One Minute Poll: What Is Cardinals Biggest Need At Trade Deadline?

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Ryan Theriot has been good at the plate for the Cardinals
 this season but has struggled in the field.  Should the
 Cardinals look for a defensive upgrade at shortstop as
 the trade deadline approaches? - Photo courtesy of Getty
The 2011 version of the St. Louis Cardinals have certainly had their share of ups and downs.  The club is still in tight competition at the top of the National League Central Division with the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds despite a multitude of major injuries to key players.

Injuries and ineffectiveness have left the Cardinals with a roster with major holes.

Ryan Theriot has been stellar at the plate offensively this season, hitting .295 and getting on base at a clip of .344.  But Theriot's defense at shortstop has cost the Cardinals multiple times.  The former LSU Tigers infielder has committed 14 errors on the season.  The Cardinals could look at acquiring a new shortstop that can mimic Theriot's production at the plate while improving the defense up the middle.

The starting rotation has been pretty effective for  most of the first half of the season.  But losing a guy like Adam Wainwright for the season likely will effect the Cardinals more during the second half of the season.  Kyle McClellan has started to show signs of wearing down after converting into a starter.  The Cardinals are 0-5 in each of McClellan's last five starts.

So should the Cardinals look to bolster the front end of the rotation in order to replace Wainwright with another ace?  Or should the club look to find a back-end of the rotation guy to spell McClellan and move him back to the struggling bullpen?

Finally, the bullpen has been the key burning point for many fans.  Ryan Franklin and Miguel Batista are finally gone.  But the bullpen is left with a bunch of young arms with little experience.  Should the Cardinals look to bolster the back-end of the bullpen by acquiring a proven closer?  Should the club focus on improving the bleak left-hand specialist situation left by ineffectiveness of Trevor Miller and Brian Tallet?

Vote now on what you feel is the Cardinals biggest need as the trade deadline approaches.





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