Cards Looking For A LF

You can't help but be a little skeptical that the Cardinals plan to go with Larry Bigbie and So Taguchi as their left fielder all year long.  Bigbie's had a few tolerable years in '03-'04, but let's face it: he's basically Todd Hollandsworth.  You want him coming off the bench.  Taguchi is in his mid-30s and certainly won't manage league average production for a left fielder.  Not to mention he'll be needed to back up Jim Edmonds for a signficant amount of time.  And third-stringer John Rodriguez may be on the outs.

I did what I always do when I want to dissect the Cardinals - I talked to Larry of Viva El Birdos.  Most of the following is culled directly from Larry, who has his finger on the pulse of the team.

About a week ago, Cardinals' beat writer Matt Leach opined that by the time the playoffs roll around, an impact bat or at least someone else will be starting in left field.  According to Larry, other journalists covering the team are on the same page.

I threw out five guys that I thought could fit the bill:  Luis Gonzalez, Carlos Lee, Kevin Mench, Ryan Church, and Jay Payton.

Larry considered Mench the frontrunner, saying, "Mench could come over during Spring Training; I
have this feeling a Mench-for-Marquis trade has been sitting there, shrink-wrapped and ready to be run through the bar-code reader, for two or three months. If the Cards decide in the next 2-3 weeks that Ponson-Reyes-Wainwright can cover them, they'll pull the trigger."

I agree entirely.  It'd be a deal that would help both teams, and Jason Botts could probably approximate Mench's numbers for the Rangers.  Botts's 2005 season in Triple A was roughly the equivalent of a .252/.315/.444 line in the Majors.  I have a lot of faith in Reyes, so the only wild card would be Ponson in the fifth spot.

On Gonzo, Larry said:  "If they add Gonzalez, it won't be until mid-season due to his large 2006 salary."  That'd be $11.5MM, and don't forget that Luis has trade veto power.  My hunch is that he'd be willing to come to St. Louis if the D'Backs aren't contending.  A very solid candidate to be acquired by the Cards.

Larry rightfully dismissed Payton, Lee, and Church.  The Cards don't really have anything the A's need for Payton; Lee presents a division rival trade, something that Jocketty hasn't done for quite some time (perhaps dating back to Fernando Vina).  He said that the front office may not see Church as a major improvement over what they have, though we both agree that he would be.  Jose Guillen's current status doesn't look too bad, but the Nats will still have a strong need for Church unless Soriano moves to center field.

To throw one more name into the mix, Cardinals Diaspora was researching a possible Craig Wilson trade.  In a nutshell, Ryan says that while Wilson seems like a good fit, the Cards may be looking for a lefty and the Pirates may prefer to deal Sean Casey at the deadline.  Good read.

There you have it.  Granted this is all just educated speculation, but we did unearth the Cards' interest in A.J. Burnett the last time we put our blogs/heads together.

Comments

[Nick]

What do you guys think would the cardinals have interest in dealing for Trot NIxon??

[joe]

I think the cards would definitly have interest in aquiring nixon(especially over Church/Payton)I think the cards would Marquis if the sox send Tony Graffino with him and we will give Larry Bigbi(Theo Likes him)

Red Sox Get-
Marquis
Bigbi

Cards Get-
Nixon
Graffino

[koch]

the first thing i thought when i saw that headline was "Mermac".

len kasper just said that Jerry Hairston was "beamed".

[RumorMonger]

Nice. this blog was hurting for an ALF reference.

[option]

That trade wouldn't even have a chance of being offered.. the Red Sox don't have any need for Marquis

..and yup.. Hairston got plunked

[xxJamesxx]

I think Church is a more valuable player than Nixon at this point.

[Kyle S]

Marquis and John Rodriguez for Adam dunn and Ryan Freel

[Erik]

CHURCH! PREACH!

Speaking of pitching, Mike Pelfrey looked quite good in his two IP. Kid threw nothing but fastballs and still dominated.

[Green Lantern]

wow, i thought cubs fans were bad at coming up with trade rumors that were great for the cubs and gave nothing away.... but marquis and J-Rod for Dunn and Freel might be an alltime record for worst trade proposal. a B prospect and a pitcher who gives up homers but doesn't strike people out for a run-producing machine and fantastic utility guy.

[kev]

Hey Green, when's the last time you had a trade rumor that didn't favor your team? Probably never!! The problem is Cards have players that are actually good were as the Cubs always have player that are suppose to be good and always tring to get goods players for nothing.All though the Cards seem to make x_Cubs better.Marquius is a ground ball pitcher and that probably is well suited for that wind tunnel in Cincy.If J-rod could be more patient and go with a pitch he'd be a starter.

[Darin]

That trade would never happen. The Reds have a bad front office, but a 8 year old could tell you that trade is way too lopsided to ever go down.

Marquis at best is a number 3 pitcher, but probably a number 4. And Rodriguez is a 4th outfielder. To get Dunn from the Reds, The Cards would have to throw in Reyes and another top tier prospect. The Reds have had much better offer for Austin Kearns, than that proposal.

[younguns10]

regarding mench i don't think the rangers have the finances or the pitching ready to have padilla, eaton and marquis all in contract years, diamond is semi close danks is still distant, and i see botts being the DH after nevin goes away after this season

[TNS]

To whomever posted Nixon & Graff for Bigbie & Marquis hasn't considered the Red Sox are already 7 deep in the rotation and are looking to move at least one of them. There is no way they'd take on another starter unless they had another deal in place to move him. Also have to keep in mind the salary difference in that deal. It would never happen.

[RumorMonger]

Regarding Diamond, I wouldn't call 69 innings of 5.35 ball at Double A close.

[younguns10]

i agree about diamond, i don't care about his numbers, he is close, im saying they won't have 3 potential free agents in their starting rotation because of the fact their farm isn't ready to take over when those guys bail, and they can't afford to sign them all, as of right now i don't think there's anyway even eaton and padilla will both be back

[Beepo]

Hidalgo has left oriole's camp for personal reasons and word on the street is he is disgruntled at only getting a minor league deal. could he be the answer? He would cost nothing since his contract stipulates a release for a major league contract.

[RumorMonger]

Dang, I just drafted him for my fantasy team.

[Randy]

Hidalgo is the answer to the question: What name comes after Hidalgn ?

[rowdie]

wrong! Higalgo comes after hidalgnzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Steev]

What does this mean for Rick Ankiel? Do you see him sticking with the Cards or them taking a chance of passing him through waivers?

[Don]

I think the Cards Ankiel strategy is to sit him with minor injuries all through all spring training and try and pass him through waivers, figuring that nobody will claim him if he hasn't played.

[gilbert snyder]

you mentioned carlos lee might have a chance to be traded to the cardinals. who do you think they would trade

[Devin]

Man the Brewers need to start thinking like a Organization that wants to win. I think the Brewers are goods enough to compete with the Cards for the division. Yet all you hear about is Possible Carlos Lee trades, They have the potential to be the best Batting order in the division with 2-3rd best pitching.

[Kyle S]

Braves get Ryan Frell
Cards get Adam Dunn or Griffey Jr.
Cincy gets Anthony Reyes and John Thomson or Haracio Rameriez