The Cardinals felt confident enough in 25-year old righty swinging 3B Allen Craig’s career that they could move Brett Wallace in the Matt Holliday trade. Craig was the Cardinals’ #26 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has played in 93 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 103 for 343 (.300 avg, .865 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 18 homers and 55 RBIs. He might get called up in September when rosters expand.

21-year old lefty swinging catcher Bryan Anderson is a player that other teams have been asking for in return in trade from the Cardinals as he is off to a great start this season. Anderson has played in 64 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 79 for 230 (.343 avg, .867 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 3 homers and 35 RBIs. The Cardinals might be receptive to trading Anderson in the right trade as they really like Yadier Molina at the major league level but he will not come cheap.

22-year old righty starting pitcher Jess Todd is absolutely dominating in the minors. He was the number 12 prospect on the Cardinals coming into the season according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook and he’s on the rise. Todd has pitched in 18 games (14 starts) in A+AA ball this season and he is 5-3 with a 1.68 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He has only allowed 63 hits while whiffing 87 batters in only 96.2 innings this season which shows how dominating he has been this season. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Todd in St. Louis in September when rosters expand.

26-year old righty swinging outfielder Nick Stavinoha could be the next young outfielder the Cardinals give a chance to at the major league level if he continues to hit well in AAA ball. Stavinoha has played in 67 games in AAA ball this season and he is 84 for 245 (.343 avg, .869 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers and 44 RBIs. He is not one of the most highly thought of prospects in the Cardinals’ minor league system but he deserves a chance to show what he can do.

21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Colby Rasmus is the #1 prospect in the entire Cardinals’ system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook but he’s struggling in the minors right now. Rasmus has played in 33 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 25 for 120 (.208 avg, .665 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers, 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Cardinals hope that Rasmus will be ready to help them out at some point in 2008 but they won’t promote him until he earns it.