The St. Louis Cardinals are sitting at 40-32, second place in the NL Central, and leading the Wild Card race. Nobody really saw this coming. They were supposed to be fighting the Pirates for last place, not hanging with the Brewers. But here we are.
The Cardinals don’t have a superstar rotation. Their lineup isn’t stacked with household names. Yet they keep winning, mostly because they play clean baseball and don’t beat themselves. Manager Oliver Marmol has squeezed every bit of production out of this group. But the season is 162 games long. Slumps happen. And if the Cardinals want to not just make the playoffs but actually make noise once they get there, they need another bat.
That bat should be Byron Buxton.
A middle of the order that could scare anyone
The Cardinals have gotten massive production from Jordan Walker, who looks like a legitimate All-Star with 18 homers and an .878 OPS. Alec Burleson has been nearly as good, slashing .285/.347/.488 with 13 homers. Those two have carried the offense, but the lineup needs more depth. One more serious power threat and this thing gets dangerous.
Buxton has been on an absolute tear. He already has 23 home runs this season and is on pace to blow past last year’s 35. He’s also playing more consistently, having appeared in 63 games so far. For a guy with a long injury rap sheet, that’s meaningful. He’s 32 now, but the power hasn’t dropped off. If anything, it’s getting better.
Picture a lineup that runs Walker, Burleson, and Buxton through the middle. That’s a nightmare for any pitching staff. Marmol could throw that group at you and dare you to find a soft spot.
The price might actually be reasonable
The Twins would love to get a big return for Buxton. He’s a former top prospect, a Gold Glove center fielder, and a guy who just hit 35 homers. They’ll ask for a lot. But here’s the thing: Buxton’s injury history is not ancient history. Even though he’s been healthier the last two seasons, teams still remember the years he couldn’t stay on the field. That reality checks the asking price.
If the Cardinals offer Lars Nootbaar and a bullpen arm, that’s probably enough to get a conversation started. Nootbaar just came back from heel surgery and has shown some pop (.463 slugging), but he’s played only a dozen games. He’s a high-effort guy who swings hard and plays hard. The Twins would be taking a flier on his health and consistency. But it’s not an outrageous price for a player of Buxton’s caliber.
This is the kind of deal that could flip the entire NL playoff picture. The Cardinals aren’t that far from the Brewers. Adding Buxton might not just close the gap. It might put them over the top.
Leave a Comment