Cardinals fielding interest in former Phillies 2.12 ERA reliever

With the MLB trade deadline nearly 48 hours away, the St. Louis Cardinals' plans are becoming clear. While the team might not move on from Nolan Arenado or Sonny Gray, they are fielding interest in four of their pitchers.

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals aren't just listening to offers from teams for their top four relievers, but they're patiently waiting those teams out in trade talks, as the reliever market is an expensive one.

"President of baseball operations John Mozeliak is prepared to wait out contending teams as he fields interest in Maton," Woo writes, "closer Ryan Helsley, and set-up men Steven Matz and JoJo Romero."

The Cardinals have been rumored to be listening to trade offers for Helsley, Maton, and Matz for a while now. But the addition of Romero, who is under team control through 2026, as a trade possibility is very interesting.

Helsley, Maton, and Matz are all free agents at the end of the year, which will likely decrease their trade value, even if only slightly. Romero, meanwhile, is a very interesting trade target at the deadline.

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With a lack of left-handed relievers who could be available, Romero would be one of the top lefty arms on the market. With an extra year of control, the 28-year-old could fetch a strong return at the deadline for St. Louis.

In 40 appearances this season, Romero has a 2.12 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and has allowed just one home run on 26 hits. Romero's 197 ERA+ is a career high, and could draw the interest of teams eyeing reliever help at the deadline.

Teams in need of a left-handed reliever could look to bring in Romero, though his cost will likely be more than Maton's or Matz's, as he's under control for one more season.

Woo's article is the first mention that Romero could be on the move. He was previously traded by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 for infielder Edmundo Sosa. It's worked out for both sides, and three years later, he could be on the trade block once again.

With a lack of left-handed relievers on the market, St. Louis could net a solid return for the 2022 trade deadline acquisition from the Phillies.

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