7 and 4...

7 games back of the Cubs for first and 4 back of the Brewers for the Wild Card - not insurmountable odds, but I'm not feeling optomistic. It doesn't help that Kyle Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer are looking like the pitchers they were prior to this season, Chris Carpenter will miss a start or 2, and Albert Pujols is having elbow pains.

Rather than continue through this, why not take a gamble.

Lohse's value has to be slipping recently; now would be a perfect time to place him on waivers to see who bites. You'd think any contender would like to add him for a prospect or 2. This month, his numbers aren't good - his ERA has climbed and he's not getting the groundballs he was getting earlier in the season, resulting in more home runs. He'll also probably get a 4 year deal; something that the Cardinals need to pass on.

Braden Looper is also struggling a little; he's got a lot of wins, so someone would be interested. He'd work as a starter or a reliever. We wouldn't get as much for him, but if a prospect were to equal a sandwich pick, I'd take it (especially considering they won't offer him arbitration, so they won't get a pick for him).

Cesar Izturis and Aaron Miles would also have some value on the market. Neither should be considered in the long term plans and someone could take a chance for the penant run. Izturis is an excellent defensive player; he's also getting on base decently. Miles is having a hot year as a part time player, so a contender may be willing to add him. Both wouldn't net you much, but it's better than getting nothing when they leave.

There is the possibility that someone would also want Russ Springer. I'd consider him with Izturis and Miles for what we'd get in return. I'm more interested in opening a roster spot.

The last trade, and probably the easiest, is moving Josh Phelps. He doesn't have to clear waivers (since he's not on the 40-man roster) and give a team a MLB power bat off the bench. He's probably going to get you as much as Springer, Miles, or Izturis, which would be good for a guy in Triple A.

If you could move these 5, you'd open spots for Adam Wainwright and Mitchell Boggs in the rotation, Jason Motte in the bullpen, and Jarrett Hoffpauir and Brendan Ryan on the bench (or Brian Barden when he gets back from the Olympics).

I don't think these move will hurt the team any; in fact, I'd see over all improvements in the rotation, bullpen, and bench (if Barden were the one promoted). You could also use Felipe Lopez at shortstop, where he is more of an asset then left field.