Carpenter Injury Results Shape Cards' Approach

The Looper decision was strange indeed. I will say I am quite pleased with Mozeliak so far though and I'm fairly confident he has solid rationale for the decision. I just can't figure out what that rationale is though. Regardless of Carp's test results they need another starter. If his arm is still messed up they need 2 starters.

Idk what to make of Carpenter anymore, his arm seems to have fallen off just like Mulder's had.

More like his career is shaping up like Hampton's with us the last 6 years....

looper rationale

perhaps moz thought:

1) if carp was healthy he would rather spend the looper money on a closer (rotation of carp, waino, wellemeyer, lohse, pinhead)
2) if carp was not healthy he would need to get a pitcher better than looper

if you offer looper arbitration you have to plan as though he would accept.

use Ludwick as a centerpiece to get Peavy just throw in some A league arms to satisfy the Pads
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hahahahahahahaha.

Well in all seriousness, the Cards could probably compete for the services of Peavy if they're willing to make an offer around Ramus (and don't the Cards have a pretty good pitching prospect?) AND of course Peavy is willing to go to St. Louie.

Good news on Carp, a healthy Carpenter will be huge for the Cards

Carpenter and Mulder are apples and oranges. Last time I checked Mulder did not have 5 plus pitches and actually know how to pitch (the intangible stuff you can't be taught). Big difference. Give Carp the benefit of the doubt. He can still be a big contributor to this team.

If Greene and Miller are any indication, Mozeliak is probably targeting Brandon Lyon and Mark Grudzielanek as his closer and second base solutions.

Looper may have been awarded an $8 million salary in arbitration. A sandwich pick would be nice but it isn't worth giving the player (and his agent) that much leverage.

The Cardinals didn't offer him arbitration so they can choose to negotiate with Looper, Wolf, or anyone else on a level playing field.

Mo picked up Lohse on the cheap after his price dropped. Why get locked ito $8 million for Looper when you might have better options?

That makes more sense than hoping he signs with someone else for a snadwich pick.

Quoting the lowest salary Looper would have received makes even less sense.

Looper made $5.5 million last year. He would have to get at least a 20-percent raise, which is $6.6 million. His agent would have asked for at least $8 million.

If it actually went to arbitration, it's an either/or proposition. More than likely, they would have settled somewhere in the middle.

That being said, why get locked into a guy for somewhere around $7 million when you might be able to find equal or better value later on (perhaps, even with the same player)?

You seriously doubt it now, but they did it last year with Lohse.