The St. Louis Cardinals are hitting a rough patch, and it's starting to show in the standings.
They opened their three-game series against the Miami Marlins with a 4-0 loss, despite a solid performance from Michael McGreevy, who pitched six scoreless innings. Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn't hold the line, with George Soriano and Max Rajcic each giving up two runs.
The offense wasn't firing on all cylinders either, managing just three hits throughout the game.
This defeat marks the Cardinals' third straight loss, and they've dropped six of their last ten games. Currently sitting at 42-37, they're just five games above .500, trailing the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. The Cardinals are also half a game behind the Chicago Cubs for second place in the NL Central and find themselves on the fringes of the Wild Card race, just behind the Cubs and the San Diego Padres.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Cardinals are unlikely to make any blockbuster moves if they remain just slightly above .500. However, they should definitely keep an eye on the Los Angeles Angels, who recently appointed John Mozeliak as their interim general manager following Perry Minasian's departure.
The Cardinals have stated they won't be taking any "shortcuts" this summer, indicating that rental deals are off the table. However, acquiring a player with multiple years of control remains a possibility.
One name to watch is left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers.
Detmers has been a consistent presence for the Angels, making 16 starts with a 3.93 ERA and accumulating 1.5 wins above replacement over 94 innings. He also has two more years of team control after this season. His name has been circulating in trade discussions, with notable mentions from insiders like Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Mozeliak's familiarity with the Cardinals' farm system could facilitate trade talks if the Angels decide to shake things up. A potential trade scenario could involve the Cardinals sending catcher Jimmy Crooks and right-handed pitcher Tink Hence, their No. 14 prospect, to the Angels.
If this package isn't sufficient, the Cardinals might consider adding another prospect, such as lefty Cade Crossland, their No. 23 prospect. This deal would allow the Cardinals to leverage their depth in catching prospects and young pitching talent to acquire the 26-year-old Detmers.
For the Angels, this trade could be strategic, especially with Logan O'Hoppe as their current catcher, who only has two more seasons of control. If they decide to move some pieces, Crooks could potentially step in as a starter.
The Cardinals have faced their share of challenges this season, and pitching has been a significant issue. Over the past week, their team ERA ranks 27th at 5.40, a figure that hasn't improved much over the last 15 days.
Matthew Liberatore's recent struggles in the rotation highlight the need for reinforcements. He's allowed a total of 15 runs over his last three starts, suggesting he might benefit from a stint in the bullpen or Triple-A.
Adding a pitcher like Detmers could provide the Cardinals with the stability they need in the rotation both now and in the future.
In Other News...
John Mozeliak's Surprise Return Just Raised A Bigger Question
John Mozeliaks surprise reappearance in a front-office chair is one of the more unexpected moves of the summer, and it comes at a time when the Angels are already trying to reset their direction. After parting ways with Perry Minasian, Los Angeles turned to the longtime Cardinals executive as its interim general manager for the rest of the 2026 season, and Mozeliak used his first press conference to address how the hiring came together and what his job will look like in the weeks ahead.
The part that still hangs in the air is what kind of stewardship this really is. Mozeliak spent most of his Cardinals run in the middle of competitive seasons, not deep rebuilds, so his presence alone invites a bigger question about whether the Angels are thinking short-term, long-term, or somewhere in between. He also left open the possibility of remaining with the organization beyond this year in some advisory or front-office capacity, which only adds to the sense that this temporary arrangement could end up telling us more than just who handles the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Scott II Suddenly Faces A Huge Cardinals Crossroads
Victor Scott II is back in Memphis, but his return to St. Louis is still part of a much bigger roster reset. The Cardinals sent four major league players down in June to sort out performance and playing time, and Scott joined Yohel Pozo, Thomas Saggese and Nolan Gorman in trying to turn the move into a reset rather than a setback. For Scott, that means sharpening the parts of his game that can get him back in the conversation, even if the path to another call-up remains anything but straightforward.
Nolan Gorman has already added another layer to the picture by working through hitting drills, a Florida stop and then live games again in Memphis, while Saggese is trying to remake his approach at the plate even without consistent results yet. None of that makes Scott's road any easier, though it does show how crowded the competition has become for a roster spot. The Cardinals need answers, and each of these four players is now fighting to make sure their next move is back to the majors, not deeper into uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Gray Is Becoming A Painful Reminder For Cardinals Fans
Sonny Grays move to Boston was supposed to be one of those offseason transactions that quietly reshaped a roster on both sides. Instead, it has become an uncomfortable talking point for Cardinals fans watching a familiar arm settle in quickly with the Red Sox, where Gray has looked sharp enough to make the deal feel more lopsided by the week. St. Louis, meanwhile, got Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts back in the trade, but both pitchers have spent time dealing with injuries this season.
Grays latest reminder came in a strong outing against the Yankees, when he piled up strikeouts and worked deep into the game without giving up a run. For the Cardinals, the frustration is not just that Gray is succeeding somewhere else, but that the return they banked on has been slowed by health issues before it could really get off the ground. It leaves St. Louis with an all-too-familiar question hanging over an offseason move that looked straightforward at the time. [Read more 🡒]