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By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
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DerekJeterDan
With Adams, Carpenter, and Kozma I really like the Cardinals young depth.
Brian 46
lolzma
cards2WS
Even though Skip doesn’t appear to have a real fit on this team, I don’t see him traded. His real value comes from the clubhouse.
stl_cards16
Kind of shocking Big Mac is leaving for the Dodgers. I really don’t put too much stock into hitting coaches. But when the offense has been one of the best since he has been here, I’m a bit disappointed.
teufelshunde4
Id like to see what it would take to pry Jed Lowrie away from the Astro’s.. Has a couple years of control left and is a switch hitter with power and plays good defense at SS, 2b and some 3b. Stro’s in full rebuild mode might not ask for a ton in return…
If Lowrie to expensive then why not Macier Izturis? He is a free agent who can play both MI positons. Can steal a bag once in a while and knows how to play the game right.. Shouldnt be expensive… Reminds me of Punto alot….
Bryce a
Lowrie would be an interesting choice. He’s has a history of injuries but put up good numbers last year with the Astros who aren’t going anywhere the next 2 years. Luhnow knows the Cards system well and knows that they have some high upside players such as Blair and Sanchez that had an off year last year and have been passed up but still posses top 100 prospect skills.
Andy_B
This team needs a short stop, it’s the only hole we have. If there’s a way to get Andrus I’d love to see it happen.
Nate Wade
I know that Allen Craig’s natural position is 1B but why couldn’t he play RF. I mean that would open it up for Matt Adams at first. He did secure our last out in last year’s World Series in LF. Our lineup in two years would be stacked (if we secured a SS).
2B Wong
CF Taveras
LF Holliday
1B Adams
RF Craig
C Molina
3B Freese (or other young 3B in the farm)
SS ______ (dream that Matt Carpenter could pull it off by then)
P
Not bad at all and would be rather balanced lineup.
danh35
I don’t think it’s certain that Taveras can handle centerfield, he’ll be in RF and Craig will be at 1B.
Nate Wade
I don’t know much about Taveras fielding abilities. Does he lack speed or range? Plus Jay has done a great job just not sure about his stick long term.
Aaron Williams
TAveras is very athletic but from what I’ve read doesn’t read the ball as well as a CF needs to off the bat! His Arm is playable in RF but he is a future LF in the making with a hell of a bat!!!
Eric Vossmeyer
The 2014 lineup almost certainly includes Taveras in RF, barring massive AAA regression next season. The possibility of that, added with the need for OF/1B depth, is why I think Adams stays a Cardinal and likely contributes this coming season.
burnboll
David Freese is exactly where Cardinals want him. Keep him for a year or two, then let him walk. Cards will have the best of him, and for a very affordable price.
Absolutely do not extend him, unless he accepts a very team friendly contract for 4-5 years. No point in it.
Let other teams pay him 10+ million a year. He’s worth it, but don’t make it the Cards be the team to pay him off.
I was wondering why this list of contract players do not include guys like Tavares, Rosenthal, Shelby Miller and Kolten Wong, guys who are likely to be part of the the everyday squad next year?
Cardinals looks absolutely loaded, both on offence and on pitching, the one question mark being short stop, I think Rafael Furcal could give it a decent go for at least a half season.
Could Kolten Wong be an option for SS and Carpenter manning 2nd base?
I think it’s always preferably to look within the own organization to find the right players.
If you can’t do that, look for old overlooked vets stuck in bad spots, kind of like Scutaro with the Red Sox (not a SS, but you get the idea).
That’s how Cards were able to get Berkman, who IMO is one of the greatest steals in a very long time. As is Beltran. And both those players ended up in St Louis. The front office in St Louis is doing something right no doubt.
If Cardinals are looking for help externally for a SS, it would be interesting to see perhaps Alex Gonzalez on a one year deal, and then getting Kolten Wong trying to play the position.
I don’t know. As long as Furcal can play, there is no need to get additional players for Cardinals, but that’s a big question mark.
But Cardinals, right now, have probably the best looking team of all.
I think they’ll win it all next year.
WeDontNeedToFinPracticeRANDY
Carpenter at second would be a circus. First thing first, gotta sure up the pen.
jimmybcool
I don’t see Wong trying out SS. Not happening. And Carpenter playing 2B is at most a super utility thing to get his bat in the lineup a bit more often.
And many names listed here as being major factors in 2013 are further off. Including Tavaras who while I am high on his bat I do not see supplanting Jay in CF. Look, defense matters too and having a REAL SS-2B tandem and CFer are important. Carp isn’t a SS or 2B. Tavaras “might” be able to play CF but it is premature to project him there. And moving Wong to SS is not going to happen.
2013:
Jay CF
Beltran RF
Holliday LF
Craig 1B
Molina C
Freese 3B
Descalso/Skip/Carp 2B (Wong after AS break?)
Furcal if healthy SS (if not ???)
Rotation not as settled as some think:
Waino
Carp
Westbrooke
Garcia/Kelly/Lynn/Rosenthal/???
Perhaps someone like Miller or Rosenthal force themselves into the equation.
What all this means is the Cards NEED a SS if Furcal is not healthy. Kozma’s September was nice but his career #s indicate it was an outlier and he is not the everyday answer. And Descalso was exposed there on an everyday basis. But if we do not trade for one he is likely the it failing a healthy Furcal. I feel SS is a weakness given Furcal’s health but one the Cards will probably enter the season living with hoping to scarmble to the AS break and find an answer at the trade deadline. A LH releiver is a must as is a RH hitting OFer with some pop off the bench.