The Cardinals are readying to face some potentially tricky decisions with regard to franchise stalwarts Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. While the organization is hoping for both to finish out their careers in St. Louis, a sentiment the players share, such arrangements are sometimes easier said than done. Extension talks are planned at some point this year with Molina, who remains a highly valuable workhorse behind the dish. The guaranteed portion of his contract ends after the season, with a mutual option looming. As Goold explains, it’s hardly a straightforward matter to reach a new deal; the question of how great a commitment the team wants to make will have to account for not only the valuation of an aging catcher, but also the rise of prospect Carson Kelly. As for Wainwright, who tells Goold he’ll only be interested in single-season contracts when his deal is up (after the 2018 season), there’s more time to see how things progress and less pressure given his position.
Here are a few more notes from the NL Central…
- Eric Thames will be the latest data point as teams try to project how star-level performance in the Korea Baseball Organization carries over to Major League Baseball, and Fangraphs’ David Laurila spoke to Brewers GM David Stearns about the factors that went into signing Thames. Stearns explained that improved plate discipline despite a vast increase in the number of breaking balls Thames saw in Korea played into the decision, as did a number of analytics processes and statistical projections. “As more players play in the KBO, or any other foreign league, and then come back to the States, projection systems are going to continue to improve,” said the Milwaukee GM. “Clearly, the translation of KBO stats to (MLB) stats isn’t as straightforward as translating a Triple-A environment to a Major League environment, but it still played a role in our evaluation.”
- MLB.com’s Adam Berry breaks down the value that Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli brings to the team with his ability to frame pitches. While Cervelli’s lack of pop might make his three-year, $31MM deal look questionable to some, Berry points out that per MLB’s Statcast data, Cervelli rated third in the Majors in total strikes “stolen” for his pitchers in 2015 and, in an injury-shortened 2016 campaign, ranked third once again on a per-pitch basis in that same category. The skill is hardly lost on the Pirates’ young pitchers, several of whom lauded Cervelli’s receiving abilities when speaking to Berry. “He makes every pitch look really good, even your bad pitches,” said Jameson Taillon. “”That’s a big confidence-builder.”
Kelly looks like the real deal. I love Yadi… However, if Kelly continues strong for this season, the organization can’t hold him back. I assume 2018 will be Yadi’s last year with the Cardinals. Kelly to be called up later this season to start the mentoring and next year will be split halfway for both catchers.
Wainwright is an amazing person and will have a bounce back year. 3.10 ERA capable with a low mileage arm.
Where do you get the “low mileage arm” thing for Wainwright? You’re joking right?
Over the last 9 years he has averaged 188 innings – and that includes 2015 when he only pitched 28 before rupturing his achilles. If you drop out that year, he is up to 207. Not exactly low mileage…
So is Carson Kelly Molina’s heir apparent?
Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner
Thames has advantage over Korean players from the KBO, in that he’s not adjusting to a totally new culture and he’s seen major league pitching before.
While the Brewers get summarily dismissed as contenders, and are seen as one of the bottom 3-5 teams in baseball, they certainly have a number of guys with potential to break through in a big way.in 2017 and will be interesting to watch for that alone.
Thames is one of those guys.
I dont see how Cervellis 3/31 looks questionable. His OBP was .370 and .377 respectively in each year with a nice batting average to boot. I know people dont like to look at batting average but I still say its worth something. Afterall, walks generally dont score runs. With Cervellis pitch framing skills and that high OBP, even with the little pop he shows, Id say his contract is very fair.
Only problem i have with Cervelli’s game is his inability to thrown anyone out. He has one of the worst stolen base percentages in the league for a starting catcher.
a lot of Cervelli’s SB% is on his pitchers… Pgh has been cursed with some very slow/lethargic pitchers. most SB’s against Pgh have been ‘on the pitcher’.
all of Pgh’s young pitchers are slow the plate… frankly, it’s a big problem that one might think they’d address in the minor leagues, but apparently don’t.
I sure hope Yadi ends his career as a Cardinal
I still think the Cardinals need a clean up hitter and another front line pitcher to be a contender for the Central Div.
What’s wrong with extending Yadi a few years? Solves our 1B problem once he’s no longer an asset behind the plate and buys us time to (a) work out Marp’s glove issue and (b) groom Kelly or get a viable replacement.