Olney: Cards Interested In Shawn Green

In his blog this morning, Buster Olney mentioned that he’d heard that Shawn Green might be a match with the Cardinals.  I think there had been rumblings to this effect, but haven’t seen much in print until now.

At .296/.354/.447 this season, Green falls below league average in the NL (.277/.360/.477).  Still, he’s pretty close and represents an improvement from what the Cards have thrown in left field this season.  On the other hand, Green may not represent any improvement over John Rodriguez or Chris Duncan. 

All of this would be moot if Green won’t waive his no-trade clause to come to St. Louis.  Perhaps as an incentive Green would require his new team to guarantee his $10MM option for 2008.  Regardless, he’ll make $9.5MM next year in his age 34 season.  Yikes – certainly doesn’t sound like Jocketty’s style.  Various Phillies’ outfielders may also be in play.

The Cards are fifth in the league in OPS and seventh in ERA.  They would benefit from an upgrade on either side of the ball, but Green probably isn’t an upgrade.  According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cards may make one last bid for Dontrelle Willis.  That would be an upgrade.