With Jason Heyward set to join the division-rival Cubs, the Cardinals are expected to make a push to add fellow free agent outfielder Alex Gordon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Of course, Gordon has also reportedly drawn interest from deep-pocketed clubs like the Giants, Angels, and others, so his market promises to be robust.
St. Louis has also been rumored to have some interest in slugger Chris Davis, who might not be seen as an outfielder but could still fit in St. Louis, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posits on Twitter that he could still be an option. Going for Gordon, meanwhile, might also leave the team with some free capacity to add a starter, Rosenthal suggests.
It should be noted that it remains entirely unclear whether the Cards will plan to reallocate any cash that might have gone to Heyward (or to David Price) directly back into free agency. After all, the organization has not traditionally been one of the biggest factors in free agency. And while, owner Bill DeWitt Jr. has said that the Cards will “stretch” in the right situation, it’s not clear whether any such opportunities remain.
Of course, Gordon promises to command a far more limited commitment than did Heyward and Price. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes predicted a $105MM commitment over five years, which is a hefty sum for a player who’ll soon turn 32 but is nowhere near the overall outlay needed to land the other two. It also still seems likely he’ll fall shy of Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes, the other top outfielders remaining on the market.
Davis – Leake – Random Bullpen Arm – Start Spring Training.
Cespedes – Wei-Yin Chen – Bullpen Arm – Start Spring Training.
Heyward – Lackey – don’t need any Cardinal relievers – start Spring Training
And they would have the same team that lost in the NLDS last year and would be stuck with an overpaid #6 hitter with an above average glove? Nope.
Lackey and Heyward played well in that NLDS. I’ll take them.
Chen costs a draft pick. He’s out most likely.
exactly.
davis is more of a strike out artist than leake
+1
No to Gordon. Yes to Cespedes or Upton.
Go get Davis and Cueto right now, Mo.
enough of this “we have payroll muscle” BS.
enough of this “Cards were aggressive, buuuut….” BS.
enough low hanging fruit.
Hey, now…
“at the end of the day”
Cueto is not going anywhere near the St. Louis Cardinals.
That’s true but with that Thug mentality in the city he would fit in lol worst city in America that’s been blessed with a good team
So true
+1 on that Jimbo, I am so sick of hearing about payroll muscle. I swear if I hear it one more time from this front office or the Post Dispatch rag I’m going to puke!!!!!!!!!, Pure BS
Come on Angels sign Gordon and Kendrick and send Santiago Shoemaker and Escobar to the Rockies for LeMahieu
Couple questions:
Who is Escobar?
Why would you sign Kendrick to then trade for LeMahieu?
Especially when you already have Simmons and Escobar.
Oh wow I didn’t realize he was talking about Yunel. My head hurts.
LeMahieu can play third base. He play third in the minors. Was moved to second because the Rockies have Arendono. And by trading Santiago and Escobar that would free up enough money to get Gordon and Kendrick without going over the luxury tax.
Free up 12 mil to then use about 32-35 to sign those two AND give up 2 picks. Seems counter productive
Would you rather than Angels have Gentry in left? Escobar at 3rd? And no range Giavotella at 2nd? The other options send Cron Santiago Richards Cam and Escobar and see if the Rockies will take that for CarGo and LeMahieu. And start a rookie at third and sign another first baseman. And sign a starting pitcher. That way the Angels will have to go about 30 the luxury tax.
Lol that didn’t make since maybe he’s a Phillies fan
When I first glanced at your trade proposal I figured you were probably being a typical fan and suggesting the Angels attempt to trade their waste products for the Rockies young stud player but that isn’t the case. While LeM is a capable bat that will probably hit around .280 and have a .320 OBP, he isn’t incredible. Also, the guys you propose to trade aren’t garbage either. Santiago ha been pretty good th blast few years.
The only thing I wonder about is what you already clearly indicated. This is a salary dump proposal. I don’t want to look up all the salary differences in these players but do you think the Rockies would really want to take on all the additional salary for these players services? This isn’t a loaded question. Since I don’t want to look up these salaries, I really am asking if there has been some suggestions to lead you to believe that the Rockies would
The Rockies need and want team controlled pitchers. Santiago has 3 years left of team control. Shoemaker has 5 years left. As for Escobar he can be a stop gap with one year guaranteed and a option for a second. The Rockies have interest in Santiago. And are mildly interested in Shoemaker. The Rockies also have a prized prospect that is in there minor league system. That is a year or two away. As for your calling the players from the Angels waste minor league players, all three are major league players. Combined those three players will make around 12 million next season combined. The Rockies won’t even be able to sign two starting pitchers for 12 million.
Can’t they just go with Holiday, Piscotty, Grichuk and Pham in 2016?
They could but They could also upgrade and put Piscotty at first.
Doesn’t seem like a Cardinals-type move to tender Brandon Moss to sit him as a bench bat, especially at ~8M salary.
Yes I don’t see why not a younger I’m hungry
We need a real first baseman I want to have Adam in there
An option for the cardinals that I would definitely consider: Charlie Blackmon has been an extremely productive player, can play all three OF positions and play them well, is younger than CarGo and owed less over more time. He is also said to be cheaper on the trade market than a Carlos Gonzalez. Cardinals, go get Charlie Blackmon and an innings eater like Mike Leake and then go focus on some depth. Piscotty could play first on some days and RF on others based off matchups. That’s another plus that Blackmon provides, being able to move around.
They should trade for Braun. Big upgrade, Milwaukee would probably eat some salary, fits right in with the Cardinal Way
Dropping bombs…
Yeah that would take a ton to get…. Maybe they will trade Broxton fro Braun straight up.
Not a bad idea
Yeah if you want to give up Reyes, Poscotty, Adams, Wong, and Lyon to a division rival, sure.
Braun sure would fit the cardinal way cheats like maguire and whines like cards fans lol. Jk hope yu get Gordon
Hear Theo is looking at Gordan too. Possibly for less money than the Cards would offer too…
Gordon was the backup plan for both the Cards and Cubs. Theo is no longer looking at Gordon after getting Heyward.
Pretty sure he was trolling there bud.
rayrayner / rick
Dudes quit trolling on a Cardinals topic you make us look bad.
We haven’t won anything yet.
Please shut up for the rest of the Cubbie Fans out there
or quit being one because you lack class.
Trade Adams, Marco Gonzalez, and another prospect for CarGo
and enjoy CarGo’s .750 OPS.
Career 870 OPS. If you’re only looking at his road numbers you’re doing it wrong. If that’s how you evaluate players than Jose Fernandez is a 3.8 ERA pitcher.
Cards need to sign Gordon and Wei Yin Chen. Leake can go elsewhere.
Im guessing the Cardinals will pay the $20 million to speak with Maeda now.
go cheap and get justin morneau
Morneau is injury prone and done.
How about we trade Matheny and Mo for Madden and Epstein? Then maybe we can at least give the illusion that we have some interest in winning.
I hope you were trolling … If not, winning the World Series in 2006 and 2011, being one game away from the World Series in 2012, followed by 3 straight division titles in one of (if not) the best divisions in baseball, 2013 World Series appearance, 2014 NLCS appearance and a 100 win INJURY PLAGUED season in 2015 doesn’t give the illusion of winning? Come on now.
Sign Davis, Buehrle and Morrow.
Sign
Gordon
Cueto
Trade
Adams, cooney, n Tilson for Freeman.
I concur. That would be awesome. I wouldnt mind having frazier and votto of the reds but they would never yrade them to the cards
“Trade Adams, cooney, n Tilson for Freeman.”
Force trades: On.
” Trade Adams, cooney, n Tilson for Freeman.”
Force Trades: On
I’d rather just roll with Holliday, Grichuk, Piscotty, Pham. Sign some depth and let’s go. The team is good enough to compete now.
Cespedes, Leake, Chen, lefty killing Bullpen arm. Trade Piscootty, Adams, Tuivalala and a couple minor league arms for Carlos Gonzalez!! BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE. and my dogs lift their legs on the Cubs.
Have you thought about Exorcism?
I just don’t envision Gordon’s fruit hanging “low” enough
It would be nice if we could make a trade for Stanton, but I don’t see that ever happening
Theo going to get Tom R so drunk tonight, then convince him to to sign Cespedes and Cuteo. LMAO St. L fans riot and tear down the Arch. Goverment blams it on ISIS. You heard it hear friest LMAO NO ROTFLMAO LOL – Come on this is a funny post.
Alex Gordon or Dickerson would be my vote. Sign Maeda.
Where’s Jim Edmonds when you need him?
The Card’s brass were smart not to try to up the ante on a counter-offer against the Cubs. Let Heyward go, best wishes, and see ya later buddy. The desperation isn’t hovering over and around Busch stadium, it’s hovering over and around Wrigley Field. They appear to be borrowing the Red’s “modus operandi” of a few years past, go get ex-Cardinals. How’d that work out for them?:)
The Cubs are banking on the idea that Heyward will exercise his first opt-out clause probably, or they won’t be able to resign some of their young studs in a few years when they start hitting free agency. Of course, there is the angle that Heyward blossoms offensively and he stays and they’re happy to continue paying him 23 mil a year. Whatever. It’s time to wave bye and pursue other options that could be even better. Who? I’m intrigued by Cespedes. The dude rakes with the bat. He has speed. He’s a good defender with a good arm. I am curious about his overall attitude/personality and how’d he do in the clubhouse. And having CarGo wearing birds-on-the-bat would have me all giggly. :) Great player.
And a trade for Frazier would be great, but i’m not sure the Cards match up well with the Reds and what each need. I’d love to have Davis’s thunder bat in the lineup, but only on a 2-3 year deal what with the age factor, but i don’t think he’d agree on s 2-3 year deal. But heck, you never know. As for a starting pitcher, kick the tires on a Carlos Carrasco trade, just maybe.
I say Cards win the NL central once again with the Cubbies nipping at their heels.
Oh yeah, and…….go Cards!!
i see a daniel murphy/justin morneau type signing. none of the overpaying or trading
They don’t have to resign their young players for 5 years. By that time they will no longer be restricted by their debt agreement and will have their own tv station + additional revenue from wrigley renovations and the surrounding area. They will have no problem making competitive offers to the younger players.
I fully expect some of them to leave, but it wont be because they are poor, other teams will just be willing to pay more.
I’m really not sure what you mean by desperation, either. The team is incredibly young and has a decent enough farm system to continue that trend.
As far as Cespedes – you may want to look at the wRC+, DRS, UZR/150 of Heyward and Cespedes the last few years.
Davis turned down 7/150. Unless they are signing him to a 40+m aav over 2-3 years, he’s not taking that.
Who are they trading for Carrasco?
And finally, I’m curious what you base your prediction of the cardinals being better than both the cubs and bucs on.
I don’t understand why they want another outfielder
Anyone who says the cards brass is not in it to win should just leave this site. They obviously have a strict guideline that they go off of to continually have a team that competes for a World Series year after year. They wanted heyward to be the face of the organization which is why they didn’t offer opt out clauses. They didn’t budge because that was their plan. That’s what he wanted so he’s gone and so be it. Everyone is calling for CarGo but I say the outfielder to get from the Rockies is Corey Dickerson. The guy is going to be truly special and is more of that “Cardinal” type player. Give them Marco, Kolten, and Adams for Dickerson and LeMaheiu. Sign Gordon and Buerhle and this team is better then 102 wins.
remember all the cardinal fans that wanted jason bay over matt holliday?????