The St. Louis Cardinals are entering a critical point in their season where major decisions need to be made. Sitting on the fence between contending and retooling, the front office could either buy at the deadline to chase a playoff spot or sell off expiring contracts to reset for next year.

If they choose the former, boosting the pitching staff will be essential. Sports Illustrated’s Nicholas Selbe recently predicted the Cardinals could make a bold move for Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly—a veteran right-hander with a reputation for consistency since joining MLB from the KBO in 2019.

“While Kelly has never made an All-Star appearance or drawn Cy Young consideration, he’s quietly been one of the league’s most dependable arms,” Selbe noted. “His 3.78 ERA since 2019 ranks 14th among pitchers with at least 800 innings—better than names like Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola.” He also highlighted Kelly’s postseason poise, referencing his 2.25 ERA in four playoff starts during the D-Backs’ 2023 World Series run.

At 36 years old, Kelly could be a strong rental option for any team needing a steady playoff-caliber pitcher. But there’s a major hitch—he’s set to become a free agent this winter. Acquiring Kelly would add to the Cardinals’ list of soon-to-be free agent starters, which already includes Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas. That raises concerns about the long-term value of such a move.

The Cardinals would likely need to surrender valuable prospects for a short-term boost, and with the team not yet built for a deep postseason run, the cost may outweigh the benefit. Instead, it might make more sense for St. Louis to pursue players with multiple years of team control rather than rental veterans.