St. Louis Cardinals Rumors

Odds & Ends: Hardy, Tejada, Cardinals, Mariners

Here's a few links to close out the night... Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe says that the Red Sox "had been engaging with the Brewers in on-and-off discussions involving (J.J.) Hardy since the trading deadline." Massarotti's source says the Brewers wanted either Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard, but Boston was only willing to part with Michael Bowden. MLB'com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Astros' GM Ed Wade said “At this point, we’re prepared to commit to Tommy Manzella playing shortstop," but noted that Miguel Tejada could return as a third baseman. Matthew Leach of MLB.com takes a look at some...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Notes: Holliday, DeRosa, Smoltz

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest on the Cardinals... Goold feels that the Cardinals "will keep tabs on the Jason Bay sweepstakes even while focusing on Matt Holliday." Like most Scott Boras clients, Holliday figures to reach the open market. The Cards have yet to make a formal extension offer; Holliday was one of 79 free agents to file yesterday. In another article, Goold had a nice look at eight potential Holliday suitors. Goold says Mark DeRosa "expressed a wish to test the open market," and the Cardinals beat writer expects the Cubs to make an...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals, Boras Discuss Holliday Deal?

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "there are suggestions that the Cardinals discussed a 6-year, $96 million framework with [Matt] Holliday's agent, Scott Boras." The note is buried in a chat that took place earlier this afternoon and is barely addressed beyond the words above, so giving it too much credence might be irresponsible. That said, Strauss is as close to the Cardinals' thinking as anyone, and it's at least worth talking about. The figure -- six years, $96MM -- probably won't come close to getting a deal done. Boras, in all likelihood, will want more years...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Lilly, Iwamura, Beckett, Marlins, Dunn, Cubs

Here's some links to check out while waiting for what might be the final start in the great careers of Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez... Ted Lilly had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder today, and the Cubs expect to have him back in their rotation "within the month of April," according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Might the Cubbies look for a little extra rotation insurance this offseason? MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch mentions that the Pirates "began to show heavy interest" in Akinori Iwamura back in September. GM Neal Huntington confirmed that they had several scouts watch Aki after he came...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Release Brad Thompson

The Cardinals released righty Brad Thompson today, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The arbitration-eligible Thompson would've been a likely non-tender in mid-December anyway. Thompson, 28 in January, posted a 4.84 ERA in 80 innings this year (eight starts, 24 relief appearances). He's typically shown strong control and home run prevention but a weak strikeout rate. His best asset is his ability to get groundballs - 52.7% of the time this year. If Thompson has a successful '10 season for his new club, that team could elect to retain him for '11 as an arbitration-eligible player.   Continue Reading

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Cafardo On Pujols, Mauer, Holliday, Damon

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new column up, and he addresses a few topics of interest from around the majors. Some highlights.... Cafardo examines the crossroads that superstars Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer will soon face with their current clubs. He passes on this quote from one baseball official: "I think Mauer has a better chance of staying in Minnesota than Pujols in St. Louis. Mauer is from Minnesota, while you have to give Pujols an A-Rod type contract and I’m not sure the Cardinals would do it." His source thinks that the best way for the...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Gaston, Cardinals, Rays

Happy Halloween! Remember to drive carefully tonight. Let's check out some links... As expected, Cito Gaston announced Saturday that he will step down as Blue Jays manager after the 2010 season and begin a four-year tenure as an organizational consultant. "I think maybe I can probably help the organization as far as being an advisor," Gaston said (via MLB.com's Jordan Bastian). "It's something that I want to do in my life -- just step back and maybe do something different besides manage." Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes the Cardinals are deserving of the title "Franchise of the Decade"...   Continue Reading

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Pujols Hopes To Stay In St. Louis

Albert Pujols surprised many, including the Cardinals front office, when he said he wasn't "desperate" to sign a long-term deal earlier this month. Now, Pujols tells ESPN radio in St. Louis that he wants to be a Cardinal for life, he just doesn't see the need to obsess over his contract yet (transcription from Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). "You know the Cardinals need to worry about signing Matt Holliday and all the free agents," Pujols said. "There's no rush for me to sign right now, you know? But if they come tomorrow and say 'Albert, you know,...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Astros, Smoltz, Hermida

Some links to read for Thursday morning... The AP reports (via the Miami Herald) that the Seibu Lions won the rights to negotiate with top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi. Another top young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, hit 100 mph repeatedly in his third AFL start, according to ESPN.com's Jason Grey. Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says fans and media members need to hold Astros owner Drayton McLane accountable, and says it wasn't GM Ed Wade's fault that managerial candidate Manny Acta signed with the Indians. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that the Cardinals still have interest in...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Mets, McCourts, Cardinals

A few more links to peruse, including some fascinating news out of Queens and L.A.... Sources have informed SI.com's Jon Heyman that the re-signing of longtime Mets scout Sandy Johnson is an indication of the "diminishing faith" in general manager Omar Minaya. Johnson was apparently talked into returning because of the stability he brings to the front office. He had been considering retirement. According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, Frank McCourt revealed in his divorce filing Wednesday that he fired his wife, Jamie, as Dodgers CEO because she had an affair with her personal driver and "undermined...   Continue Reading

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