UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 3:18pm: Krasovic has learned that the Cards sent $2MM over to the Padres in the Edmonds deal. Kevin Towers apparently pushed for more salary relief but settled there.
FROM 12-14-07 at 10:32pm:
According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have agreed to trade minor league third baseman David Freese to the Cardinals for Jim Edmonds. The Cards will also send more than a million in cash to offset some Edmonds’ $8MM salary.
Freese is mildly interesting for a prospect who’ll be 25 in April. He’s yet to reach Double A but he did draw 69 walks this year. Baseball America says there’s a chance he’s moved off third eventually (and notes that he’s done some catching in an instructional league).
Edmonds is an OK one-year play for the Padres. He dipped to a .325 OBP and .403 SLG last year as a 37 year-old, and only got into 117 games due to back/leg/groin/hamstring/shoulder/toe injuries. It still might make sense to let Scott Hairston handle the lefties. Edmonds seemingly waived his no-trade clause to go to San Diego.
Joe Strauss says the Cards will first consider internal options in center. Top prospect Colby Rasmus is 21 and hasn’t seen Triple A yet. Rick Ankiel is also a possibility. Guys like Mike Cameron, Kenny Lofton, Corey Patterson, Nate McLouth, or Coco Crisp could be external options.
Viva El Birdos weighs in on this deal; check it out.
