Insider: Cardinals Trade Of Outfielder "Will Happen"

Free Agent signings won't be the only big news coming out of next week's baseball Winter Meetings. There will most assuredly be trades, some featuring big names. According to MLB Insider Jon Morosi, the St. Louis Cardinals could be right in the middle of that, with an outfielder poised to move on.

Who are some options for teams looking to add a power bat in free agency?@jonmorosi runs through a few candidates on #MLBNHotStove and mentions a few ballclubs who could be on trade alert in the near future. 👀 pic.twitter.com/gZQsuw96pv

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 2, 2022

"Tyler O'Neill... I could also include Lars Nootbar in this conversation as well. Potentially even Dylan Carlson. But the Cardinals have this surplus of outfielders from which I do expect they will make a trade at some point this offseason. Perhaps even in conversation with the Toronto Blue Jays, about a catcher to eventually replace Yadier Molina."

Earlier this past week, Morosi suggested on The Bob McCown Podcast that a Toronto/St. Louis trade of catcher Danny Jansen for outfielder Lars Nootbar would be a "really good fit."

Nootbar, 25, is a left-handed hitter, something the Jays have long been searching for. The second-year player had a mini breakout in July and August this past season, hitting about .300 with an OPS of close to 1.000 during that period. 

O'Neill has had an up-and-down few seasons in St. Louis, sandwiching a 34-HR, .912 OPS season in 2021 around two disappointing years, as he hit just .228 in 2022 with a .700 OPS and just 14 home runs in 96 games. 

The Cardinals would like to come out of the Winter Meetings with a starting catcher, so they'll be a team to keep an eye on over the next week. 

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports