ST. LOUIS -- While most Cardinals fans went into Tuesday hoping the organization could pull a deadline-beating trade with the Nationals for superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the reality is that it was out on the deal long before, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said.

Mozeliak didn’t want to specifically address what the Cardinals offered in what would have been a mega deal for the 23-year-old Soto -- or what the team refused to include -- but what he did say is that the ask from the Nationals got so immense that the Cardinals ultimately backed away. When told that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said there were two remaining suitors for Soto going into Tuesday morning, Mozeliak said the Cardinals were not one of those final teams.

“Obviously large,” Mozeliak said when asked about the gap between the Cardinals and the Nationals on a deal for Soto. “For us, it was a very different look. Trying to understand the calculus and how to think through that, we were prepared for that, but ultimately, it’s not the direction we went.”

Washington ultimately dealt Soto and slugger Josh Bell to the Padres on Tuesday morning for a broad mix of young Major League talent and top prospects. The Padres were willing to part with SS C.J. Abrams, LHP MacKenzie Gore, 1B Luke Voit, their top-rated prospect OF Robert Hassell III, their No. 3-rated prospect James Wood and their No. 14-rated prospect Jarlin Susana. Any Cardinals trade likely would have included the team's No. 1 prospect Jordan Walker and No. 4 prospect Masyn Winn along with a host of young MLB players such as Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman, Andre Pallante and Zack Thompson.

While Mozeliak refused to say whether Carlson was a sticking point in any potential deal with the Cardinals and Nationals, he did the defend the 23-year-old standout. Mozeliak said he had informed Carlson days earlier that he would not be included in any deals and stuck to that promise.

Not only that, but Mozeliak doubled down on Carlson’s long-term future with the franchise by dealing 2021 Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader to the Yankees for 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery.

“I think we should clear the air on Carlson because I hear that he’s getting beat up on social media for something he had no control over,” Mozeliak said. “I had already stated that I recently met with him, telling him that we weren’t trading him. I don’t think that by no means was he the reason why we wouldn’t get this deal done.”

Mozeliak said the Cardinals' guiding strategy going into the Trade Deadline was more centered around adding pitching depth than it was landing an outfielder such as Soto. St. Louis got starter Jose Quintana and reliever Chris Stratton on Monday from the Pirates and dealt for Montgomery in the final hour before the Deadline on Tuesday.

“We tried to fill a position that was weak for us on the pitching front,” Mozeliak said. “I’m sure there are going to be people who disagree with the strategy, but I hope people understand we felt we were filling something that would be in our best interest.”

Mozeliak said he would be completely comfortable with either Quintana or Montgomery starting a playoff game for the Cardinals if the franchise can get there again. Asked directly if he felt the Cardinals bettered their chances at winning a World Series with the moves made before the deadline, Mozeliak downplayed the importance of the late-season pickups.

“Getting to the postseason and getting the opportunity to get to the World Series, I don’t think anybody is going to claim they built a World Series club today,” he said. “So, if we get hot, we can play with anybody and hopefully we get hot.”