Cardinals beneficiaries of 'weirdest trade' at trade deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals traded away three relievers at the trade deadline, with Ryan Helsley as the top name dealt. But the Cardinals' trade of Steven Matz has garnered more attention than the others, as the team received an interesting return.

For Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Cardinals' trade of Matz to the Boston Red Sox was the "weirdest trade" at the deadline. The left-handed reliever is a rental, and in return, the Cardinals landed infielder Blaze Jordan.

"I just didn't understand the move for Boston: adding a 34-year-old failed starter-turned-reliever who is making $12.5 million (and will be a free agent at season's end) for Jordan, who has slashed .304/.373/.486 between Double-A and Triple-A this season."

The Cardinals landed Jordan for two months of Matz, a very solid deal for the Cardinals. He's been tearing it up in the minors, as Bowden mentioned, and he could be up as soon as later this season for St. Louis.

After their deadline moves, Jordan became the Cardinals' 18th-ranked prospect. The 22-year-old has 100 hits, 22 doubles, 12 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 90 games this season, and is making a push to earn a call-up to the big leagues.

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St. Louis got such a player for Matz, who, while solid this year with a 3.44 ERA with the Cardinals, is a two-month rental who isn't cheap, and wasn't the best reliever the team was trading. Helsley and even Phil Maton had better numbers this season.

It's a great trade for the Cardinals, as they land an intriguing prospect in return for a two-month rental of a pitcher who was in the middle of a resurgent season as a starter-turned-reliever.

Bowden doesn't believe that the Red Sox should've given up such a prospect for a player like Matz. While calling him a "failed starter-turned-reliever" might be a step too far, the former New York Mets starter isn't cheap, or around for more than 2025.

While Bowden dubbed this trade the "weirdest" deal at the trade deadline, the Cardinals were the beneficiaries of it. Bowden questioned why the Red Sox gave up Jordan for Matz, a sign that he believes it was an overpay, and in turn, a strong return for St Louis.

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