John Mozeliak (President of Baseball Operations for the Cardinals) expressed that he’s content with his club’s rotation, via Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, Luke Weaver, and the recently-signed Miles Mikolas are likely to occupy the first four spots in the rotation. Mozeliak says that a lot depends on how Adam Wainwright looks; however, John Gant and Tyler Lyons could also be in the mix. Mozeliak feels as though the Cards are “fine,” which would seem to make it less likely that St. Louis will be in the mix for big names such as Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta.
More pitching notes from around the league…
- Free agent Jesse Chavez has offers from five different MLB clubs to fill a starter/long reliever role, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports, adding that the right-hander is expected to make a decision this weekend. Chavez pitched 138 innings for the Angels in 2017, and although his 5.35 ERA seems somewhat uninspiring, his 4.43 xFIP suggests he might have pitched a bit better than the surface results indicate. He also walked fewer than three batters per nine innings for the third season in a row. In addition to the Angels, Chavez has pitched for the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Athletics, Royals and Pirates over the course of his ten-year big league career.
- The Reds have recently spoken with right-hander Craig Stammen, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Sheldon notes that Stammen is a product of the University of Dayton, which is within an hour of Cincinnati. The 33-year-old reliever tossed 80 1/3 innings across 60 appearances for the Friars in 2017, posting a 3.14 ERA. Stammen began his big league career as a starter for the Nationals, but has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since 2011.
- Before choosing to sign with the Twins, Fernando Rodney had offers from three other big league clubs. The Rangers, Mets and Tigers all tried to sign the right-hander, according to a tweet from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. Rodney will reportedly have a chance to hold down the closer role in Minnesota this season; he can earn up to $6MM if he meets incentives in his contract, which includes a club option for the 2019 season.
The reds should absolutely go after Stammen
The reds should absolutely trade for Chase Headley solarte and spange
No
Sounds like a typical Reds move. Of course after rolling out Bronson Arroyo and his 65 mph curve, I’m pretty sure anyone who can throw strikes and play the guitar in the clubhouse is a typical Reds move.
The Padres should have traded Stammen at the deadline, bone-head move to keep him and get nothing for what was a really nice year by him. Very similar to Shawn Kelley not being traded at the 15′ deadline, it’s inexcusable.
Definitely !!!!!!!!!!! but will they pay more than the “others” ….
Sounds like Mo is going to have some trouble with the rotation this season if he is leaving it the way it is… Also Reyes should get some starts this year I would think. I would go the Lance Lynn and offer him a 4 year 60 millions contract. Never know and all he has to do is say no.
You have Reyes, Flaherty, Wainwright, Gant, and Lyons available for the fifth spot, and to step in when someone gets hurt. Dropping 15 mil/year on Lynn (if he would even take that) is probably not the best way to utilize that money, especially factoring in the draft pick you wouldn’t gain. If you upgrade this rotation, it should be at the top where you get better marginal value for your money/prospects. Lynn isn’t a huge upgrade over the best of the group named.
Lynn will get a lot more than 4/60!
Can’t wait to see the whole Cubs Offense “T” off on that “intriguing” Cardinals rotation. LOL’d so hard at!
As s fellow Cubs fan please don’t be so confident that “our” pitching staff will do any better. I’m not sold on Chatwood and still holding out hope for at least another decent starter.
Ah, Cardinals still might go get a starter.. hows the cubbies rotation right now?
It won’t be just the Cubs doing that if Ozuna ends up being the only big move Mo and Co. make. You don’t win a division, especially as tough as ours, with that rotation and one “impact bat” Hell, bring back Lynn and sign a legitimate closer and I will be on board. For now, I just have more reasons to hate the Cubs.
The cubs are on the decline in case you haven’t herd. There’s a new sheriff in town.
Really? A decline? From what, winning the World Series one year and the next “just” making the NLCS? I understand losing Arrieta is big, but name another lineup in the MLB that has as many young, talented players as we do? Maybe Houston, LA, New York?? All ALCS/NLCS contenders last season. I think we’re still relevant and will be for many years to come
This dude is a troll. He only posts negative made up stuff about the Cubs. Please ignore him.
Lol the Cards. Have as much young talent as cubs
No, no they really do not.
I love how short Cubs fans memories are. It’s like they’ve forgotten how they got all this young talent. Enjoy the welfare team boys, meanwhile the Cards will continue to grow talent without having to be terrible for a decade.
It’s not even close.
Yes a decline. They are still a force for one more year but they have shot their wad with their farm system and have some key players coming up on FA..
I never have been part of a herd. I’ll leave that to buffaloes and Caribou!
“Mozeliak feels as though the Cards are “fine,””
You know what “Fine” stands for right?… Freaked Out Insecure Neurotic and Emotional
he’s sobbing in the corner of his office right now in a fetal position
this is just as ridiculous as the first time you said it.
They need another #1 pitcher
I think the rotation will ok, but they should build a super bullpen to go with it. I still think they need one more big bat. Like Abreu or Longo or Moose or maybe LoMo or Moreland !
No to Moose. With reports of StL and TB still discussing trade scenarios for Colome and Longo, I’d be ok with that
“Mozeliak feels as though the Cards are ‘fine..’” You know what FINE stands for right? – Freaked Out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.
That pretty much sums up the Cards rotation at this point. They need at least one more solid starter.
One of the things I both love and hate about Mozeliak is how he is almost never transparent with the media. Totally a chance he’s serious about leaving the rotation, but realistically it’s probably a move to provide leverage in negotiations, in trade or free agency. “I’m comfortable with our options” is much less desperate than “Waino’s arm is falling off please for the love of god sign/trade with us”
I agree…Mo is just saying that because that’s what the cardinals do…they never tell the media much…I wouldn’t doubt the cardinals look into Arrieta before it’s all said and done…they are just waiting to see what the price and years that will be offered before they get involved
I hope this is some kind of game he is playing to gain leverage for another trade.
waino should be the closer this year. he’s fine the first time thru the lineup. I honestly believe that if he got his head wrapped around being in that position, he could be dominant. When he’s in the rotation he’s a liability second and third time through the lineup. if he truly wants to do what’s best for the team I believe a switch to closer for his last year here would be a smart move. let him end his career here the same way he started it. Besides, you never know, he may end up extending his career a couple of years by focusing on one inning at a time. he’s in Atlanta boy. He grew up idolizing John Smoltz. Do it Adam.
It will be interesting to see What Wainwright does…when Reyes is Ready mid season to get starts I wonder if maybe Wainwright switch’s spots with him in the Bullpen
Whatever you are smoking please share. Waino fine the first time through? That’s not how I remember his 2017 campaign!
no kidding. first time through the lineup was disastrous for Wainwright. it’s like he didn’t even warm up till the 3rd inning.
He could be a BP asset but he’s not a closer. Not even close. He gets roughed up early too often. He’s a great guy and a leader but he’s not a $19 million a year pitcher and hasn’t been one the past 3 years.
I would like to see Archer in the rotation next year and bump Wainwright to the bullpen/depth starter
I agree.. although Wainwright can spot start or at least be that long reliever in case of a 2 inning pull.
That’s a lotta dimp!
Keep in mind, the Calvary is coming. Reyes, Flaherty will both be ready in May ish and Helsley and Gomber not far behind. We’re talking about a #5 starter. Save the $ for a different deal.
No free agent dollars on a starter. However, trading for Archer is a different matter.
Which makes it hard for Mo and Girsch…should they go get a starter or trust that the Cavalry can handle it…they could trade Wacha since he only has two more years of control…trade Wacha for a closer and sign Arrieta or Darvish…Arrieta and Carpenter are good friends…Arrieta looked great in the Playoffs and takes care of himself…Martinez, Arrieta, weaver, lizard king, wainwright…with Reyes and Flaherty and Hudson and Hicks and Gomber…I would think Arrieta could help the young guys
Stammen is a fairly unheralded guy – an old-fashioned middle reliever. There’s serious value in 80 innings of above-average work in any bullpen. He won’t get the glory or the dollars that come with being the capital-C “closer” and he has a TJS in his past but he’s a very valuable asset to any team. .
A cautious content, I hope. All of the Cards pitchers mentioned sound good, but each has a (?) question mark beside their names for 2018.
Cardinals should trade for Longoria and Colome. Then sign a good reliever like Addison Reed. That’s the type of team needed to win the NL Central in 2018 and beyond.
I’m not sold on the Longoria rumors. Diff between him and Gyrko is $70 mil ish. That’s it. Not a better bat, slightly better glove. Give them Grichuk and Woodford or Gomber…. something like that for Colome and move on unless Archer is sitting at the table.
Longoria brings veteran leadership too. He’s a better hitter for sure, (I’d count on 25-30 home runs with a .275 average) and he just won a GG. Package him with Colome and I’d be all in.
I’m just not sold on the Longoria idea.
Benny, he did win the GG. But check the stats and the money.
2017:
Longo- .261/313/424 20 hr for 13.5 mil
Gyrko- .272/341/472. 20 hr for 4 mil (2 mil paid by Padres)
2016:
Longo – 36 hr
Gyrko- 30 hr
Just saying I would save that money for something else. Not enough diff between the two unless it drove the asking price down for Archer by taking on the money.
I think Gyrko is making $8 million
Check the math. He was paid 6 mil of which Padres paid 2 mil. Cards owed 4. Next year he gets 9mil, of which Padres pay 2.5 mil. Good production for the money. Just sayin
I agree…I also think Longoria will bounce back a little because of playing in front of a packed stadium…his contract would be bad to take on but maybe the cardinals don’t have to give up so much in prospects when getting Colome
This x 10
I have to disagree. You can’t compare longo and gyorko. At least not when making an effective comparison. Longo plays in the AL East which is a much better division than the central. Besides that comparing one player that plays to a packed house, and one that plays in front of a more than half empty house isn’t a fair comparison. Not to mention one plays on grass and the other on tough unforgiving artificial grass. There is absolutely no way to say eh Longo is only slightly better because it is impossible to know that unless we trade for him. Besides that gyorko is a utility guy who can rotate around the lineup and still get playing time even if Longo is the main starter at third. On top of that if Matt C doesn’t pull his head out of his backside and keeps running into stupid outs on the bases we might be better off having Gyorko at first. At least then we could have a lead off hitter with some speed and good base running iq. As it stands carp can only hit leading off, but is as slow as Molina…except Molina actually knows what he’s doing when he gets on base. Basically with Longo we can still use gyorko and at the same time see if Matt C isn’t going to be as huge a liability as he was singlehanded you losing us games the first couple months of last season doing stupid crap on the bases. If Matt C rebounds, runs the bases with a hint of intelligence, and maybe learns how to hit farther down in the lineup then hallelujah. But if he continues to hit .200 outside of leading off, and hits into double plays, and runs into stupid outs then bench him and go with Longo and gyorko starting. Either way it’s better to have longo than using a AAAA guy like Garcia to spot start, or play full time if there are injuries.
The comparison isn’t in a vacuum. You didn’t take the money owed into account. That matters when building a winning roster. I do have a problem as you and some others have stated that he’ll play “harder “with a packed house versus 15k. Their professional and being paid as such. Hope crowd #’s doesn’t affect their effort??
I disagree. The NL Central has 3 good teams with the Cards improved enough already to be a playoff threat and likely to improve more with a BP addition like Colome, Davis, Holland or Addison. Getting us any one of those should get us to 93 or 94 wins next year. Who’s the 3rd strong team in the AL East that can win more than that?
I sure agree about Carp. We should make him part of a trade for more BP help. His weak defense and worse base running have to cost us far more games than his bat wins for us. TB or KC may be able to use him as a DH.
When are the reds going to do something relevant… they’re not even rebuilding…