The Cubs and Reds agreed to swap left-handed pitchers today in a deal that sends reliever Sean Marshall to Cincinnati for starter Travis Wood and two minor leaguers. Here are more notes from the NL Central…
- A big bidder for Prince Fielder could emerge, but it now seems that the first baseman’s suitors are waiting for his asking price to drop significantly, tweets ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. I don’t expect the Brewers to re-sign Fielder, even if his asking price — a ten-year deal — falls significantly.
- B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest.com makes the case that the Cardinals should sign Yadier Molina to an extension. The backstop is set to hit free agency after the 2012 season.
- The Pirates had interest in Derrek Lee earlier in the offseason, but are now said to be a long shot for him, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Lee, an Excel Sports Management client, doesn’t necessarily fit in Pittsburgh now that the Pirates have traded for Casey McGehee.
molina definitely needs an extension.
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Definitely needs an extension.
The Cardinals have to be aware of the dreaded ‘mystery’ team that has been snatching up players for years. Once they make an appearance, the cost skyrockets and can the Cards compete against an endless supply of cash headed his way? I’m expecting the announcement that ‘mystery’ team has offered Fielder a 10-year contract worth 254M, just to keep fans tuned into this site and Boras frothing at the mouth in anticipation.
We need to lock him up THIS year. Preferably in ST. If he hits free agency all hell will break loose. To many teams could use a Molina on their team. Yadier of course.
If he hits free agency he is gone.
45/4 would be fair. Cards can’t lose another face.
Especially an excellent defensive catcher who gives you roughly 750-800 OPS yearly.
He is definitely one of the few exciting catchers still in the game. I played catcher growing up, and there is nothing more exciting than watching him throw behind a batter to pick a runner off. He’s just a beast behind the plate
I played catcher as well, and how these guys do it 140+ games in a season is beyond me. Personally hate the Cardinals, but I just can’t hate on Yadi’s ability/production/neck tattoo
I agree. I hate the Cards, but I love myself a Molina.
With Pujols getting 10, why wouldn’t the younger Prince ask for 10?
Pujols won’t eat his contract.
“With Pujols getting 10, why wouldn’t the younger Prince ask for 10”
Probably because GM’s are old enough to remember his dad, who Jr has the same body as and was pretty much finished as a useful player by the time he was 33YO, unlike fans here who have a strong feeling have no clue about Cecil and keep clamoring for their team to waste gobs of money for this blimp.
Hendry and Minaya even wouldn’t have even fallen for the Boras 10 year line and really doubt they would fall for a 6-7 year deal either. Just go dig up some old videos of Fielders dad throughout his career and see how it mirror’s Jr.. That body of Jr is going to turn even more huge in all the wrong ways soon.. 5 years is a colossal waste.
A 3 year deal for him I could see, even @20m, but any more is trouble waiting to happen.
Actually Cecil’s body type was less extreme at Prince’s age. He was much taller and had about the same or less weight in his late 20’s.
It was the point of it mostly. Remember cecil well and the guy was huge and not exactly known for being agile around the bag even close at 30ish.
Cecil should have taken ‘roids.
“With Pujols getting 10, why wouldn’t the younger Prince ask for 10? ”
…best Albert at his worst has proven to be better than Prince at his best.
Pujols WORST 3 seasons: 6.9, 5.8 and 5.4 WAR
Fielder’s BEST 3 seasons: 6.1. 5.2, and 3.8 WAR
Nobody wants an obese player, who is already a bad baserunner and a bad fielder on a 10 year deal. I hope someone besides the M’s sign him.
I second this.
Better obese than morbidly obese. That’s what mom always said.
STL has to offer Molina an extension. If he rejects it, then they know where they stand early and can make plans to replace him. Which I anticipate happening. He’ll sign with the Angels.
Fielder: I’d give him no more than 6 years at $130MM
If Derrek Lee isn’t available, I heard that Garrett Jones might be available to play first. I know the response of he can’t hit left handers exists, but if you don’t play him against left handers, how will he hit them?
Jones was awful last year against lefties, hitting just .147/.181/.279
Problem is, his current platoon partner McGehee hit .168/.228/.185 against lefties last year.
As the lineup sits right now, Neil Walker is likely the cleanup hitter next year. Putting a Lee or Pena in at cleanup, the lineup looks a lot better.
True he did hit .147 against lefties last year, but the sample size is too small, a little over 50 AB’s. A few years ago he had 6 homeruns (against some of the best lefties in the league) in about 80 AB’s…so does that mean he can hit lefties? McGehee just flat out sucked last year and couldn’t hit anything, not even a parked car. We’ll hope he gets cured because the year before he hit over .337 against lefties starters. Didn’t Matt Diaz hit lefties well too (not last year)? The stats aren’t always indicative of what could actually happen if the sample size is not there.
I guess what I am getting at is if you don’t get experience doing something, you aren’t going to get better. I have a kid in kindergarten who comes home with his name on the drawings. The name is usually spelled abstractly with large letters and letters spelled backward. Does this mean he’ll never be able to write and should be kept home in a cage? No. My kid needs practice and he’ll get better. Place Garrett in front of lefties and he will get better too.
As for Lee, he’s not coming back. Hurdle seemed to think so during PirateFest, but a mutual relationship simply isn’t there. Maybe Pena? But I think the Pirates are content with getting 15-20 HR power production across the lineup as opposed to a big power hitter who can ding 30-40. As someone who watched the Pirates quite a bit last year, I don’t think you’ll see a prototypical lineup. Hurdle liked to shake it up a bit and use whomever was hot in the middle. So we saw Walker, Cutch, Jones and Alvarez. This year, you might see anyone in the 4 slot, even Barmes and Barajas.