Every year at the trade deadline, there's at least one Major League Baseball team that admits defeat and puts together one heck of a fire sale of its soon-expiring assets.

Summer is almost upon us, which means the MLB trade deadline lurks in the distance. This year, pencils are down at 6 p.m. ET July 31. And for the first time in awhile, the trade market is missing an obvious centerpiece.

Thanks to an offense that ranks fourth in MLB in batting average, a rotation with four starters possessed an ERA below 4.00, and a deep and talented bullpen headlined by closer Ryan Helsley, the Cardinals have won 20 of their last 29 contests after their 14-19 start.