The Cardinals have made clear their intention to pursue plenty of pitching help as they attempt to return to contention in 2024. While the deep cla s of pitchers set to be available provides the club with ample opportunities to , its no secret that the Cardinals have an exce s of outfield talent. Each of , , , and play the outfield exclusively for St. Louis, while multi-positional options and saw plenty of time in the outfield as well during the 2023 campaign. That led the Cardinals to on their glut of outfield talent at the trade deadline, though none of their position players ultimately ended up moving besides pending free agent shortstop . Those talks could begin anew this coming offseason, allowing the Cardinals to explore the trade market for potential pitching additions. Walker and Nootbaar were both regarded as e sentially untouchable at the deadline, and it seems likely that theyll be similarly protected from trade talks this offseason. That being said, each of Carlson, ONeill, Edman, and Donovan found their names in the rumor mill this past season. Lets take a look at each of them: Dylan Carlson (0.2 fWAR in 2023) Carlson, who celebrated his 25th birthday earlier this week, is coming off a major down season in 2023 where he slashed just .219/.318/.333 in 255 plate appearances. Despite those brutal numbers, Carlson reportedly received interest from multiple clubs at the trade deadline, Colton White Jersey including the Yankees and Orioles. As a young switch-hitter who was once a consensus top-20 prospect in the sport and is under team control through the 2026 campaign, Carlson could once again be a sought-after change of scenery candidate. That being said, his value is likely at an all time low after in September (though hes expected to be ready for Spring Training) and posting the worst offensive season of his career in 2023. Given Carlsons remaining team control, its po sible the Cardinals would be better off holding onto their former top prospect in hopes he can rebound in 2024 and improve his stock. On the other hand, another difficult season for Carlson in 2024 could squander whatever remaining interest clubs have in prying him away from St. Louis. Tyler ONeill (0.8 fWAR in 2023) Much like Carlson, ONeill is also coming off something of a down season, having slashed just .231/.312/.403 in 266 trips to the plate in 2023. As uninspiring as those numbers may be, ONeill is just two seasons removed from a sensational 2021 campaign that saw him slash .286/.352/.560 with a 143 wRC+ and 5.5 fWAR in 138 games. Whats more, ONeill posted the lowest strikeout rate of his career in 2023, with a 25.2% strikeout rate. If ONeill can find a way to balance the power he flashed in 2021 with his improved plate discipline in 2023, he could be an impactful offensive player for just about any club. That being said, with just one year of team control remaining before ONeill hits free agency, he would likely generate the smallest return package of any of the players listed here. With contention in 2024 uncertain, its easy to make the argument that the Cardinals would be wise to deal ONeill while they still can, though its also fair to wonder if theyd be selling too low on a player with an exciting offensive ceiling. Brendan Donovan (2.1 fWAR in 2023) Donovan, 26, made good on a strong rookie campaign during his sophomore season, slashing .284/.365/.422 while flashing improved power numbers in 371 trips to the plate. Donovan on the day of the trade deadline this year after being relegated to DH-only duties for much of the season thanks to a flexor tendon injury. Fortunately, Donovan is expected to be ready Spring Training in 2024 and, when healthy, is a premiere utility option who would be of interest to virtually any club. To this point in his career, Donovan has logged time at all four infield spots and both outfield corners. Between his versatility, solid bat, and the fact that hes not yet even eligible for arbitration, Donovan is easily the most attractive trade candidate on this list who would deliver the strongest return, though it would be a major lo s for the Cardinals offense if the club parted with a player of Donovans caliber. Tommy Edman (2.3 fWAR in 2023) Perhaps the most surprising candidate to appear on this list, Edman came into the 2023 campaign having spent the overwhelming majority of his career on the infield dirt as a shortstop and second baseman. That changed this season, however, as Edman split his time between second base, shortstop, and center field, taking his role in center quite well. While Edman slashed just .248/.307/.399 (92 wRC+) in 137 games with the club this year, his quality defense at three up the middle positions and roughly league average switch-hitting bat would make him an attractive trade candidate for virtually any team. Edman is controlled through the 2025 campaign, giving him more value on the trade market than a rental bat like ONeill even as he doesnt come with the same extensive team control as Carlson or Donovan. With the Cardinals looking to completely revamp their pitching staff in 2023, it would be a shock if the club didnt at least look into dealing from its surplus of outfield depth while they attempt to return to contention following a 91-lo s season. If they do move on from one of the aforementioned players, which should they look to deal? ONeill or Carlson departing likely wouldnt set the 2024 club back very much on offense, though they presumably wouldnt garner a very significant return as the club looks to add big league-ready pitching options. On the other hand, the club would be far more likely to land a bona fide rotation-caliber arm if they dealt Donovan or Edman, but the 2024 teams positional group would take a far more significant step back in losing either players versatility. ( for app users) Which Outfielder Should The Cardinals Move? Tyler O'Neill 57.94% (3,666votes) Dylan Carlson 24.83% (1,571votes) Tommy Edman 9.91% (627votes) Brendan Donovan 7.32% (463votes) Total Votes: 6,327 Jamie Langenbrunner Jersey