Is there a match between the Mariners and the Cardinals?

Rumors of varying degrees have been swirling for several months, but will the Mariners and the Cardinals get a deal done?

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Typically, where there is smoke there is fire. There has been a ton of smoke around a Seattle and St. Louis deal since last offseason when Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reported the Mariners’ interest in Tyler O’Neill.

Since then, Jon Paul Morosi has reported several rumors between the two teams. The reports have been of varying degrees, but consistent communication has happened, showing me these two teams believe there is a deal somewhere to be had.

I would tend to agree, but maybe not the monster deal you may be thinking of.

A few weeks ago it was reported Seattle had no interest in trading George Kirby in these talks (duh), but that St. Louis was interested in the Mariners starting pitching. This report was, as a media friend described, “moving the ball an inch on a football field.”

Clearly, the Mariners aren’t interested in trading George Kirby and of course, the Cardinals would want Seattle’s pitching, it is one of the most valuable commodities in the sport. St. Louis has enough young bats to get the conversation rolling, but the fit still seems murky.

Last week Morosi reported the NL Central cellar dweller’s interest in Logan Gilbert, which was backed up by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis-Post Dispatch. The issue with this is that the report also says they are unwilling to trade Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbar, or Jordan Walker.