Cardinals Rumors: Pujols, Payroll, Needs

haven't the Cards been holding out on Carpenter for like 3 years...................when do you just say ya know what we dont want that burden anymore? I mean, I know he WAS good but c'mon....something really off topic....don't you hate when people post in here and type with numbers? example; h3y d0 u th1nk th@t Puj01s w1LL b3 tr@d3d? HATE IT!! o well

Trade Pujols? Let me guess have the Yankees trade for him. right? Even if they were to consider entertaining that idea you wuold never get the value what hes really worth. Look at this year the Cards had no business being in the race for as long as they were. He carries teams and is immovable.

two guys the cardinals will pursue, kelly johnson and boof bonser. just seems like they are the type of players the cardinals focus on.

arod13: Yes, because that is the best idea for the Cardinals. Let me guess, Kennedy, Melky, Eric Duncan, and some AA reliever for Pujols would be your package... Enough said. This subject does not deserve any merit what so ever. Next!

MetsFan5_7: I don't see the Cards wanting a player of his age and salary. If this was Castillo of 3 years ago, maybe. But after last season, I doubt it. I think the Cards will try to trade Ankiel or Ludwick, but only for young (not amazing, just young and talented) pitching or young MI.

The Cardinals are one of the teams that seem to have some of their better prospects blocked at the Major League level. They could stand pat, and wait out contracts like Glaus, Ankiel, and Molina, or they have the opportunity to be very aggressive on the trade front.

I don't buy that they aren't going to be in the running for a frontline starting pitcher, and I consider them a sleeper for any of the aforementioned pitchers that may hit the block. I believe the Cards have the pieces to attain one of the Peavy, Cain, Greinke trio if they were available.

It would mean parting ways with uber-prospect Colby Rasmus, but it might provide the youth and stability the staff needs.

Hello! First post.

Since Ankiel will be a free agent, and Ludwick had a great season, then I think both of them can wield in a bunch of prospects. My guess is that Ankiel goes in mid-season, if they are out of contention.

During the season, Dave Duncan was trying to convince LaRussa to set up Kyle McLellan as a starter, much like they did with Adam Wainwright.

Whaddya think?

No way do the Cardinals trade Pujols, that's a non starter. They'll do everything possible to keep him from even getting close to free agency. Just a nonsensical topic to even think about.

The Cards should look to deal someone like Duncan and try to pick up some relief help they're looking for. He has to be worth a Loogy type doesn't he?

They should also look seriously at someone like Furcal, he would definitely help them and he'd score a ton of runs hitting in front of Pujols. They need to get serious about moving away from the Kennedy/Izturis types if they want to be more than competitors in the Central. It's not an easy division anymore. The Brewers are good and seem to have an idea about what they're doing, some people think the Reds are going to be good, and maybe someday they will be, and the Cubs are probably the best team in the NL. Heck, even the Astros are descent, though with Ed Wade running the show I'm sure they'll sink to his level soon enough.

The Cards need to spend wisely, if they do they could be right there with the Cubs/Brewers again next year at the end of the season.

I've heard so much about Coby Rasmus down in Memphis; its like he's the second coming of Lou or Stan. I hope I get to see him with birds and bat on his chest this year.
Jake Peavy would be an exceptional pickup, Furcal and Greene..... take your pick. Both gloves are fantastic and they both have some pop.
NL Central is coming on STRONG, we'll stay competitive don't worry. I'm more interested in the Brewers off season then the Cubs because they're the Cubs. Always the lovable (hatebale) losers.

RyanGodfrey,

Maturity isn't your strong suit, is it? Thats alright, maybe you might finish in 3rd this year...

Morneau,
I can't see the Cards dealing Perez at all...maybe Glaus, but not the future of a bullpen that needs a closer as of 2 years ago.

i also don't see perez being moved, nor do i see larussa handing the third base job over to a youngster.

there is a log jam in the upper minors at the hot corner, and many of us are betting freese or craig will be moved.

i thibk a bonser for freese trade works really well for both sides.

The thing about trading for Freese though, from Minnesota's standpoint anyway, is that they have Danny Valencia and Luke Hughes both playing very well in their minors as well. While Hughes could end up as a 2B in the Majors, Valencia is a third baseman all the way, and I think the better play would be to just bring in a proven bat as a 1-2 year stopgap for Valencia/Hughes.

Minnesota can be serious contenders in 2009, and while I love David Freese, don't get me wrong, I don't know that he necessarily makes the most sense for the Twins' plans if they want to be a player in the AL Central next year.

However, if a Bonser/Freese deal happened, you wouldn't hear a word of complaint from me. :)

As for Perez, I'd be surprised to see him moved probably, but truthfully it was a lazy post on my part and I didn't feel like looking up any other names in the Cards' bullpen. Perez was obviously the first one I could think of, though it seems to be the Cards trading him would be the equivalent of us trading Jose Mijares or Pat Neshek (in other words... not happening).

while i see your point about Valencia, cost controlled depth is never a bad thing. i'm also not sure that freese isn't going to be better in the short and long term.

i don't see st louis really dealing anything but outfielders from their big league roster.

is breslow a redundant part of mn's roster, or is he someone they plan to keep around?

I wouldn't really want Hu. I'd rather try to pick up Greene from San Diego. I tend to think he'd be great in front of Pujols. They want to dump him anyway.
I really wonder if LaRussa would really be against a young guy at third. Is so, then he really is the close minded manager some say he is. I really want to give some of these young guys a chance to play. If he's not willing to change with the times, then it is time to move on.

Very true. I didn't realize it was that low. I knew he only hit .215 or so......I was thinking along the lines of his potential production. Your point is certianly valid though, and you are right, he probably would be a waste in front of Pujols.

Greene was just awful all the way around last year, but generally when he's away from that park he hits for a decent average which inflates his OBP to acceptable levels. That said, he's not a guy I'd hit first or second either.

He played Pujols because Bonilla got hurt. It's well known that is the reason Pujols even made the club out of spring training. Tatis did have 500 AB's before coming to the Cards and Polanco played in 45 and 88 games his first two years. It's a non-issue with me really. He manages the way he wants to, but baseball has changed alot and I think he has to make more of an effort to adapt.

7 spot for Greene in front of the pitcher seems like an ideal spot for his numbers.

That's fiction.

"4/1/2001 11:05 am ET

Pujols in, Gilkey out, Ankiel to start
Mabry's fate depends on Bonilla's health
By Derek M. Glanz
stlcardinals.com

SEATTLE, Wash.--The Cardinals will purchase the contract of rookie Albert Pujols and add the 21-year-old to their 25-man Opening Day roster.

John Mabry's fate depends on Bobby Bonilla's health. The team has not made a decision on whether it will place Bonilla, suffering from a hamstring injury, on the disabled list. That decision will likely come tomorrow. If he is not activated, Mabry will be added to the club."

They replaced Gaetti, a 39 year old vet, with Tatis while he was 23 and hadn't done jack in the bigs yet. He had some playing time with the Rangers, but that's beside the point. LaRussa replaced the rat with upside and it worked out.

Similar to Polanco, Freese will likely get some time next year, and if he's the best option in 2010 he'll play 3B (I hope he isn't). That's how LaRussa has always been.

plh,
Doesn't that just say that they would have put him on the roster either way? That doesn't have to mean that he would have played him...does it?

Basically he's not stupid and when Pujols came in out of no where as the best hitter in camp, nobody was going to keep him out of the lineup. All things equal, LaRussa may prefer a veteran, but he'll put the best players on the field, especially if it's a HOF talent.

any chance the birds bring back grudzy for 2b rather than lopez. One year 2.5 mil for grudzy and if you trade for Khalil Green that is small amount of the remaining budget. Green has shown the 25 hr pop from a middle infield spot which is nice.

Any chance we can swing a deal with the Yankees to pick up Cano for second?

"I used to love it when he played all over the field. I actually still believe that Pujols could play 3rd very well. He and ARod are probably the best two players in the game right now...but I'm not sure there would be as much question if Pujols was playing 3rd...he is an awesome talent to watch."

I would worry about Pujols really blowing out his elbow if he played 3B or the OF. As it is now, he picks his spots for aggressive throws from 1B, which luckily are not needed all that often. Not to say he was a poor defender, because he was a good defender at every position he played.

As for A-Rod and Pujols, there is simply no comparison. Pujols is the better player in every way imaginable, except that A-Rod has more speed. Also, Manny is and always has been a better hitter than A-Rod.

"Probably true, but his defense takes him a notch below these two in my book."

A-Rod is merely average as a fielder and Manny is better than most give him credit for.