St. Louis Cardinals: 5 Realistic Trade Deadline Candidates

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching, and though the beginning of trade activity has yet to heat up nearly to the degree that it had by this time last season, it’s still anticipated that there will be some big names moved over the next 12 days. After one of the most eventful trade deadlines in major-league history in 2014, during which impact players such as Jon Lester, Yoenis Cespedes, David Price, Austin Jackson, and John Lackey were moved, we should all expect the unexpected as July 31, 2015 approaches.

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On the following few slides are some trade deadline candidates who could fit nicely on the Cardinals’ roster for the stretch run this year. While it would be great to add an elite starter like Cole Hamels, an All-Star quality utility player like Ben Zobrist, or even a native St. Louisan like Ryan Howard, these players are meant to be realistic candidates that could fit within the Cardinals’ budget and allow them to retain their most treasured prospects.

Here are five players that the Cardinals could reasonably stand to acquire before this year’s trade deadline:

Next: 5. Yonder Alonso