The St. Louis Cardinals are just a few games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. St. Louis has postseason aspirations in 2022. However, the Cardinals have battled a number of injury concerns which have limited their overall ceiling so far this season. This is a team that would benefit from making a few moves ahead of the upcoming 2022 MLB trade deadline. 

Jack Flaherty, Tyler O’Neal, and Harrison Bader are just a few of the names who have dealt with injuries this season. The Cardinals are slowly getting healthy, but depth is key to success. With that being said, let’s take a look at the Cardinals 3 biggest needs ahead of the trade deadline. 

Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)

Cardinals 3 biggest needs ahead of 2022 MLB trade deadline

Starting pitching

As aforementioned, ace Jack Flahery has been hit with the injury bug this year. He is currently targeting a late August return. However, his timetable is fairly unclear. 

His absence leaves Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas in charge of leading the starting rotation. Wainwright is pitching extremely well given his age of 40. Meanwhile, Mikolas has enjoyed a resurgent 2022 campaign. 

But the rest of the rotation leaves a lot left to be desired. St. Louis needs to add at least 1 starting pitcher ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline. 

Frankie Montas and Luis Castillo will be two of the more expensive options on the market. Noah Syndergaard could be a cheaper depth option for St. Louis. 

The Cardinals need to upgrade their starting rotation in order to compete with the Brewers. 

DH

The Cardinals have a fairly strong lineup. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are NL All-Stars. Tyler O’Neal broke out last season. Tommy Edman has enjoyed a solid campaign. 

But they could use a little extra thump in the middle of the order. 

Albert Pujols is a legendary figure who will be in the Hall of Fame someday. But St. Louis needs a power hitting DH who can protect Goldschmidt and Arenado. 

And there is one option that would suit the Cardinals perfectly… Josh Bell of the Nationals. 

Bell has enjoyed a solid 2022 season and is a switch-hitter. His offensive prowess is the perfect fit for St. Louis’s lineup. The Cardinals don’t feature a ton of power hitters on the roster, so Bell would be a welcome addition. 

There are plenty of other options on the trade market. But Josh Bell makes sense for the Cardinals. If they can’t acquire Bell, St. Louis should continue attempting to add a DH. 

Versatile Utility man

Tommy Edman used to fill this role to perfection. But Edman emerged as a star in 2022 and is settled in as a shortstop. 

The Cardinals should acquire a utility man given all of their injuries. Adding someone who can play multiple positions would allow them to spell their starters on a more consistent basis. And more rest equals better health in the long run. And if anyone gets injured, then a utility man can fill in at their position. 

One option who makes sense is Brandon Drury of the Reds. Drury has infield and outfield experience and is enjoying a solid season in Cincinnati. He profiles as a cheap option who could be a sneaky-good addition for the Cardinals amid a playoff run.