The St. Louis Cardinals are finally embarking on a rebuild that many believe should have started years ago. The front office had held onto its veteran core, hoping they could spark a turnaround and contend for meaningful wins. Unfortunately, that strategy hasn’t worked, forcing the Cardinals into a rebuilding phase.
Most analysts expect St. Louis to take a traditional rebuilding route, trading away veterans in exchange for young prospects. Josh Jacobs of *Redbird Rants* recently suggested a blockbuster trade with the New York Yankees, involving several key players. His proposal includes:
St. Louis Cardinals receive:
– RHP Luis Gil
– RHP Chase Hampton
– OF Brando Mayea
New York Yankees receive:– UTL Brendan Donovan
– RHP Ryan Helsley
Jacobs argued that the Yankees’ package of Gil, Hampton, and Mayea might be enough to convince the Cardinals to part with Donovan and Helsley. However, it’s unlikely the Yankees would agree to move Luis Gil, one of their top young pitchers, without acquiring a comparable starter in return. New York’s pitching depth at the upper levels is too thin to risk losing a key piece like Gil unless they bolster their rotation through free agency.
From a value perspective, the trade seems balanced, but unless the Yankees address their pitching needs elsewhere, they’re unlikely to make such a deal. On the Cardinals’ side, a more realistic approach might involve trading players like Helsley to contending teams for large prospect hauls rather than seeking established big-league players.
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