The "window is closed" on the idea of the St. Louis Cardinals signing a free-agent shortstop, according to GM John Mozeliak. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that if the team needs to add a fallback option for the rehabbing Brendan Ryan, they'll explore the trade market rather than signing a free agent.
Given the lack of shortstops left available on the free agent market, we can assume that the GM's comments refer primarily to the team's interest in Felipe Lopez. Last we heard, the Cardinals were one of a handful of teams interested in the infielder, but Mozeliak's comments suggest that the club isn't likely to bring Lopez back to St. Louis. In 43 games for the Cardinals in 2008, Lopez hit a scorching .385/.426/.538.
Mozeliak added that the club should know more about Ryan's health by "the first or second week of March when he truly tests some things." We know that the Cards have a little money to spare, but it sounds like they might wait for more details on Ryan's recovery before deciding how to spend it.
They should trade Blake Hawksworth for Augie Ojeda.
Hawksworth is worth a lot more than Ojeda.
Felipe Lopez is still available..the Mets should just move in and grab him and bench Castillo..best thing they could do at this point
Completely agree. I think they shouldn’t have offer a few of their minor league deals and scraped together the money for Lopez. I know they have alot of money in Castillo, but if it is going to cost the team wins, what is more valuable?
The Cards should just give Greene a few weeks to play before they go out and trade more minor league pieces for a stopgap.
If Ryan is going to be out all or most of the year the year on the DL then they should go out and get someone but Greene should be able to hold down SS for a month or so if he is needed.
didn’t greene sign with the rangers? l
He’s talking about Tyler Greene. He was up in the big leagues for his fair share of games, I wasn’t impressed with anything execpt his defence.
I think that’s all you really need if Ryan isn’t going to be out long. Greene can field the position very well and has been a decent hitter the last two years in AAA so as long as he can add value with is glove and not totally kill you with his bat I think things will be ok until Ryan gets back. Its not like the Cards don’t have Pujols, Holliday and Ludwick driving in runs and Schumaker and Rasmus leading off already…
oh im sorry but yea i remember watching a few games when he played he maybe at a best a utility man. just isnt my morning right now lol
I would imagine Lugo will be the go to guy at SS.
Nick Punto maybe?
Please trade for Cristian Guzman from the Nats.
Presumably you’re a Nationals fan?
It would take Johan, Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Bay, And K-Roid to get Pujols. Hahaha.
and about 80 mil in cash? That deal doesn’t look so great to me
i guess when it comes to Trade and Pujols in the same sentence, there is no joking
My guess is that the Cardinals are not that worried about Ryan being ready for opening day. Ryan seems very confidend that he’ll be ready. Today’s (2/23) Post Dispatch article, titled “Ryan certain he’ll be ready for opening day,” seems to confirm this. Here is the link: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/8CCF28FCBC06EBE4862576D30015E42B?OpenDocument
A key quote in the Joe Straus article says “Ryan insisted Monday that he “absolutely” would be ready for an opening day assignment despite having surgery Feb. 9 to alleviate chronic inflammation in his throwing wrist.”
I don’t want to be overly confident here. If Ryan does happen to have to miss a little time at the beginning of the season, Julio Lugo and Tyler Greene should fill in just fine. There is something that Mo doesn’t like about Felipe Lopez. We all have our ideas but we may never know for sure. I don’t see Lopez being a Cardinal this year (or ever).