The Cardinals see “a need” in the closer role in the wake of Trevor Rosenthal’s Tommy John surgery, but GM Mike Girsch tells MLB.com’s Jen Langosch that “there’s not a ton we can do about it” this year. While the club is still looking to see if there’s a late-inning arm to be had, he suggested, it’s just not likely that one will be found with another week to go until the end of August (after which players who are traded cannot appear on a postseason roster). But the Cards will look to bolster the pen over the winter, Girsch said, with the precise direction still to be determined — based in part upon how things go the rest of the way and what the market bears.
- In other Cardinals-focused coverage, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a look at the immediate replacement options for Rosenthal. And his colleague, Derrick Goold, analyzes the organization’s possible September call-ups. GM John Mozeliak says that the organization is rich in upper-level talent that could contribute down the stretch. Goold’s examination goes into great detail on the thought process, and is well worth a read — even for fans of other teams.
- With somewhat less fanfare, for obvious reasons, the Reds also recently lost a key pitcher for the rest of the season: righty Scott Feldman, who required knee surgery. Feldman ended up taking down $4MM in total for his 2017 season, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes — with incentives boosting his $2.3MM base salary. He’ll likely be as affordable, if not moreso, this coming winter, though Feldman did post solid results before his knee started barking. He also seemingly left a good impression, with manager Bryan Price crediting Feldman as “a tremendous competitor, though the skipper also hinted that the organization will be aiming to minimize the health risk in building out its rotation over the winter.
- The Cubs have several relatively unheralded players that could make big contributions down the stretch, ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers writes. Swingman Mike Montgomery and infielder Tommy La Stella have already made an impact while filling in for injured regulars, Rogers notes, while the team may yet hope for a late charge from struggling relievers Hector Rondon and Justin Wilson.
Here is a trade:
Cards get: Jim Johnson
Braves get: inside information on how to cheat because this pathetic Braves team needs it.
Lmao
Lmao !
Commissioners office would probably block it
Hmm… Brad Hand for Jack Flaherty and Edmundo Sosa?
No, plus Hand wouldn’t get through waivers.
Was thinking offseason trades
they wouldnt give two prospects for him bc there are other options in the off-season. now July deadline next year is a totally different ballgame
The only way you get a reliever of Hand’s quality for just one prospect is if it’s Reyes. And I know Hand isn’t worth Reyes.
Someone is going to give up two really good prospects, at least one who is top 100, for Hand if he keeps closing for the Padres. I don’t think he has given up a run in save opportunity so far except the one where his idiot of a manager brought him in during the middle of an at bat.
He gave up a run in a save situation tonight but he had a two run cushion so the Padres won anyway.
I would trade you Weaver but not Flaherty…imo
The featured image for this post looks like something that would be on a baseball card from Panini or one of the other manufacturers that doesn’t have MLB licensing
except for the logo, yeah
The logo is cut off on my phone so I didn’t even see it
I assume it is a throwback.
I think so too but those cards were the first thing that came to mind
The Cubs should part ways with Hector Rondon. He gives up runs in virtually every appearance since before the AS break LAST YEAR.
Bruce Levine said on local Chicago radio that the Cubs could have had Britton for a prospect and Rondon, but the Cubs balked at dealing him!
I highly doubt that unless the prospect they asked for was Eloy Jimenez, at which point, I’d say good balk by the Cubs.
Agreed. The Cubs’ bullpen is a disaster, with Rondon being one of the worst offenders. He gave up three homers in the 9th inning against the Reds the other day. Against the REDS!
The Cardinals front office keeps promising “big moves this offseason” well, only time will tell what that entails. Probably low hanging fruit as usual.
Maybe the Cardinals should look at a hard thrower who has failed as a starter hoping for a guy that can turn into the next Miller or Hand.
“A hard thrower who has failed as a starter”…. you mean another Rosey?
Rosetvnever failed as a starter, he was never given a chance in big leagues, always a reliever. Starter in minors only.