The Cardinals trade pack is missing notable players

According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, the Cardinals trade package for Juan Soto includes Dylan Carlson and Nolan Gorman. That’s… not enough to get the job done.

Carlson and Gorman Two players in each trade would be necessary for Soto as the Nationals want a combination of prospects and MLB-eligible talent. However, Mike Rizzo would be ridiculed at baseball if he took on modern-day Ted Williams and didn’t win the No. 1 in St. Louis.

That title belongs to third baseman Jordan Walker. The 20-year-old has dominated every minor league level he’s played at, most recently High-A Palm Beach. Walker’s at-bat is out of the question, but his defense could use some tweaking in the hot corner.

Walker aside, it’s a surprise that Bowden doesn’t directly mention Matthew Liberatore, the Cards’ top promotional contender and their #2 overall. Liberatore already has a taste of major league action and he showed lightning.

The Cardinals trade pack for Juan Soto is missing

Despite the fact that Soto eventually wants a $500 million contract, his current, very affordable deal goes through three more postseason runs. Considering he’s only 23 years old and possibly the next face of baseball, that alone guarantees the best prospects available in any farm system.

That is doubly true for the cardinals who don’t have a particularly impressive system.

Rizzo was frowned upon for his return from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year when he traded Trea Turner and Max Scherzer. If he doubles by taking a good but not great package for Juan Freaking Soto, all bets are off in the nation’s capital.