The St. Louis Cardinals have made a strong effort over the past six months to bring more youth to their major league roster, but their push toward a younger team is still ongoing.
Several older veterans remain on the squad and could eventually be replaced by promising young talent currently rising through the minor league system.
Mason Keith of Redbird Rants makes bold statement claiming the Cardinals would cut ties with lefty Steven Matz this season, even going as far as to say the veteran pitcher was the “most logical player to be moved by July.”
“The most logical player to be moved by July is Steven Matz. The once-prominent starter is now a stopgap reliever for the Cardinals, which has saved him a spot on the Major League roster,” Keith wrote. “After years of injuries and misfortunes following a four-year, $44 million contract, the veteran southpaw is now a relief pitcher who wants to reestablish himself as a reliable back-end starter.
“The Cardinals are adamant that their young player will be given opportunities to play this season, and this will remain the strategy going forward. Matz is in the last year of his contract and is in a current role that is hypothetically easy to replace. Another contending team looking to add depth to their rotation will be targeting Matz.”
With Steven Matz possibly aiming for a role in another starting rotation this season, the Cardinals might capitalize on the league-wide demand for pitching. A team like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees—both of which could use him as a swingman, alternating between starting and relieving—may be interested.
Regardless, it’s likely the Cardinals will explore trade options for the veteran left-hander, though whether a deal actually materializes remains uncertain.
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