Cardinals' Riley O'Brien Fits Best With These 2 Contenders

The Cardinals have already made one trade with the Seattle Mariners, sending Brendan Donovan their way back in February. Seattle could afford to give up some young starting pitching that could strengthen the future for St. Louis.

It's also worth remembering that the Cardinals actually acquired O'Brien from Seattle the day after the 2023 World Series concluded, so he would be going back to a familiar place if a deal happens.

The Mariners are a little thin in their bullpen, so adding a lockdown closer or any late-inning arm to pair with Andres Munoz could make a huge difference. If Seattle is willing to meet a high asking price, they could be an easy trade partner for the Cardinals.

Philadelphia Phillies

Yes, the Phillies have Jhoan Duran at the back end of their bullpen, who is near the top of the National League in saves. But O'Brien could fit well there too. Having too such arms could give the Phillies a big advantage as they look towards trying to return to the postseason.

They also have some solid prospects in their system that the Cardinals might want, so connecting with Philadelphia might not be a bad idea for St. Louis. The Phillies have overcome a dreadful start to the season, while St. Louis appears to be coming back down to earth.

This could be a good way for the Cardinals to set themselves up well for the future and also capitalize on one of their best assets. Relievers can be volatile, so expecting O'Brien to repeat his dominance next season might be unrealistic.

That's why trading him to a contender would make a lot of sense. It will be interesting to see if Philadelphia is among the contenders they engage in talks with for their closer.