2:22pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets that even if Davis were to be made available by the Orioles, the Cardinals wouldn’t have much interest in him. Crasnick adds that neither Brandon Moss nor Yonder Alonso is on the Cardinals’ radar at this time. Like Goold, however, he hears that St. Louis does have legitimate interest in Lind (Twitter link).
8:58am: The Cardinals and Brewers have had recent discussions regarding first baseman Adam Lind, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Brewers are believed to be willing to part with their first baseman, he adds.
St. Louis is in need of help at first base after losing Matt Adams to a torn quadriceps muscle that figures to sideline him into the offseason. The team’s preference, Goold writes, is to acquire a short-term contract to fill the void, and Lind would fit that mold. He’s earning $7.5MM in 2015, including the $500K buyout of an $8MM option for the 2016 season. That Cardinals could, in theory, rent Lind for the duration of the 2015 season and their postseason push, then flip him to a team in need of first base/DH help this winter.
Milwaukee acquired Lind from the Blue Jays last offseason in a one-for-one swap that sent Marco Estrada to Toronto, and both players have performed well in their new settings. Lind is batting an excellent .285/.365/.500 with 16 homers this season. He has, as usual, been heavily platooned due to his deficiencies against same-handed pitching, and that would likely be the case with the Cardinals as well. St. Louis could deploy Lind as a platoon partner for Mark Reynolds or for the right-handed hitting Stephen Piscotty, though because Piscotty is regarded as the Cardinals’ top prospect, the preference may be for him to receive everyday at-bats in the minors as opposed to spending much of his time on the bench.
One potential wrench that could be thrown into talks would be that Lind was bothered by what, for now, looks to be a minor back issue this weekend. Anything more severe, however, could lead theoretically lead the Cardinals (and other teams) to look elsewhere. As Goold notes, other options such as Baltimore’s Chris Davis could become available in the coming days.
A deal between the two sides would make for a rare (though not unheard of) matchup between the two division rivals, as MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker shows. GMs Doug Melvin and John Mozeliak did strike a deal in 2013 when they swapped right-handers John Axford and Michael Blazek.
Who could the brewers potentially receive for Lind?
Probably not very much
Lind should bring back something decent. He’s controllable through ’16.
He is, but the Cardinals might not want him in 2016. Suppose it could boost his return a bit. Seems like a low level talent would work. This is how the Brewers pro scouting dept makes their money.
Low level talent in return from a division rival for a middle of the order bat with a reasonable contract through next season? Dream on. What any team would plan for him beyond this year isn’t the Brewers concern. They don’t have to trade him. If somebody wants him bad enough, they will listen. But they aren’t giving him away.
Plus his services are reportedly in demand.. He has very solid stats this year and 16 HR is nothing to sneeze at.. Pretty much any team in search of a left handed bat would love to have him..
I meant low level talent as in low level minor league talent. Someone in A ball. Lind is not going to get a proven top prospect, but he’ll get a lottery ticket. Sorry… Watch how it plays. I’m saying he doesn’t get someone ready to contribute.
He’s a platoon player with no defensive value. Lots of first basemen would like really good if they only played against their preferred side.
Cards will give more Lind, Phillies Howard makes better sense and would excel in his Hometown with chance to go World Series.
Then they would trade him and recoup cmsome of what they lost.
Whether or not the Cardinals want him for 2016 is hardly the point… unless you’re a Cardinals fan. It’s going to take two prospects: a top ten, and a ten through twenty.
Cardinals will OVER PAY, Just because they are Smarty Pants.
Then why would the Brewers trade him? He’s got a reasonable option for 2016? They certainly aren’t looking to help the Cardinals. Melvin’s not going to deal Lind to St. Louis. Forget what happened with Axford. Axford at the time was struggling and had lost the closer job with Milwaukee and Brewers were looking to unload him. Lind’s a middle of the order hitter who’s reasonably priced and plays a position the Brewers don’t have an obvious replacement. It’s going to take a significant return to move him.
I don’t know about a significant return but they are going to get way more than just a low level prospect..
I think they’re closer to getting a more elite low level prospect then they are a more advanced one. For Lind I’d want the best talent even if its a year further away
This whole intradivision thing is overplayed. Milwaukee isn’t competing while St. Louis has Lind on the roster..and they have an opportunity to weaken the St. Louis system by this intradivision logic.
The fact that they’re in the same division means the cards will have to pay more. He’s worth a solid prospect to other teams the cards will have to give at least that if not more…
That doesn’t make any sense, the Brewers won’t be relevant for several years after Lind is a free agent. Mozeilak is the one who has to worry about a prospect coming back to haunt them. If cards offer the best package Milwaukee would be stupid not to take it. I’m thinking Cooney is a fair offer, he’s mlb ready and would start ahead of a number of the brewer starters there today.
I don’t see Cooney being available. He’s Garcia insurance at the moment, and they will probably also be looking to spell Martinez some soon. Maybe if Gonzalez wasn’t just now coming off the DL as well..
“would start ahead of a number of the brewer starters there today.”
Peralta? No. Nelson. No. Jungman? Not with the way he’s been pitching since his call up. Fiers? Probably not. Garza and Lohse? Sure. Take Lohse back so he can retire a Cardinal. Pay the remainder of his salary, and get Lind, then I think that would be a fair deal. A lefthanded starter would be nice, but I still think they need corner infielders and outfielders above all else.
More than he’s worth !
I’d guess two guys in the 8-20 range, with maybe another guy below that added on. The back thing might present an issue, no matter how minor they say it is, because of how they’ve plagued him in past. Maybe something like Jacob Wilson and Ronnie Williams?
I don’t think the Cardinals need to do this or anything. They’re in first by a good amount, Piscotty doesn’t seem overwhelmed in the majors, the team can go .500 the rest of the season and still win 95 games and take the division. I sure wouldn’t platoon Piscotty, and he can be the super sub and give someone different a day off every day in the OF or at 1B. Isn’t that who you’d be trading for anyway?
I just don’t see anyone out there unless they’re absurdly cheap that could be a big enough help to the team to make it worth trading anyone of value.
If they don’t trade for a 1B, Piscotty can’t be the super-sub, he needs to be the 1B. The Cardinals have received terrible production from 1B all season, it is the perfect place to upgrade.
Can you say Ryan Howard !
I would think that Garrett Jones of the Yankees could be had on the cheap.. He could be a decent platoon for Reynolds but I know as soon as the Yankees traded him Teixeira would go down with an injury..
I don’t think Jones is the answer…
I would rather have Chris Davis from Baltimore than Adam Lind from Milwakee
It would probably take more to get Davis. My guess is the O’s would want at least one of the Cards good young pitching prospects and probably a throw in lottery ticket type.
I would give up any of the following players:
Jamie Garcia
Tony Cruz
Pete Kozma
Of course you would give up damaged goods.
Discussing possible deals with Cardinal fans and that’s what you get. They are more than willing to offer what they don’t want anymore.
Yep, Cardinal fans are the only one’s making terrible trade proposals on here.
Who would you give up for Davis
Not much honestly. The last couple years, he looks like Mark Reynolds (and the Cardinals already have the king of K’s).
Instead of Yankees M&M ( Maris and Mantel ), Cards could have K&K ( King of Kings)
He did Hit 53 Home Runs , Before they caught him on the Juice if I remember.
Jaime Garcia for Davis is interesting, would leave us a little exposed rotation wise, but despite his injury history I think the Os would have to give something back.
Kozma, huh? Hes a giveaway
Mike Napoli has been rumored also any thoughts?
Not a terrible buy low, but I’d much rather get someone we know would be an upgrade.
Agreed. I think a lefty platoon partner is far more likely.
Astros need to get Lind. Carter/Singleton isn’t cutting it. Don’t know if Lowrie will be at first or third once he comes back
I hadn’t thought of Lind going to the Astros.. I agree that would be a good fit..
Just a thought, why not see what it would take to get Fielder from the Rangers
Because he wouldn’t be a short term solution because he’s under contract for over half a decade and secondly he would probably cost quite a bit in terms of prospects just doesn’t seem like a deal the Cardinals would make.
I don’t have problem with a long term solution. If someone trades for that contract they won’t be willing to give me much talent in return! Just a thought!
The Cardinals rarely invest that much money into one player.. If they did, Pujols would still be playing on first for them.. Plus, it would take a lot to pry him away from Texas.. The Cardinals don’t make trades like that.. That is why their farm is always in decent shape..
He looks good right now, but Fielder’s contract will eventually be an albatross.
If I’m Melvin, my asking price for Lind would be Rob Kaminsky and Charlie Tilson.
Yeah, at this point considering how controllable offensive players aren’t that widespread, why wouldn’t they ask for a good haul and see what happens? Some team probably will eventually meet close to their asking price.
I don’t see the Cards doing that though. Mozeliak’s reputation seems more likely to save the systems higher end prospects, and acquire talent who cost lower because they are rentals or buy-low situations.
Well it doesn’t hurt to ask but no on kaminsky, weaver or flarity and tilton would be fine though
As a Cardinal’s fan, I’d go for that.
Cards will pay , because they are Desperate !
LOL, why would the team with a 6 game lead in the division and the best record in baseball be desperate?
Lind, Davis, Napoli, or Fielder
Philllies Howard , beats them all because Phillies will pay 85% of remaining Salary for Mid Level Prospect .
ive been pushing for the pirates to go after lind and now the cards are looking at him,…what are the pirates problems to get better players
You guys got Kang before we could get him.
Yankees Dollars , Pirates are Tight !
Weaver for Lind
How about Edwin Encarnacion?
Only way that makes sense for the Jays id if they get a rotation puece to help now. The Cardinals don’t have that to spare.
Alex Reyes?
That doesn’t help the Jays win now, which is what they’re trying to do.
They are at 50-50. If they are only looking at players that can help them win this year, they are stupid. Reyes likely isn’t ready to contribute beyond a possible September callup, but the Jays need to be looking at more than just this year.
They Yankees have started to put the same space between them and the other 4 teams, but the division is still terrible, plus they have a lot of games remaining vs. the Yankees (I think they still play 13 more times this). With that and the games best offense (pretty cold on this recent road trip, however) they need a pitcher to give them a chance. I think Lynn or Rosenthal would be a good return; help them win now and also down the road. EE has 10-5 rights, so he can veto any trade (though I don’t think he’ll veto a St. Louis trade), however I doubt Mozeliak (sp) trades Rosenthal and I really doubt he trades Lynn.
If history is any indication, the Cardinals will get what they need, which is a big time bat at 1st base. Encarnacion, Freeman, Votto or Abreu will be headed to St. Louis, possibly along with a No. 2 starter.
I hope the cards overpay for Lind, its a countdown till he hits. 220 again..hey neil Huntington don’t trade for pedro..I mean adam lind
Lind is battling .277 the last 5 years
.220 again…? Lind’s lowest batting average as a professional is .237.
Over the past 3 seasons, he’s hitting .296/.366/.493 – a 136 OPS+.
i hear Chris Carter is available.
The Cardinsal could offer Garcia, Lyons, Cooney Bourjous and Adams for Hamels and Howard. We get a first base bat and a dominant LH starter. Phillies get 5 MLB ready players.