It’s a common occurrence, but it doesn’t make it any easier for fans to see beloved players traded, regardless of the reasons. Cardinal fans have already had to say goodbye to Tommy Edman, and now they face another tough farewell with Dylan Carlson’s departure. Carlson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday afternoon in exchange for reliever Shawn Armstrong.
Carlson’s story in St. Louis is somewhat tragic. Drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft, Carlson had been a fixture in the Cardinals’ organization. Despite once being a top prospect, his career has been marred by unfortunate events, including his MLB debut during the COVID-19 season and ongoing injuries, coupled with fluctuating trust from coaches.
His 2021 season offered a glimmer of hope, with a .266/.343/.437 slash line and a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. However, subsequent injuries and a crowded depth chart have overshadowed his potential. A fresh start seems best for both Carlson and the Cardinals at this point.
Carlson’s absence from the major league roster for the past two years made his trade almost inevitable. He acknowledged this reality leading up to the deadline, saying, “You hear some stuff occasionally, but for me, I’ve just been treating this day like any other day…just waiting to hear something. So, yeah, at this point, I’m not really sure what to expect.”
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John Mozeliak addressed the trade decision late Tuesday, emphasizing that trading Carlson was a difficult choice. Mozeliak highlighted that a change of scenery was crucial for Carlson, who was set to be the Cardinals’ fifth outfielder. With Brendan Donovan, Michael Siani, Lars Nootbaar, and Alec Burleson ahead of him, Mozeliak felt it was unfair to keep Carlson without playing him.
Dylan Carlson is under team control for another two years after 2024, so Cardinal fans will have to worry that he doesn’t become another “one that got away” in Tampa Bay. This trade marks the second time this year that the Cardinals have traded an outfielder for a reliever from the Tampa Bay Rays; Richie Palacios and Andrew Kittredge swapped clubs during the offseason.
I wish nothing but the best for Dylan Carlson. Far too often was he on the short end of things here in St. Louis, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to flourish as a player at the major league level.
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