Thoughts on the St. Louis Cardinals Trade For Matthew Liberatore

This time around, I decided to take the time to evaluate the Cardinals’ trade, as they dealt outfielders Jose Martinez, Randy Arozarena, and the 38^th overall pick in the 2020 draft to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitching prospect, Matthew Liberatore (41st best prospect on MLBPipeline), a 19-year old catching prospect Edgardo Rodriguez, and the 66^th overall pick.

The interesting thing is this trade opens up options, as according to Jon Morosi, the Cardinals have also entered preliminary negotiations with the Colorado Rockies in pursuit of perennial All-Star third baseman, Nolan Arenado.  If the Cards’ decide to make that trade, Matthew Liberatore would definitely be the centerpiece along with a catching prospect, which could be rumored to be Ivan Herrera or Andrew Knisner.   There was a Mookie Betts angle as well because their new GM named Chaim Bloom was the former Tampa Bay Rays’ GM who oversaw the drafting of Liberatore.

Here is a look at the players and picks each team received in this trade so far between the Cardinals and the Rays.

The St. Louis Cardinals get:

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired top pitching prospect, Matthew Liberatore.
(Photo: Austin Anthony/Bowling Green Daily News, via the St. Louis Post Dispatch.)

P Matthew Liberatore

2019 (A): 6-2, 3.10 ERA, 78.1 IP, 8.0 H9, 0.2 HR9, 3.6 BB9, 8.7 K9

A tall lefty that boasts having a mid-90s fastball, and a solid 4-pitch mix that includes a good curveball, and a plus-level slider and change-up, Liberatore will be entering his age-20 season in the minors.

He was one of the most talented players entering the 2018 draft, and he had a fairly good season in A-ball, as he showed a solid ability to keep the ball in the ball park, and he has shown decent control and ability to strike hitters out.  Liberatore will need to work on his control at the higher levels and show that he can consistently miss bats, but Liberatore is an interesting prospect that could project to be an upper-echelon starter in the majors.  With this trade, Liberatore may be slated to be the 3^rd best prospect in the Cardinals’ farm system behind Dylan Carlson and Nolan Gorman.

2020 Expectations: Starter at A+ ball, maybe even reach AA late in the season

2020 Player Rating: 3.5-star potential

Value: B+

C Edgardo Rodriguez

2019 (Rk): .400 AVG, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .429 OBP, .520 SLG, .949 OPS, 0 CS%

A hitting catcher from Venezuela, Rodriguez is a project player who may project to be an offensive-minded player in the future, but he is very far away from the majors.  In fact, he had just 28 plate appearances in all of the 2019 season.  Honestly, it’s tough to tell what his future may bring, but he will add catching depth for the time being.

2020 Expectations: Spend most of the season in Rookie ball, maybe reach Short-season A ball, or A-ball

2020 Player Rating: 2-star potential

Value: C

The 66^th overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft

Value: C+

Cardinals’ Overall Value From Players/Picks Received: B

The Tampa Bay Rays get:

The Rays acquired slugger, Jose Martinez in a trade with the Cardinals.
(Photo: Kevin Dietsch/UPI.)

OF Jose Martinez

2019 (MLB): .269 AVG, 10 HR, 42 RBI, .340 OBP, .410 SLG, .751 OPS, 0.3 WAR

2019 (Postseason): .538 AVG, 3 RBI, .538 OBP, .692 SLG, 1.231 OPS, 23.1 K%

Jose Martinez’s production dropped off in the regular season, but he had a tremendous postseason run in 2019, and while he doesn’t possess much range or much of a glove in the outfield, his ability to hit could allow him to be a starter in the American League.  He’s probably better suited to being a DH, but during his time with the Cards, Martinez has proven that he can certainly hit, and his ability to mash suggests that he has 20+ home run potential if he is an everyday starter for the Rays.

2020 Expectations: Significant playing time as the DH, likely starter

2020 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

Value: C+

The Rays also acquired outfielder, Randy Arozarena,
who will compete to make the Rays' Opening Day roster in 2020.
(Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images, Drays Bay.)

OF Randy Arozarena

2019 (MLB): .300 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB, .391 OBP, .500 SLG, .891 OPS, 0.2 WAR

2019 (Postseason): 0 for 4, .000 AVG, .200 OBP, .200 OPS, 1 SB, 60 K%

2019 (AAA): .358 AVG, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 9 SB, .435 OBP, .593 SLG, 1.028 OPS, 17 K%

Arozarena played very well in AAA, and he was an upper-tier organizational prospect that was going to get his shot in the majors somewhere, if not necessarily with the Cards.  The Cardinals had a crowded outfield, so he didn’t get much playing time in the big leagues, but his fielding and baserunning ability allowed him to make the postseason roster.  He didn’t hit well in the playoffs, but Arozarena is a toolsy outfielder that could compete for a starting spot, or at least for a big league roster spot with the Rays.

2020 Expectations: 4^th or 5^th outfielder in the majors

2020 Player Rating: 2 stars (2.5 star potential)

Value: C+

The 38^th overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft

Value: B

Rays’ Overall Value From Players/Picks Received: B-

Conclusion:

Overall, both teams acquired solid pieces that will help them.  The Cardinals come out barely ahead in this deal, as Matthew Liberatore has a bright future and possesses considerable upside, and he also could potentially be flipped for a superstar if the Cards decide to go all in for the 2020 season.  The Rays get to add a couple of quality major-leaguers that get to help their ball club, and Arozarena may finally get a chance to be an everyday player in the big leagues.