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By Connor Byrne | at
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davidcoonce74
The saddest words ever written: “Erick Aybar and Luis Sardinas” are battling for the starting shortstop job. Sigh.
Probably Schimpf at third, because he’s really bad at second. I think his 2016 was a stone fluke and he probably loses the job by June. I hope I’m wrong because he’s a fascinating player.
Solarte is tough because he has no defensive value anywhere (because he’s so slow) but the bat would play at second.
Spangenberg hasn’t been good yet in his career and missed basically all of last season, so he’s probably in AAA. He can’t play short so the utility role is probably not an option.
The shortstop options are just cringe-worthy. They have a rule 5 guy in camp too (Córdoba) but he’s got no shot. Going to be a long year in San Diego
stl_cards16 2
What’s the word in San Diego on Cordoba? Really hoping he gets returned to St. Louis.
davidcoonce74
He hasn’t looked ready at all for the majors in the few ST at-bats I’ve seen. Although he’s only 21, it took him five seasons to get out of rookie-ball, so that’s not really a good sign. He runs well and has a very compact, contact-oriented swing so he might be a high BABIP guy. But he has literally no power whatsoever. I was shocked to see that he has actually hit a couple homers in the minors, although they may be of the inside-the-park variety. He’s not tiny so conceivably he could drive the ball but he slaps at everything and isn’t particularly selective. Couldn’t get a read on his defense but he certainly looks like he could end up as a utility-type. Like, I don’t know, Casey Candaele? Andrew Romine?
stl_cards16 2
I’m aware of who he is. I’m more wondering if there was any chance San Diego keeps him for the year.
It would be terrible for his development. I think he has a little more upside than you’re giving him credit for. But this is a big season for him.
davidcoonce74
I think they’ll invent a fake injury and try to hang onto him but the Padres have like ten of these kinds of guys already on the roster. If Preller really likes him maybe they work out a deal with StL but I just don’t see a path to the majors for him right now. I bet the Cards get him back.
lowtalker1
Dude is over matched
lowtalker1
You never even heard of him until he was taken. Dude spent 5 years in rookie ball, and it completely over matched. Offense and defense
stl_cards16 2
Just because you don’t hear of players until they’re posted on MLBTR, doesn’t mean that’s the case with everyone. I follow the minor leagues daily, I knew about him long ago.
I would expect him to look overmatched. He’s not ready and there’s no way he should be carried on a Major League roster all year. But rebuilding teams can do some funny things to get some (relatively) free talent. I hope they don’t do it with Cordoba.
JFree47
I don’t care how many years he spent in rookie ball, he is still only 21. He’s listed at 6’1 175, but the dude appears to be in really good physical shape, I still feel he can develop into a useful player and I agree, I hope the padres return him to St. Louis
YourDaddy
The kid looks totally lost at the plate in camp. The Cardinals might just get him back.
stl_cards16 2
When you’re taking taking 21 year olds straight from single-A, you can expect them to look overmatched against ML competition. I really don’t know why so many here are acting surprised by this.
davidcoonce74
You might expect a guy who has been in a professional system for five years to have a little more polish, regardless of his age.
YourDaddy
In order for Solarte to start the season at 2B, according to Green, he would need to have at least a dozen games in spring training there. He hasn’t played that position yet in spring training and is playing in the WBC right now. The deeper Venezuela goes in the WBC, the less likely that it gets that Solarte would get enough games at 2B.
davidcoonce74
Solarte’s defense probably plays a little better at third because Solarte is so immobile, but Schimpf REALLY can’t play second base. Gonna be an ugly year for groundballs in SD
stl_cards16 2
I really liked the Gant pickup in the Garcia trade. A lot of people were not happy with the return, but Gant has a real shot to be a solid #4.
mike-5
I didn’t know much about the guys they got in return, but the more I read about them, the more happy I was with them. Gant seems like he could have a future spot in the rotation.
thor would look better in red
the sad part is that his upside is leake. we already have leake. so in a year or two you have two leakes in your rotation. as long as the top end is solid that’s not a bad thing. the thing that sucks is leake has 75 million behind his name and gant has the potential to be the same pitcher for almost no money
lesterdnightfly
Two Leakes on one team? Should be on the Pale Hose. Hoses spring leakes all the time…..
callmemabry
The Reds received a lot of value out of Leake. If Gant came close to producing that much value, it would be a huge win.
But, yeah, Leake at his current salary is not exactly a bargain.
stl_cards16 2
Leaks is actually fine, even on his contract. The problem last year was the Cardinals terrible infield defense behind him.
southi
Gant has the potential to be a very serviceable major league pitcher. I hated to see him leave the braves, but certainly understand the deal. I wish him a long and successful career with the Cardinals.
CompanyAssassin
I loathed Jaime so I was glad to see him go. I initially didn’t like the return but now I’m pretty happy to see we got a competent prospect in return.
CompanyAssassin
I should say a competent prospect plus the other two, haven’t really seen anything on either.
SixFlagsMagicPadres
Aybar and Sardinas in a heated battle for shortstop. I haven’t seen such tension since the Breaking Bad series finale.
lesterdnightfly
The moment deserves its own souvenir, like the classic “Remains of the Day” lunchbox from the movie “Waiting for Guffman”.
alexorioles10
Of course the padres are interested in Gagne