Detroit Tigers: Five Potential Destinations for Ian Kinsler
By Jason Reed
5. St. Louis Cardinals
With Matt Carpenter being able to play anywhere, and the underwhelming performance of Kolten Wong, the Cardinals could benefit from Ian Kinsler. While the outfield and pitching staff seems to be their number one priority, the Cardinals shouldn’t rule out trading for Kinsler. Not only could they put together a package to get him, they could also instantly boost their chances at being able to compete with the powerhouse Chicago Cubs.
To get Kinsler, St. Louis would have to package together some good prospects with big league talent. A deal that would make sense for St. Louis would send Kolten Wong to Detroit, and likely shortstop prospect Delvin Perez. Perez was St. Louis’ first round pick this year, and while he could transition to third base, Aledmys Diaz is their shortstop of the future. If they packaged Wong and Perez with a pitching prospect such as Junior Fernandez, Detroit may send Kinsler their way.
Kinsler would provide a great fielding option at second base, which will bolster the Cardinals’ below average defense. Kinsler could also fill in the three-spot in the batting order, a spot vacated by Matt Holliday. Having Kinsler be the anchor of the lineup would undoubtedly boost the Cardinals’ playoff chances next year. However, St. Louis has other areas of improvement they may need to address first, which may leave a Kinsler deal on the table.