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tim815
Easy question.
Can Zach Duke be DFA’d while he’s rehabbing an injury he obtained while pitching for the team that wants to get him off their 40 Man roster due to his injury?
teufelshunde4
Would still have to pay him… Duke will go onto 60 day DL once ST starts..
fireboss
Most injured players can be outrighted to the minors during a period of time beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until reserve lists are filed in November, Dukes is a veteran and would elect free agency. The Cardinals would be responsible for the remainder of Duke’s contract.
Lanidrac
It’s too bad he was already given a guaranteed contract for 2017, otherwise they could just non-tender him.
calikid13
I like trading for Pollock but I’m interested to see if management surprises everyone with an even bigger fish. I have the feeling Mo is going to make a splash for once with Holliday leaving. He’s usually a low-risk operator but I feel like the Cubs winning puts pressure on him to break his model with one high-risk move.
teufelshunde4
Peralta was a HIGH RISK move.. IK most Cards fans are salty over MM getting an extension..
I trust Mo to build a solid team… 2016 team had plenty of talent… Just to many players had career worst seasons in 2016. Waino, Garcia, Rosie, Wacha and Lynn was injured for whole year..
Add some talent and clean up the fundamentals and Cards will compete again in 17
prestigeworldwide
Bigger fish than Pollock? So Trout or maybe McCutchen.
teufelshunde4
Trout isn’t going anywhere let alone STL
slider32
You can make a point that teams like the Cards, Mets, and Giants will be better off with players like Desmond and Fowler than a player like Cespedes. They can get both players for that price.
baseball10
Once again the Cards have tons of money available. After missing on Heyward and Price last year lets see if they spend a little this year
teufelshunde4
Like to see them go hard after Gurriel. That’s cash only… with the unknown penalties yet to be handed down..
Mo has flexibility to fill holes..
cardinalred
Getting Lourdes Gurriel would be an excellent start to the off season. Put him at 3rd on the field and 2nd in batting order. Would still have a lot of flexibility left to trade for a CF in leadoff spot.
Vedder80
Why? Where do you play Wong, Carpenter, Peralta, And Gyerko if they were to do this?
teufelshunde4
MM barely wants to play Wong as it is.. Wong has upside but needs to find his consistency at plate. Gurriel isn’t ML ready he would require seasoning at AA at least for a few months… Having to much talent isn’t a bad thing imo. idk if Cards are willing to spend enuf to secure Gurriel though. They are in a spot where they can deploy those assets to add high end talent though.
cardinalred
Wong should be the 2nd baseman for the next several years. Carpenter can play at 1st. Peralta is trade bait as his contract was front loaded and should be easier to move. Gyorko is a super utilty and can play anywhere except CF, but give him 3rd until Gurriel is ready. Garcia, Peralta, Adams become part of a trade for someone to keep CF warm until Bader arrives next year. 2018 is where the money from the new TV deal should be spent in FA, not this year.
Bill N
If you get rid of Adams, you lose your 1B defense and some good offense. Carp is lousy an any IF position and he wasn’t too hot with bat at the end of 2016 either. If he has to play – play him at 3B, Wong at 2B, Adams at 1B and Diaz at SS. Loss of Moss creates holes at LF, RF and 1B.
cardinalred
While I really like Big City, especially that HR against Kershaw in 2014 playoffs, to say he was better than Carp at 1st means that you didn’t compare their stats for 2016 (links below). Carp “can” play 1st, 2ndor 3rd base but should just focus on 1st. Jose Martinez is a serviceable 4th outfielder that does play 1st as well (he had 9 steals at Memphis too). Tommy Pham can play all 3 positions. So not a huge hole from Moss leaving. The more I look at Kiermaier, the more I like. He is a great defender in CF, gets on base, and had 21 steals (St Louis had 35 as a team with no one over 7). If they could get him and Casey Gillespie (should easily be a September call up for 1st base in 2017 and his job in 2018) I think the Cards could add a couple of W’s in the win column to possibly get in the playoffs.
Carp Stats – http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8090&position=2B/3B#fielding
Adams Stats – http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9393&position=1B#fielding
bucknerforhall
Fowler would be a coup for them
& hurt the Cubs
hes going to be looking for 5 years @ $16 mil though
in this market.
teufelshunde4
Mo wont surrender the pick for Fowler.. Fowler isnt worth it…
Vedder80
That would help the Cubs. They would create a spot for Almora, and get a pick while the Cardinals would lose a pick. Add to that the fact that whoever signs Fowler is going to regret the contract as speed does not age well and he is on the wrong side of 30.
Bill N
Check his stats. About equal to Grich.
cardfan2011
I would love to see Pollock in a Cardinals uniform, but I don’t think the D-Backs want to trade him. Blackmon is an improvement in offense, but defense isn’t an improvement, which is what Mo said he wanted to improve on. Mo usually goes for a guy that’s not even on my radar, so I can’t wait to see who he gets
prestigeworldwide
What would it take to get Pollock? Weaver, Flaherty and Siegrist?
cardfan2011
That looks like a good deal to me. I’m not sure what Arizona wants, do they want pitchers or hitters?
prestigeworldwide
A young catcher for Castillo’s replacement next year(kelly) and Bullpen help. Everyone could use some Starting Pitching.
Vedder80
Kelly is Yadis replacement. He isn’t going to be in any trades.
Lanidrac
How about Gyorko, Garcia, and a minor prospect? I don’t think Garcia has much value (nor is worth that $12M salary), but a lot people seem to think otherwise.
Bill N
You gotta be kidding.
cardfan2011
No Im not. Not that I have any idea why you’re saying that cuz you don’t specify what you mean by that
justacubsfan
I predict the cardinals get Cespedes or Fowler. My gut says they go big after Cubs win. Sign Cespedes to a 4 year 96 mil deal.
teufelshunde4
Not the Cards model to pull reactive moves. They strive for win now and win later moves.
No doubt they have to address holes and find another core player to go with what is on hand already… idk exactly who Mo is going to target… wild ass guess really..
Bill N
uh huh
mattsmattedin
Another off season with a lot of “dry powder.” I really hope Mo doesn’t go after the typical “low hanging fruit.” Need an impact move. Need a #3 hitter.
That being said, I fully expect no major transactions and a narrative of, “Lynn coming back from TJ is like a major pitcher acquisition.”
Lanidrac
Well, that last statement isn’t wrong. Still, I fully expect them to add a second tier outfileder along the same lines as the Peralta and Leake signings the last two offseasons, whether by trade or free agency.
CardinalsNation1
Go sign Ian Desmond and Cespedes! Or if they’re looking to add speed and defense, sign Desmond and Fowler
New Law Era
Yep, I agree with this one. Probably the combo of Desmond and Fowler makes more sense. But in order to do that, they’d need to shed some salary for this season.. Likely the ones to go would be Peralta and Garcia.
Question though – do the Cardinals move Diaz from SS to 3B? None of the defensive metrics were high on his play at SS. Could explain why this groundball starting rotation gave up so many runs this season.
Lanidrac
Why would they need to sign two outfielders? Grichuk is still a good starting outfielder who is still developing and hit extremely well after returning from his second stint in AAA. In fact, he carried the offense in September.
As for Diaz, I personally agree that Peralta makes more sense at SS, but the Cardinals seem to think he’s only good as a 3B now. Hopefully, Diaz’s defense will get better as he develops.
Bill N
Peralta has no range. Diaz numbers are for the whole season and don’t allow for vast improvement; plus his injury affected him for a bit. He is the SS of our future.
New Law Era
@Lanidrac – I suggested Desmond to put him at SS. Anything is better than Diaz or Peralta manning SS. If that were to happen, either Gyorko or Peralta would have to get traded – likely Peralta since he’s making more money and wasn’t as productive as Gyorko.
I’m hoping Diaz improves at SS but this rotation is so reliant on the groundball to get outs. Not having vacuum defense behind them is out of the question and I don;t know if it’s a wise investment to keep rolling the dice on Diaz’ defense at short.
timyanks
desmond strikes out too much. cespedes resigns with ny
nmahan1984
ive never looked at Cespedes as an option fot the cards but would he be worth the 1st rd pick?
B_MAC
Deal Garcia to Atl for Mallex Smith. Add and subtract spare parts from both sides to even out contract and percieved trade value. Sign Cespedes and Cards are complete with depth to trade as season progresses.
AddisonStreet
Why would Atlanta ever make that trade? silliness.
B_MAC
not sillyness.. have clearly stated wanting 2 veteran starting pitchers.. I am a Braves fan and if you think Mallex alone is enough to land Garcia then you are seriously overvaluing mallex and undervaluing Garcia. if only mallex for garcia it would be a steal for atl
BoldyMinnesota
I almost did a spit take when I read that proposal
jboll74
I hope the Cardinals will shock everyone(for once) and make a blockbuster trade
Longoria and Kiermaier
For
Adams,Weaver,Gomber,Sierra,Peralta(if Tampa wants him) and other prospects
New Law Era
…
cardfan2011
I doubt that would be enough. You’re talking about trading for a Gold Glove CF and franchise third baseman, I think Reyes would need to be in that deal
New Law Era
Reyes is about as untouchable as they get. Has the makes of a lights out pitcher. Hopefully out of the rotation else the pen.
cardfan2011
Exactly that’s why I think it’s unlikely. If they wanted to get just Kiermaier, maybe
Bill N
Why not trade the whole team for team. Are you sure you know baseball?
gojira15
Can’t see this roster even making the Cubs check their rearview mirror. Cardinals have great depth but no top-flight players, no star power. Beyond Tsunamy, anyway.
cardfan2011
They haven’t really had any top-flight players for years, and yet have still been successful. Even if they added one in the off-season, one still wouldn’t be enough to compete at the level of the Cubs, who have multiple young stars. Any way they win will do
gojira15
I disagree. Wainwright, Molina, and Holliday certainly fit the bill as top-flight players. They just declined as a group the last couple of years.
cardfan2011
They were good ballplayers, but i don’t know that they were superstars the way say, Bryant or Rizzo are.
JFactor
You don’t need star power in baseball. Balanced teams win all the time
gojira15
The Royals last year are the only possible recent champion I can think of that didn’t have much star power. Playing in Kansas City probably had a little to do with that.
Besides, I’m not just talking about players with notable names, I mean All-Star power, team leaders that take the team and carry it. Adams, Wong, Peralta, Gyorko are all useful players who can get hot and carry a team for a week maybe, but the season lasts half the year. Someone like Piscotty or Grichuk would have to step up and become a star.
Lanidrac
This is mostly accurate, except for three things:
First, Wong is currently ahead of Gyorko on the depth chart. Gyorko has a lot of power, but he’s an even more one-dimensional hitter than Grichuk and plays below average defense. Meanwhile, Wong is still young and developing and played much better both offensively and defensively after his stint in AAA this season (plus, there’s that contact, too).
Second, the Cardinals expect to get a lot more than just “something” from Lynn. He’ll be nearly a year and a half removed from his TJS once next season begins, plenty of time to get back into the rotation, perhaps even without the usual dead arm period experienced by most TJS patients upon initially returning.
Third, don’t you realize that Rosenthal was pitching hurt for the first half of the season?! He was excellent once he returned in September, so there’s no reason to think he won’t be back in the late inning mix next season, perhaps even competing with Oh in Spring Training to try and win back the closer’s job. The Cards do still need some bullpen help, though. I don’t want to see Broxton pitching in that many close games again. He was decent but not that good.
Wainofan
Leake, weaver, Bader for pollock?
cardfan2011
Leake has a no-trade clause 🙁
Wainofan
Right and he’d waive it to go to Arizona as that was his first choice to play
cardfan2011
Oh right haha. If they still want him
willreily
Don’t forget Jackie Bradley Jr. Yes he had an emergence last year, but he fell off the map after the All-Star break. He had a .926 OPS before, and a .727 OPS after the break. I think his offense is somewhere in between there.
But Dombroski and the Red Sox FO may want to capitalize on his production. He’s 26, but will turn 27 in April 2017. Now might be a good time to entertain offers, and see what they’d get. If STL offered Jaime Garcia, Trevor Rosenthal, Jack Flaherty, that may be enough to get the conversation started. I’m sure the Red Sox would press for more, like Wacha instead of Garcia/Rosenthal, and they may be right.
Regardless, I think they’d match up on a trade.
gojira15
Seems sensible. Sox could be looking at any of STL’s high-power, low-experience bullpen arms like Tuivailala and a rotation piece like Wacha. Could even make sense for these teams to swap Garcia for Buchholz. Betts is ready made to take over center in JBJ’s absence.
HOUShadows
I think the Cards should look at the FA market Cespedes, Fowler, Desmond, Gomez, or even Jon Jay they all make sense in a way and they could possibly sign 2 of them. Cardinals shouldn’t be throwing around guys like Rosenthal and Wacha who are both young just had down years.
mpwr2
The most ready match for a center fielder seems to be Miami, which NEEDS two starters, and was shopping Marcell Ozuna last offseason, and is reportedly shopping Ozuna and Derek Dietrich for pitching this offseason.
The Cardinals have Jaime Garcia, Michael Wacha, Tim Cooney, Marco Gonzales, Mike Mayers, Tyler Lyons available, all of whom should be able to contribute to the starting rotation in Miami, plus all minor league pitchers not named Weaver or Hudson (at this point, I count Reyes as on the MLB roster next year).
If you move Ozuna to left, keep Grichuk in center, and have Piscotty in right, you have a pretty solid outfield.
As for Luke Weaver, he’s pretty close to untouchable at this point as he is the heir apparent for Lance Lynn after this season. Only way they deal him is for an upgrade at pitcher (like Quintana).