchers with team control beyond 2025.
