Paul Goldschmidt trade odds: Will free-falling Cardinals deal 2022 NL MVP? Giants, Angels, Phillies, Mets favored potential landing spots

By far the most disappointing team in the majors this season has been the St. Louis Cardinals. They enter Friday's series opener at the Mets on a five-game losing streak and have just two victories all month. At 27-42, the Cardinals might be in the rare position of selling at the trade deadline. Could Paul Goldschmidt be available if things don't get better soon? SportsLine offers odds on his next team if he's dealt.

The Cardinals are usually as well-run as any organization in sports. They haven't finished with a losing record since 2007 and have reached the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. They were swept in the 2019 NLCS and have lost in the Wild Card round each year since. Nothing different was expected this year after a 93-69 mark in 2022 under first-year ,anger Oliver Marmol, but now he's on a scalding-hot seat with the Cardinals holding the worst winning percentage in the NL. There's just no excuse for a roster this talented to be sitting below the rebuilding Colorados and Washingtons of the world.

This is not a rash organization, so it still would be a surprise if Marmol is fired during the season – maybe after if it's a total disaster. The low point of the season had to be Wednesday's home loss to the Giants, who completed a three-game sweep. The Cardinals led 5-1 entering the seventh and 5-3 with the Giants down to their last strike in the top of the ninth, but Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-tying two-run homer and then San Francisco won 8-5 in 10 innings.

It was the third blown save of the season for Giovanny Gallegos. He and Ryan Helsley generally split save chances, but Helsley landed on the IL earlier this week. The collapse Wednesday marked the 14th time this season that St. Louis has lost a game after leading by multiple runs.

FanGraphs gives St. Louis just a 13.7% of making the playoffs, which equates to +630 on the money line. DraftKings prices the Cards at +500, with No at -600. A playoff berth would likely require the Cardinals to win the NL Central, a remarkably soft division.

Goldschmidt, fellow superstar Nolan Arenado and veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright have since backed Marmol, who is only 36: "Unfortunately we are not holding up our end of the bargain," Wainwright said. "[Marmol] is pushing us, he's challenging us. He's positive when he needs to be, but he's also telling us this is not acceptable. What more can a manager do? This is on the players. This is not on the coaches and the manager."

Arenado, 32, could have opted out of his eight-year, $260 million contract after last season, but why would he have? Arenado is playing in one of the best baseball cities in the country and on an annual contender – or so he thought. He's likely not tradable, given that he's under contract until 2027.

Goldschmidt, who won his first MVP Award last year, makes a lot more sense as a trade candidate. He will be 36 in September and has just one season after this on his deal. He's owed $22 million next year. That's a bargain. He's still an excellent hitter, batting .288 with 11 homers, 31 RBI and an OPS of .871. Goldschmidt has a no-trade clause, but many other stars have left good situations to win a ring. Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and potential Hall of Famer (Arenado is getting in for sure), has never played in a World Series. St. Louis could deploy Juan Yepez or Brandon Donovan at first base if Goldschmidt is moved.

What might the Cards want in return? They'd likely want young MLB-ready (or close to it) pitching, as starters Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are both free agents after this season (and thus also could be traded) and Wainwright is retiring. Pitching has been the biggest problem this year.

The Giants missed out on both Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge in the offseason. They are hitting better than expected but perhaps still not enough for a wild card spot. Would the Cardinals give up Goldschmidt for San Francisco pitching prospect Kyle Harrison? He's ranked No. 15 overall in the sport.

The Angels must go all-in this season to reach the postseason because if they miss out again, almost everyone expects Shohei Ohtani to leave in free agency next winter. The Phillies lost their slugging first baseman, Rhys Hoskins, to a season-ending injury late in the spring.

One can never rule out the big-spending Mets, Dodgers, Padres or Yankees – although the Yanks appear set at first for now with Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton taking up much of the time at DH. Aaron Judge may also have to play some DH once he's back from his toe injury.

Few franchises have better young pitching to offer in a deal than the Marlins, who are playing way above expectations but are still offensively challenged at times outside of Luis Arraez. It would be unusual for them to add a big salary at the deadline. Baltimore usually doesn't either, but Goldschmidt would fit so perfectly into that lineup. 

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Paul Goldschmidt be playing for after the trade deadline if not in St. Louis?

• Giants +300
• Angels +350
• Phillies +400
• Mets +600
• Dodgers +900
• Padres +1000
• Marlins +1200
• Orioles +1500
• Mariners +1700
• Blue Jays +1800
• Yankees +2000

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