The Cardinals just wrapped up their third straight season without a playoff berth, which is all the more concerning given that team control is dwindling over Yadier Molina (two years), Matt Carpenter, Miles Mikolas, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Wacha (one year apiece) and Adam Wainwright (pending free agent), as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out. The Redbirds are cognizant of the fact that the 36-year-old Molina won’t be around forever, chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said this week, adding: “Our timeframe with this club is now. It has been that way literally every year for many years.” There’s now a “palpable” impatience atop the St. Louis hierarchy, according to Goold, who reports that the Cardinals are poised to seek left-handed relief upgrades and left-handed power for their lineup this offseason as they work to snap a three-year playoff drought in 2019. The Cards have pitching depth to dangle in trades and plenty of money to spend, Goold notes, so it figures to be an active winter for the club.
Here’s more from the National League:
- While nothing’s official, it’s “pretty clear” pending free-agent reliever Joaquin Benoit will retire, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com writes. The 41-year-old Benoit joined the Nationals on a $1MM guarantee last winter, but a shoulder injury prevented him from throwing a pitch for the team during the regular season. Had Benoit been younger, he likely would have undergone surgery and then rehabbed his way back, general manager Mike Rizzo said last week. Understandably, though, Benoit doesn’t want to fight through a lengthy recovery period at his age. If the journeyman’s career is over, it’ll conclude with a 3.83 ERA, 212 holds and 53 saves over 1,068 2/3 innings.
- Fresh off a rough season, Giants second baseman Joe Panik’s future in San Francisco is uncertain, considering the team’s next head of baseball operations may opt for someone else at the keystone, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports California observes. Panik realizes as much, telling Pavlovic: “It’s all about whoever comes in and who they feel is the best fit for the organization going forward. You hope it’s you, but at the end of the day, it’s not your call.” Although the soon-to-be 28-year-old Panik batted a non-threatening .254/.307/.332 (75 wRC+) with four home runs in 392 plate appearances this season, he’s likely to score upward of $5MM during his second-last arb trip during the winter, Pavlovic writes. That’d be a solid raise over the $3.45MM Panik pulled in this year. As for his disappointing 2018, during which he missed time with thumb and groin injuries, Panik offered: “Once I went down with the thumb, I feel like I could just never get it back. It’s hard to explain to people … when your season is kind of choppy and broken up, it’s hard to sometimes find your rhythm. But when it comes down to it, you still have to find a way.”
The Cardinals have plenty of money, and depth for trades and will be active this off season. Gee, where have I heard that before. The more things change, the more they stay the same
We will flirt with Machado and Harper, give the fans hope…then sign Jose Iglesias and AJ Pollock.
They won’t sign an outfielder not named Harper (and they likely won’t sign him either). More likely they will sign a pitcher no one has ever heard of or that isn’t on anyone’s radar and will sign Donaldson.
I love my cardinals and honestly I’m not one to demand 95 wins and a WS trophy every year. But it’s kinda weird how they promise the moon every offseason and then quickly backtrack a month later saying we’ve done enough by adding complimentary pieces and don’t wanna block anyone long term. If 57 things break the right away we’re a playoff caliber club.
I may get crap for saying this but I think they outperformed their 88 win total this year. They never seemed that great.
Your right,time to quit telling us your going to be prudent and if something makes sense we will consider it. Spend some money and don’t trade pitchers for a sore armed power hitter? Come on!
They were very active last year. Not they’re fault Stanton wanted to play in big city, but they were all in on him and made best offer. They’ve been active past three years. They will continue to be active this offseason
The DeWitt family owes a lot to the city of St. Louis and I think it’s appropriate to demand more of them as owners. It’d be nice if they made serious moves to contend instead of ones that string the “BFIB”s along. DisplacedSTLfan’s comment is 100% spot-on. and they absolutely outperformed with 88 wins (considering they went into the season with Matheny still manager), jonsteele. Wainofan- you are giving the DeWitt’s an out- they’ve been “active” but I’d argue not “seriously active.” It’s frustrating being a Cardinal’s fan and the current on-field product (all while the DeWitt’s pocket $100 million off the backs of STL residents).
This isn’t a smartass reply, so don’t take it as one.
Which players would you have wanted the Cardinals FO to sign over the past 3 years from the FA market?
Sorry that last bit doesn’t make any sense- missed my chance to edit the comment.
It’s frustrating being a Cardinals fan with the current on-field product when other teams are doing so much more to get better. Even worse when considering how much money the DeWitt’s are making off of STL residents.
I would like to hear this too. Fans do a lot of complaining, but don’t often have any genuine results that would have actually satisfied them.
Who should they have picked up in free agency? Fine question.
Great point batty. I think what has hurt the cards isn’t who they didn’t sign but rather who they did sign. The Fowler signing blocked younger better cheaper players. Along with Leake, Cecil and Holland. Mo has had many missteps
I’ll agree the Fowler signing was a debacle. It was an unnecessary signing to say the least.
Signing relievers, especially non-elite closers, to long term contracts is always sketchy.
Leake was a panic signing after Price spurned the Cards offer. I don’t know of anyone who thought it was a smart move. At least none that would admit to it.
Holland’s signing, according to most baseball insiders, was in a big part due to Matheny whining over not having an established closer.
Has Mo made mistakes? Absolutely. But he’s made a lot of smart decisions as well. All GMs (POBO now) have bad signings and that’ll never change. You can look at every roster and see them.
Don’t blame DeWitt. He’s not negotiating the deals. Point the finger at MoZo the Clown AKA John Mozeliak
Cam and batty you are right…who do people think we should have signed? They tried with Heyward and Price…they are willing to spend but the fact is that no FA wants to play in St. Louis…that sucks but they have adapted well and produce from the farm…my one complaint about the FO is how they let Milwaukee get Yelich and instead traded for a hurt Ozuna? Yelich is controlled and was the power lefty bat they talk about needing…plus what they gave up for Ozuna they could have easily gave up a little more to beat the offer the Brewers gave up…they will have to make smart trades to compete…machado and Harper are not going to sign with the Cardinals…and who else in FA is really going to help…unfortunately Cardinals will most likely over pay for Donaldson
The Marlins told Mo that they weren’t interested in trading Yelich at that time, so they shifted to Ozuna. That has been documented, but few want to understand or believe it. Ozuna was having arm/shoulder problems last season as well, but still put up big numbers. Even medical reports miss things sometimes.
2015/16-
Price (they tried and that was the last time I was really excited with this FO)
Greinke (when Price fell through, they could have pivoted to another legitimate frontline starter)
Daniel Murphy
2016/17-
Edwin Encarnacion
2017/18-
Darvish
Moustakas
Addison Reed
No Matheny going into 17/18.
What do they owe the city? Why do they owe the city?
I wanted them to sign chatwood. Lol
I would have taken Moustakas.
I did want them to sign Jon jay instead of Fowler.
What does Dewitt owe the city of St. Louis? He bought the team with his own money, spends at least $150 million a year on payroll alone, and has built ballpark village with his own money. He makes millions because he provides services that people overwhelmingly enjoy. If you’re mad about Dewitt making money then quit going to games or watching them on tv. His ownership group turned around a struggling franchise when it took over and has produced pretty constant success. Bill Dewitt is a fine owner who owes the people nothing other than what he has been doing.
Would it be nice to see him agree to pay a superstar like Harper or Machado? Of course it would. But I’m not gonna demand Dewitt give a player the moon because he “owes us.”
Vedder- You’re right- it’s their money, their business, and they don’t “owe” anything to the city. But I still think its fair of me to want more (a competitive, playoff caliber team) from an ownership group that’s banking millions of dollars every year- especially since said ownership group uses tax backed bonds to build an entertainment monopoly in downtown St. Louis (in turn, squeezing out small business owners). Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the DeWitt’s do plenty of good for the city and are very charitable. It’s just been the same thing year in, year out, these last few years and I’m sick of it. I didn’t buy a ticket or watch a game on FSN last year, so as a fan what should I do next? What should I expect from the FO? If it’s unfair of me to want more, I guess I need to find another team to root for…
Cardinals traded for the wrong Marlins outfielder. If they had Yelich ….. but hey they had Fowler.
Agree neither Machado nor Harper will sign with St. Louis. Maybe Donaldsons does but how good he will be remains in doubt
Well instead if taking no for an answer perhaps Mo should have made an offer and went for Yelich. How do you think the Brewers got him? They went after him! Good teams and good front offices go after what they want. How could they think Yelich was not really available when everyone knew the Marlins had everyone on the block.
No excuse for the Cardinals failure here. And it cost them big time!
I agree JKB…this excuse of Yelich wasn’t available is bull…I do understand that the cardinals jumped on the next best thing…and honestly if ozuna comes out next year like he played in the second half, the cardinals still got a good deal…and if we can extend him ok even better…but Yelich was exactly what the cardinals needed…even the cardinals admit they need a good power lefty in the lineup…he was there for the taking
STL17…I think letting Max S go was a big mistake…he was from the area…but Daniel Murphy…we had Wong and believed he was and still is legit…Edwin? He was a DH type of guy and meant for the AL…I hope you are joking about Darvish….Moose I actually could see…I think he would have helped us this year but you had the whole Martinez, carp, Gyrko thing…and I agree about Reed but really I don’t think that was a mistake to worry about…but I would agree mostly with you in hindsight
Waino for 4 years and 80 mil. Because loyalty. It’s the Cardinal Way.
Wow guys Adam Wainwright posts on here. That’s pretty cool of him
If u are gonna criticize, come armed with facts.. Cards didnt give Waino 4/80. 2013 ST it was 5/97..
I meant a new extension. And was obviously joking.
Shouldn’t the Cardinals also look to add a starter with Wacha only having 1 year left?
Cardinals have 10 pitchers competing for the starting rotation next year?
Cards are getting predictable. I see a long-term extension for Bader because, after all, he played almost a full year already. Their tendency to fall in love with a player after the slightest hint of ability will eventually hurt them.
Please plee…you have acted like you have known th Cardinals before and ended up being completely wrong…they sign them early and pay them cheap…none of the contracts you are talking about have hurt the Cardinals…yea it is hit or miss but either way it doesn’t hamstring the cardinals…as mentioned in the article the Cardinals have plenty of money to spend
Sorry cards81, didn’t realize you were the moderator in comment section! Of course, there are no comments here other than those submitted by experts. I simply stated the tendency to extend young players sooner than most teams would. It usually takes more than one year to establish value that should be rewarded long-term. Why are the Cards so eager to sign them when min$$ would suffice until value is established? Just an unusual practice that Cards do too often imo
In my opinion, the cardinals give early extensions for 2 reasons: 1. If the player really blows up, they have them locked in at an affordable rate that would cost far less than what 3 or 4 arbitration years would total, as well as getting an extra year of control usually by buying out a year of free agency. And 2. If the player levels off or doesn’t show much improvement (Allen Craig, Wong, Piscotty), they are still on affordable enough contracts that they don’t hamstring the team and the player sill holds decent trade value (again, Craig and Piscotty).
I would say the extensions for Craig, Carpenter, and Martinez all have held or currently hold a lot of value. Wongs deal is probably around his exact market value, piscotty got back a couple decent players, and dejongs extension is still up in the air, while his power and defense seem to project to the deal being a good one.
I’d be willing to hear why these deals could have downside though. It’s a fascinating subject.
Exactly jlmini10…although with Wongs defense I think his value is more…hopefully next year with playing time he proves me right, but either way he has already been worth his contract…I hope they do sign Bader the same way…like Wong his defense alone is worth it…even if the cardinals get burnt on a contract the risk is well worth the reward in mid players they sign…simply in example of Wong and Bader…their defense alone is worth it
If the Giants were smart, they’d sign LeMahieu and move Panik to the bench – his bat isn’t strong enough in an already-weak lineup and the Giants need offense by any means necessary. Make him sit until he hits, then mix him in more.
And of course all players hit well being benched with little to no ABs.
shut it dodger fan!!
He’s not even a Dodgers fan lol.
At best he’s an “A’s fan”.
Same ole Song, Same ole Dance from the Cardinals concerning their offseason. The only difference is that DeWitt said it, not Mozeliak. This statement absolutely positively confirms that the Cardinals WILL NOT sign any front line Impact players during the off-season. Just as every off season has gone under John Mozeliak since 2012. 2019’s Cardinal team will be extremely comparable to the past 3 seasons. Wow!!!
They signed Fowler and Leake.
And they are repeatedly over .500
And spending big money doesn’t equate to more wins
If DeWitt is saying it, something will happen. If not, I guarantee that John Mozeliak will get fired.
Who are the “front line impact players” available? Machado and Harper are definitely in that list. They already have a ton of starters, so that would seemingly eliminate Kershaw and Kuechel. Maybe they will dip into the RP market, but that tends to be the riskiest market, and the area that is usually available for upgrade at the trade deadline. So essentially you are saying if they don’t sign Machado or Harper, the off season is a failure?
Via trade, they should go after a frontline starter- deGrom would be my top choice. If they could bypass free agency to get a difference maker, show they’re committed to winning, I wonder how many FA’s would reconsider STL.
Exactly though…they are going to have to make a big trade I order to lure FA…Degrom would be a start lol …what would that take though…Reyes, Weaver, O’Neill …and another at least
The cardinals will try to sign Harper but he won’t sign until at least January. The cardinals won’t wait that long. They’ll sign Donaldson. I think they should look at Robertson to close, if not maybe Ottavino for competition.
Any posters from the MLB chat threads on here? It seems they have gone kaput as of Oct 8, even the way we were beating the system is now kaput
Good to see Benoit take the Nats for a cool million this year. They should’ve never signed him to a guaranteed deal but that was the least of their many mistakes this year. Underachieving once again.