Could the St. Louis Cardinals trade for Mookie Betts? Here’s what one expert thinks

Could Mookie Betts end up in St. Louis this offseason?

According to ESPN writer David Schoenfield, it’s a possibility.

In an article posted at ESPN.com that details a possible blockbuster trade for each of the 30 MLB teams, Schoenfield proposes this megadeal between the Cardinals and Red Sox: Outfielder Betts and starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to St. Louis for Tommy Edman, Randy Arozarena, Jose Martinez and Brett Cecil.

Betts is expected to be a popular trade target this off season as the Red Sox try to get their payroll underneath the luxury tax threshold. Betts is expected to make more than $27 million in arbitration before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2020 season.

Adding Betts’ and Eovaldi’s salary and eliminating the $7.25 million Cecil will make would push the Cardinals 2020 payroll to about $210 million. But it would also allow St. Louis to replace Marcell Ozuna with a better player.

Adding Eovaldi would also give the Cardinals another rotation piece to pair with Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson, Adam Wainwright, and Miles Mikolas and either trade Carlos Martinez or keep him in the bullpen.

The move would also eliminate the perception of the Cardinals sitting on the sidelines during the offseason as their division rivals work to get better.