Cardinals Interested In Julio
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are interested in Diamondbacks reliever Jorge Julio. Joe Strauss thinks the Cards would send a lefty reliever to Arizona.
The Cardinals currently have five southpaws on the roster aside from Mark Mulder: Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson, Randy Keisler, Chris Narveson, and Ricardo Rincon. Viva El Birdos wonders why the Cardinals don't just keep Braden Looper in the pen.
Last time we checked in on Julio, the Marlins and Giants were battling for him. Arizona apparently doesn't want to pay much if any of his $3.6MM salary. The Marlins might convince them to if they offer up Yusmeiro Petit. Personally I think Florida should just use internal closing options.
Troy Cate provides some depth there as well.
As far as Looper goes it's just a question of not getting left-handers out as a starter, or in a higher leverage situation. It doesn't really matter, although I can't see where Franklin and Thompson aren't just as good, or better, options for the fifth spot.
Whatever, it's only a fifth starter anyway.
Posted by: plh903 | March 20, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Boo Phil. 5th starter is more important than you are giving credit for. I hope, as a Cubs fan, Looper gets it.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | March 21, 2007 at 10:15 PM