Michael Girsch Says Winning Streak Makes Them Shoppers At Deadline; Matt Carpenter Springfield-Bound; Unwritten, Unbroken Rules; Jedd Gyorko, Yadier Molina, Marcell Ozuna, & More

As the trade deadline appeared on the horizon this month, the Cardinals’ front office candidly said it was straddling the market, teeter-tottering between buy, sell, or standstill. The officials waited on a sign from the team that it was something other than a .500 club.

Post-Dispatch

Cardinals' Wininng Stretch Tests Carlos Martinez, Spurs Speech For Bullpen Reinforcements; Paul Goldschmidt Goes Where No Righty Has; For Maunan Kea; Extra Bases

A byproduct of the Cardinals’ series of wins so far this month has been a spike in workload for closer Carlos Martinez and a test of his durability, proficiency, and honesty in the role. Before calling on him to pitch the 10th inning for a save Monday, his manager and coaches asked him directly what he could offer them.

Post-Dispatch

Andrew Miller Is Scuffling, & Also Great

Here’s a sentence that I didn’t think I’d be writing in 2019: Andrew Miller has accumulated -0.2 WAR this season. By FanGraphs’ version of WAR, he’s been less valuable than a replacement-level reliever. Here’s another sentence that makes a little more sense, but is at odds with the one I just wrote: Andrew Miller might be the Cardinals’ best reliever. Now, reliever performance is volatile and all, but we’re going to need an explanation. How can those two things be true at once?

Fangraphs

Junior Fernandez Keeps Throwing Up Zeroes Wherever He Goes

As the MLB season careens toward the trade deadline, the Cardinals sit in contention for a wild card and within striking distance of the division-leading Cubs. With July 31 fast approaching, the organization will be tasked with personnel decisions that could shape the nature of their postseason aspirations over the season’s final two months.

KMOV

Cubs Likely Buyers With Division Still In Reach

The Cubs have been down this road before, heading into the second half having fallen short of expectations and putting the club's immediate direction under a microscope. It is the kind of thing that an extended period of winning after the All-Star break can solve.

Chicago-N Official Site

Home Run Trot Gives Charlie Blackmon Chance To Savor All-Star Game

In the National League clubhouse at Progressive Field on Tuesday afternoon, Charlie Blackmon reflected on how fast everything seems to take place at the Midsummer Classic. You set certain expectations for the event, Blackmon said, then you sometimes forget to take time to enjoy the moment.

Colorado Official Site

Bernie's Dauily Redbird Review 6-12-19: Dakota Hudson Is The Cardinals' Best Starting Pitcher, Period.

Here’s your Daily Redbird Review, presented with love and mercy, as the Cardinals go for the sweep in Miami on Wednesday night …

101 ESPN

Trade Candidate: Will Smith

Considering Will Smith is the subject of this piece, let’s dispense with the obligatory “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reference right away: Smith is treating opposing hitters about as well as Uncle Phil treated Jazz.

MLB Trade Rumors

Yankees' Pain, Marcus Stroman & Madison Bumgarner: Trade Route Now Bears Intrigue

Just how large a shopping cart will these Yankees require to achieve their goals?

NY Post

Carlos Santana Remains Most Consistent Guy For Indians

It’s been a season of inconsistency for the Cleveland Indians. But through the club’s highest points and its lowest of lows, Carlos Santana's bat has remained a constant.

Cleveland Official Site

Corey Kluber Can't Shake 'Bad Habits' In Short Outing

When Indians manager Terry Francona was asked whether he’d prefer a pitching- or hitting-dominant team during Spring Training, he answered without hesitation: pitching. And while the Tribe has a rotation that could prove to be the most powerful in the Majors when it’s operating at its best, the past week has been the exact opposite of what was envisioned heading into the season.

Cleveland Official Site

Jake Odorizzi Racks Up 11 K's As Twins Fall To Indians

The Twins have been slow to catch up to the strikeout-dominated game of recent years, but after Minnesota set a franchise record in strikeouts last season, Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi have the Twins off to a historic start in 2019.

Minnesota Official Site

Source Says Cardinals Close On A Deal With Andrew Miller

The Cardinals and free-agent reliever Andrew Miller were "very close" to a deal as of Thursday evening, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
St. Louis Official Site

The Cardinals’ ongoing quest to add a lefthanded reliever to their bullpen who could handle any late-inning assignment thrown at him has nearly ended with the addition of the All-Star who helped reinvent how bullpens are used.
Birdland

The Cardinals and Andrew Miller are close to agreeing to a multi-year deal, according to multiple reports.
KMOV

James Shields Reaches 200-IP Mark Before White Sox Walk-Off

James Shields' last start of 2018 went much like his other 32, as the veteran right-hander completed six innings.

Chicago-A Official Site

Jake Odorizzi Can't Close Out Strong Start Vs. Indians

Coming off his best start of the season, it looked like right-hander Jake Odorizzi was on his way to a second straight strong outing until he hit yet another sixth-inning snag.

Minnesota Official Site

The Most Overlooked Player On Each Team

This year, perhaps more than any in recent memory, has a gaggle of tightly contested races for individual awards. Who will win the National League MVP Award? The American League MVP Award? The AL Cy Young Award? The NL Rookie of the Year Award? Those discussions will rightfully take up a considerable amount of oxygen over the next month of the season.

MLB Official Site

Eric Hosmer Heating Up As Padres Defeat Rockies

Eric Hosmer's debut season in San Diego hasn't exactly gone as planned. It also isn't over.

San Diego Official Site

Tyson Ross Shows Grit In Final Start Before Deadline

In his final start before Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, Tyson Ross was knocked down -- but not out.

San Diego Official Site

Marcell Ozuna Hasn't Been The Answer This Season

On June 16, France played its first game of the World Cup and Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna hit a home run.

Hochman

Mariners Called Marlins On Brad Ziegler

In addition, veteran Brad Ziegler's name has been gaining traction of late. Ziegler has allowed three earned runs over 26 1/3 innings since June 1, and he's looked more comfortable since making a mechanical adjustment to take the strain off his back. He's 38 years old and he pitched effectively in Boston in 2016, so the stress of a pennant race isn't going to faze him. The Seattle Mariners recently placed a call to the Marlins on Ziegler, according to a source.

ESPN