So are these guys possible trade pieces if an “if-he-can” fails? Well, Lyons is out of minor-league options. Gonzales will have to prove that he’s returned to form after injury. And Cooney might indeed be someone the Cardinals want to keep for depth.

Now, another reason the Cards don’t have some rising prospects to trade is because, well, they already traded them. Such was the case with the pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, part of the Heyward-Braves trade, though Jenkins didn’t crack the 101. And there’s pitcher Rob Kaminsky, traded for Moss, though Kaminsky is only 21 and probably will pitch in Double-A this season.

Even so, the reality is that teams trading for prospects generally want guys on the 40-man roster, or on the verge, and as Goold said, “If you’re not going to trade them, then you’re not going to trade.”