Crim: What will Cardinals do as baseball’s trade deadline nears?

QUINCY — Baseball’s trade deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Will St. Louis be buyers, sellers or bystanders?

After an excruciating slow start, the Cardinals used a 33-18 run during a 51-game stretch to catapult into contention in the National League Central Division and the wild-card chase. Hope replaced frustration.

But they have the second-worst record in the NL since July 8. Meanwhile, several teams they’re battling for a postseason berth have gotten hot, causing them to slip in the wild card standings.

Most recently, they have dropped back-to-back series against the Pirates and Nationals, not exactly Exhibit A to “go all in,” to borrow a phrase from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

So, what should John Mozeliak and Co. do?

Most observers believe the Redbirds need starting-pitching depth, a right-handed bat and a high-leverage reliever to make a vigorous stretch run.

However, ESPN baseball insiders write there is frustration with this year’s trade market primarily because there are so few players available, given that so many teams are within range of a wild-card berth and are loath to deal away players.

The Cardinals’ front office has been reluctant in recent years to part with valued prospects, especially at the trade deadline, so it’s questionable whether St. Louis will pull the trigger on any meaningful deals. And even if it does, will it be enough with the current roster?

On the flip side, missing the playoffs for a second straight year — and for the fifth time in nine seasons — won’t sit well with an already-restless fan base. The Cardinals have won only two playoff series since reaching the 2013 World Series.

The clock is ticking.

• Remember when Dylan Carlson was going to be the next great thing after a solid 2021 season that included 18 homers and a .505 slugging percentage after the All-Star break? He was a star in the making, an untouchable when it came to trade talks.

Well, those high expectations have faded. He batted just .219 last season in limited duty and his batting average this season is hovering around the Mendoza Line. In addition, he has shown no power, strikes out too much and has made some defensive gaffes.

Speaking of disappointing seasons, Jordan Walker, the Opening Day starting right fielder, has continued to struggle at Triple-A Memphis since being demoted April 24. It doesn’t appear as if he will return to the big club anytime soon, which further clouds the team’s outfield picture.

• Fun fact: Since the advent of the 162-game schedule in 1962, the expansion New York Mets of that season own the record for fewest victories (40) to finish 60.5 games out of first place in the NL. It was a display of futility few imagined would ever be matched.

Don’t look now, but this version of the Chicago White Sox is challenging that assumption, with losses continuing to pile up at an alarming rate. It’s nearly August and they still haven’t reached 30 victories, and any player with trade value is expected to be dealt, further diminishing the big-league club.

For those wondering, the worst single season record in the expansion era in the American League came courtesy of the 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119), giving the South Siders two shots at making dubious history.

• Finally, Nebraska football coach Matt Ruhle caused a bit of a stir during Big Ten Conference media days with this comment about the College Football Playoffs: “I think four teams from this league should get in every year because this is the best league. This is the NFL of college football.”

Ruhle based his reasoning, in part, on the fact the Big 10 now has 18 members from coast to coast, with the likes of Oregon, Washington and USC joining reigning national champion Michigan and perennial league favorites Ohio State and Penn State.

However, it was the messenger, not necessarily the message, that rankled Paul Finebaum, an anchor for ESPN’s SEC Network and college football analyst.

While Nebraska boasts five national and 43 conference championships in its history, it has suffered seven straight losing seasons. The comment also conveniently overlooked the fact the SEC has won or shared 15 national championships this century, compared to three for the Big 10.

“Don’t worry about the big boys because you aren’t one of them. … Just try to win maybe six games, quit choking big games on the final play, and leave the punditry to the professionals,” Finebaum retorted.

Somewhere Tom Osborne is cringing.