Grading Mozeliak, Girsch and the St. Louis Cardinals front office at the season’s midway point

Acquired or traded

Based on the data, the trade strategy for Mozeliak and Girsch was to not have a trade strategy. Since the end of the 2022 season, they have acquired only one major league talent in dealings with other teams. That was pitcher Anthony Misiewicz, bought from the Royals in February, and he idled through six weeks of spring training before being sold to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Misiewicz was not only the only player Mozeliak acquired or bought, he was also the only one they traded away or sold. This apparent apathy toward inter-team dealings is in stark contrast with the established Mozeliak-Girsch pattern, which in previous seasons has fleeced such talents as Nolan Arenado, Marcell Ozuna, and Paul Goldschmidt from other clubs.

And it’s not like Mozeliak and Girsch habitually wait until the trade deadline to swoop in. Ozuna, Goldschmidt and Arenado, their three biggest trade catches, were all winter steals from the Marlins, Diamondbacks and Rockies, respectively.

Their deadline moves have been less spectacular and less productive. Last season, for example, they got pitcher Jordan Montgomery at deadline, and he came at the cost of Harrison Bader. They got Jose Quintana from Pittsburgh, but the cost was blossoming starter Johan Oviedo.

So while the Cardinal front office may have some deadline-related tricks up their sleeve in the next month, their behavior is already out of character with their track record.