The St. Louis Cardinals are poised to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline, with starting pitching emerging as a top priority for the team. While the market for pitchers is currently limited, the Cardinals may need to explore creative avenues to strengthen their rotation. They remain hopeful that opportunities will unfold as the deadline approaches.
Should the Cincinnati Reds, a division rival in the National League Central, continue their decline, the Cardinals could potentially target bullpen assets from their roster. One name mentioned in trade discussions is Reds right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, identified by Jon Heyman of the New York Post as a trade candidate as of June 27.
Montas, currently holding a 3-6 record with a 4.23 ERA this season for Cincinnati, could be on the move given his contractual situation—a $20 million mutual option for 2025 with a $2 million buyout—making him a viable trade option if the Reds opt to rebuild.
Despite Montas’s mixed performance this season, he boasts a solid track record over his nine-year career, including a 40-41 record with a 3.93 ERA and significant strikeout-to-walk ratios. The Cardinals could offer outfield depth in exchange for Montas, leveraging their surplus of outfielders along with prospects to sweeten the deal.
While trading away top prospects for Montas might be a risk, acquiring him without compromising their future could be a strategic move worth pursuing for the Cardinals.