You do realize Rasmus has already shown that he's an above average player right? The Cardinals aren't "risking" Rasmus producing in the future - they are outright giving up on it. Barring injury, Rasmus is a lock to be a valuable piece for the Blue Jays, and not only that, but he's also the kind of guy you can extend like you saw the Reds do with Jay Bruce. If the Cardinals don't get in the playoffs this year, and if the pieces they get aren't huge parts of it, they just gave up a potentially great player for a reliever and a couple supplemental draft picks. Is it completely franchise altering? No. But it's still mind-bogglingly stupid considering now they just lost one of their best cheap pieces.