Grading every Significant trade John Mozeliak has made since 2018

By: Brady (bradynw13@gmail.com)

Randal Grichuk trade: D

Randal Grichuk is a solid outfielder. Not much more to be said. The cardinals haven’t missed him thatp much but the players they got in return for him (Connor Greene and Dominic Leone) turned into nothing for the cardinals. Leone is currently a good reliever for the giants but didn’t provide the cardinals with anything.

Oscar mercado trade: B+

Oscar Mercado has been in the big league for three years and has essentially been a major league non factor since 2019. And in return for giving up him the Cardinals got Jhon Torres who is a really good prospect. Even if Torres completely busts in the majors the cardinals didn’t really lose anything and if he succeeds in any slight regard they fleeced the indians.

Tommy Pham trade: B-

If the rays didn’t kind of mess up after they got Pham then the grade for this trade looks different but they did. Tommy Pham in his time with Tampa is a better player than Cabrera, Williams, and Ramirez combined, but the rays after 2019 traded Pham for Hunter Renfroe who sucked in his one year with the rays then left. The rays got 1 and a half years of a good OF while the cardinals got a decent reliever who’s controllable for a very long time and Justin Williams who still has a chance to turn into something. I would’ve liked to have Pham during 2018 and 2019 but overall Pham wouldn’t really be needed on the modern cardinals and Any solid reliever that’s controllable like Cabrera is more valuable.

Luke Voit Trade: A

This the best example you’re gonna get of a win-win trade. The Cardinals wouldn’t need Luke Voit at this point because they have Goldschmidt and the Yankees already have plenty of good relievers. Not much more to say, this is a great trade for both sides.

Paul Goldschmidt trade: D+

I sense this might be an unpopular opinion among cardinals fans. Paul Goldschmidt is obviously a good player there’s no denying that, but when you take into account how much he’s being payed and how much Carson Kelly is, I think I’d rather have Kelly. Carson Kelly is a great catcher who’s controllable until 2025. Players like that don’t grow on trees and as much as I like Goldschmidt as a player, I think the Cardinals came out as the losers here.

Adolis Garcia Trade: F

I could argue a lot how good Adolis Garcia actually is but “Cash Considerations'' hasn't done much for the cardinals so this trade was definitely not good.

Randy Arozarena trade: C+

It’s hard to judge this trade at the moment because we haven’t seen anything of Liberatore yet, but if he turns into a solid pitcher, the cardinals did fine in this trade. Arozarena himself is a good OF but he wouldn’t have a spot in the cardinals OF even if the cardinals kept him. This is another win-win trade if Liberatore becomes anything.

Nolan Arenado trade: B-

This is the biggest trade in this entire article by far. Nolan Arenado is one of the best players in the game which is why it was so confusing for many fans as to why the prospect return that the Rockies got for him was a little underwhelming and they also sent 50 million dollars to the cardinals. Most people said the cardinals fleeced the Rockies but upon further look it really isn’t a fleece and is actually a pretty fair trade. The Cardinals got Arenado who will help them right now and in the near future contend which is the goal for them. The main problem with Arenado is the back end of the contract, the last 2-3 years of Arenado’s contract are gonna be tough to swallow. The main pieces that the Rockies got are Austin Gomber and Elehuris Montero. Montero is the main piece that hurts losing as he has been doing very well for himself in double AA this year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns into a good player that could help future Rockies teams. Gomber has been an ok pitcher this season, but I still doubt whether he stays ok forever. If he does then that also hurts a little to lose an ok and controllable starter.

JA Happ trade: F

I don’t know how any major league Gm could make this trade. Why would any team trade a decent reliever and a prospect for a garbage starter? It really doesn’t make sense

Jon Lester Trade: F

This trade is just as bad as the previous one. I doubt Lane Thomas turns into anything but why would you trade him for a starter that’s worse than a random dude you could sign from free agency. It baffles me how any person could think this is a good trade to make.

Conclusion

You’d be surprised how many trades since 2018 turned out fine for the cardinals since a lot of people think they’re incapable of winning trades. The overall grade I’d give Mo since 2018 on trades is a C. It would be around a B- if Mo didnt lose his mind and trade for JA Happ and Jon Lester but that unfortunately happened.