Miles Mikolas' replacement named Cardinals' top trade deadline need

The St. Louis Cardinals, heading into the final month before the MLB trade deadline, have to resolve their starting rotation issues. Whether it's to compete for this season, or prepare for the future, St. Louis needs ot make some changes soon.

According to MLB.com writer Jason Foster, the Cardinals' biggest need is help for the starting rotation. One of the easiest ways to address the rotation need is by finding a replacement for Miles Mikolas.

"Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas both had two consecutive starts recently in which they allowed six or more earned runs." Foster wrote. "So, rotation help should be the priority for a team that's still hanging in the NL Wild Card race."

Even though there are calls for the Cardinals to sell off a lot of their top assets, the team is in decent shape to contend for a Wild Card spot in the NL. Sitting just 1.5 games back, the Cardinals are by no means out of the postseason hunt.

But to compete for such a spot, the Cardinals need to part ways with both Mikolas and Fedde. Of the two, Fedde is the most likely to be moved, as he could be traded at the deadline for prospects or as part of a deal for a new starter.

MORE: Cardinals' Oli Marmol breaks silence on Erick Fedde's future in St. Louis

Mikolas, on the other hand, is a lot more trouble. He has a full no-trade clause, and he's expected to invoke it for any trade he's a part of. To move on from Mikolas, the Cardinals will have to either release him or try and convince him to accept a trade.

The easier path is, of course, to just cut ties with him. After his start, where he allowed six home runs and raised his season ERA to 5.26, moving on from him won't be much of an issue.

With Michael McGreevy waiting in the wings in Triple-A, the Cardinals can easily get rid of one of those starters without losing sleep. Moving on from the second will be more of a challenge, and the Cardinals will need a starter outside the organization.

Fortunately, there are plenty of starters expected to be on the trade block at this year's trade deadline, with former Cardinal Sandy Alcantara one of the top options for St. Louis. Regardless of who they target, the Cardinals need to add a starter and move on from Mikolas at this year's MLB trade deadline.

MORE MLB NEWS:

• Pair of Astros pitchers named among biggest All-Star snubs
• Tigers' Tarik Skubal reveals he wants to start for AL in All-Star Game
• Astros announce roster move ahead of Guardians series
• Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. reveals reason for passing on home run derby
• MLB exec believes Guardians could trade Steven Kwan
• Paul Skenes says 'it would be cool' to talk with Tigers' Tarik Skubal at All-Star game