It doesn’t sound as if the Cardinals are planning to make another addition to their roster. Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes president of baseball operations John Mozeliak in stating that the team has accomplished much of what it set out to do this winter. “Any move we would make now would sort of complicate things,” said Mozeliak. “Even if we were to break (camp) today, we’re going to have guys competing for at-bats already. And we still feel we have a lot of depth in our pitching.” Beyond that, Mozeliak indicated that he “[sees] no reason” that left fielder Marcell Ozuna wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. Ozuna played through a shoulder injury in 2018 and underwent offseason surgery, but Mozeliak notes that the outfielder is already swinging a bat and is on track to begin a throwing program when he reports to Spring Training in February.
More from the division…
- Nick Senzel will be given every opportunity to earn starting centerfield duties this season, per John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Reds have no shortage of outfielders, with Yasiel Puig, Scott Schebler, Jesse Winker and Matt Kemp all in the corner outfield mix, but none of them are natural fits in center. Phil Ervin will have the chance to take some at-bats, but he profiles better in the corners as well. The hope appears to be that Senzel will prove a quick study, able to secure his spot in the bigs by learning yet another new position. Senzel, of course, comes to big league camp a third baseman by trade, and he’s spent some time at second base as well – but with Eugenio Suarez locked into a long-term deal at third, and Scooter Gennett at least temporarily installed at second, Senzel’s path to the the bigs goes through the only position on the Reds lineup card without a starter in place.
- Former first round pick Luke Hagerty is attempting a comeback at age 37, writes ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Hagerty hasn’t pitched professionally since 2008 when a case of the yips drove him from the game. Hagerty has reworked his arsenal and his mindset at the Driveline Baseball Program, the same facility where Kyle Zimmer of the Royals trained last season. At a recent Driveline pro day tryout, the 6’7″ Hagerty averaged a 96.9 mph fastball, impressing himself and the area scouts in attendance. Sixteen and a half years after they signed him the first time, the Cubs signed Hagerty again, this time to a minor league deal. The first time through the Cubs system, Hagerty suffered from the yips, a hiccup rooted in psychology wherein an automatic physical ability, like throwing a baseball over the plate, suddenly and without apparent cause, becomes no longer automatic. The yips are a hurdle that Hagerty appears to have cleared, however, and the southpaw is throwing electric stuff. If Hagerty does make it to the show, he would be the oldest player (without international experience) to make his major league debut since Satchel Paige in 1948. Even Jim Morris, made famous by Dennis Quaid in Disney’s The Rookie, was three years younger than Hagerty when he took his last/best shot at the bigs.
ronnsnow
I guess Haggerty will be the next Pirates addition.
Monkey’s Uncle
If he was they could at least have Steve Blass counsel him if the yips returned. Then again Blass didn’t have the yips, he had… “Steve Blass disease”. For the yips they could call Mackey Sasser.
ABCD
But the Cubs beat them to it. Interesting. Probably won’t amount to anything but what a story if he does.
chitown311
Dumpster Divin’ Theo!
Mikel Grady
Great story . Rooting for him. You will think dumpster diving when Theo signs cole and or sale next year. Can’t be biggest spenders every year .
simschifan
K.
nikki29a
i’ll give you sale but cole lmfao imo cole wasn’t even that great in 08 when everyone thought he was the best lefty not named kershaw now at 30+ cole is going to be one of theo’s best signings is a joke imo theo needs to try and lock up his core and go after some young pitching and retool his staff. the cubs broke there curse now they need to focus on building a long term winner that has potential to be a playoff team instead of great for 4 to 6 years then suck for years. don’t get me wrong i have no love for the cubs but if the cubs and cards are good at the same time it’s better for baseball just like when the nyy and bod are good
Rob B
Gerrit Cole not Cole Hamels dummy!
chitown311
Good depth signing
pinstripes17
Your team traded Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields.
chitown311
Your team traded Eloy AND Cease for QQQQQQQQQQ!!!!!
chitown311
Name ONE Cubs starting pitcher that had more quality starts than James Shields last year. I’ll patiently wait for your answer
excusemeflo
Name ONE postseason appearance your team has had in the last ten years. I’ll patiently wait for your answer
simschifan
K.
jdgoat
You know you have no argument when QS is your go to.
petfoodfella
Name one Chicago team that didn’t lose 100 games 😀
chicagofan1978
James Shields should have been considered for the cy young last year. He was constantly singled out by the biased umpires and squeezed. It’s hard to win games when everything you throw is gonna be a ball. Sox need to resign him before someone else signs him
petrie000
Name which pitcher you’d actually want under contract right now….
twentyforty
And won a World Series…your point, bottom feeder?
Priggs89
Dylan Cease
ikker19
Only 30 walks in 6.2 innings in 2005. Bob Uecker said his pitches were “just a little outside”!!!
Kayrall
Lol
johnrealtime
Cherry pick one stat. I’ll wait for your answer
petrie000
A good conspiracy theory needs a believable ‘why’ to it and a villain who profits from it
So this one fails twice…
megaj
I though Jiminez and Cease were still prospects? When did they have great seasons in the majors and make the Cubs regret anything?
cygnus2112
How many F’n decades did it take for your wretched team to return to WS relevance & ultimately a championship?
Gimme a break…
petrie000
Take as long a break as you like… Not like your presence was requested in the first place…
cygnus2112
Well I did… So what? And?
petrie000
And no one is better off for it…
excusemeflo
Pretty crazy that a 37 yr old lefty can touch 99. Definitely a comeback I’ll be keeping track of, hope he can make the big club at some point this year
megaj
It is an anomaly, somewhat similar to Jim Morris’s story. I know people older (including myself) who throw just as hard as they did in their 20’s because they never really used their arms up in their youth. He really doesn’t have that much mileage on that arm.
ottomatic
is the “probably won’t amount to anything” comment really necessary? let me answer that. no, it’s not. good grief.
HOUShadows
MO needs to open his eyes and realize that you have a once in a life time player who is only 26 in Harper. You could defiantly plug him in right and you would pretty much be the favorites in the Central and maybe even the favorite to win the World Series. Don’t get me wrong Goldschmidt and Miller were great additions but why not go all out?
Chicks Dig the Longball
Once in a lifetime! Like the other guy out there that’s a generational talent! Like Arenado next year? Like Mookie and Trout the year after? These generations are coming by quick!
natelowda2
My thing is. The division keeps getting stronger and stronger. He said he wants a decision leading lineup everyday. Well I feel like we are two or pieces short of that.
fourth_dimension
It was actually Girsch who said we want a “division leading roster”. I actually believe him. I don`t believe Mo at anything as he always takes in riddles. You have to disect and read between the lines with him.
Girsch I appreciate more as he is much more transparent. The problem is Mo still has way to much control of roster building when it should be the GM, Girsch doing it.
natelowda2
I 100% agree with you.
Payne Train
None of those talents are 26, Harper and Machado are … the market is crap and they still refuse to talk to these guys … it’s embarassing, Cards sell out nights are going to keep going down until the front office decides to stop being so cheap and predictable .
socraticgadfly
First, on pure baseball value, I’ll take Machado over Harper any day, and have said so on my blog. Put him at short, make DeJong a supersub, then consider what to do a year later. If Ozuna walks, you can gamble with Carp in left for a year. Or he goes back to first if Goldy leaves.
That said, the Cards have prospects at third, so, doesn’t make sense.
Instead, get a Granderson for a cheap lefty OF bat.
I don’t want Harper. Period.
==
Better eye-opening, as I’ve also said before?
Dallas Keuchel.
Waino’s not a starter, Wacha’s an injury waiting to happen, and the team is putting too many eggs in the Reyes basket.
hollidayfever
LOLz on Dejong being a supersub in any universe other than the one you apparently reside. Machado is terrible defensively at SS. Dejong rated out top 5 this past year defensively by all metrics and is much better than Machado at SS in that regard. He was on a 5+WAR pace before breaking his hand via HBP and still was worth 3.3 WAR in 490 PA. He’s also only 8% less of a hitter than Machado for his career by WRC+ despite having more than half of one of his MLB seasons power-sapped due to the aforementioned HBP. He’s still a top 10 SS by WAR last year. Harper is a much better fit for this roster between he and Machado. I’m really glad you aren’t the Cards GM.
megaj
“Once in a lifetime” hahaha. Another one drinking the Kool-Aid. You must not have lived long if this is the best player in your lifetime.
Cincyshawn
Senzel will start in CF for 15 games for Louisville then when time up he will come up and depending on how Schebler is playing he will take over CF or he will be a super utility guy and play 4 times a week at CF 3B 2B SS LF
Rowsdower
Schebler sucks, Senzel needs to be in CF everyday
Bdonnell
With Cleveland’s lack of OFers and Cincy & Cleveland sharing the spring training facility in Goodyear, I bet Schebler gets moved over to the Indians clubhouse during spring training. Won’t be Kemp b/c Indians won’t want that salary. Reds would get back one of the more natural CF from Cle like Allen or Zimmer to pair w/ Senzel. Then Scooter walks after 19, Senzel slides to 2B if Trammel is ready to take over CF.
gocincy
That could work. I could also see Schebler head to SF. They need multiple outfielders and they’ll like that he’s cheap. Not sure what they could send us in return, though.
reds fan0000
Yeah they need to move on from schebler… he’s not going to be part of their future and is going to take away at bats from winker, puig, senzel and Kemp.
would really prefer to see him moved for whatever they can get back….
User 589131137
The Tribe doesn’t want your trash.
Bdonnell
Ok, fine. Keep your own trash. Schebler is gonna be a hit first, 1-2 WAR guy every year. Seems like something Cle could use in the short term. Allen won’t accumulate 2 WAR over his whole career and Zimmer is an injury-prone question mark and they’re both gonna sit behind Martin. Cincy just needs a natural CF guy that can share time w/ Senzel more than they need Schebler. Seemed like a natural fit.
fannclub6
Sounds like a typical Mo comment to throw everyone off when they are really thinking of adding someone. If Kimbrel’s demands come down they will listen.
redbird
Still think the Cards need a proven LH starter and closer in the BP. The model of improving a little and hoping, never taking the next step just leads fans along . Look what the Yanks are doing with their pen-executing a strategy to win a World Series, not hoping!
JJB
Luke Hagerty has a great story. It’s unfortunate he shares a first name and last initial with that horrible pedophile pitcher that went undrafted.
dray16
thanks for bringing him up again, why?!?!
DarkSide830
highly unnessicary to note.
petrie000
What a tenuous and completely pointless observation…
gocincy
I’ve always been saddened by the fact that Aaron Hicks has the same initials as Adolf Hitler. Really bums me out. Think about it often.
Joe Kerr
lmao
WillieMaysHayes24
Aaron Hernandez as well.
dgarn
When the offseason started Mo and Co said they were “all in” for 2019. I can’t believe this is all in. There are great options out there that could make the team so much better. The other thing I don’t understand is how they can say they don’t want to give a 26 year old a 10 year deal due to regression in the 30 plus year old seasons but are talking an extension for Goldy whi is already 31. I get it he is one of the best 1st basemen currently but is there no concern about possible regression for him on a 5 year deal?
allweatherfan
The Cards dodged bullets with Pujols and Heyward. No need to risk it on Harper. Yes, Harper is better than Heyward but he’s not worth 10.
dgarn
It’s not just Harper. I agree 10 years is much for him or Machado. However either of those guys for 7 or 8 with some vesting options or if they hit milestones during certain years that could increase the deal could be worked in. They could also get Kimbrel or Keuchel at this point. I am just saying if they are “all in ” I personally don’t see it if they make no more moves.
Moneyballer
Disney is patiently waiting to pick up the movie rights. Best of luck Hagerty!
petrie000
I expect great things from the new ‘The Rookie Cinematic Universe’ franchise
Cardinals17
“Any move we make now would kinda complicate things”. Folks, that’s the quote and attitude the Cardinals fans are so disgusted with. While there was a terrific, (1 year) signing of Paul Goldschmidt and a name recognizable signing of an oft injured reliever Andrew Miller, the Reds and Brewers have gone out of their comfort zone to improve their teams!!! With president of baseball operations John Mozeliak to make a quote as listed above makes a Cardinal fan scratch his head. Thinking on the positive side, maybe he and Michael Girsch plan on looking over the roster and games in spring training and upgrading the obvious deficiencies prior to the season. That’s reasonable!! Right now, there’s a lot of question marks as to the personnel the Cardinals are counting on having improved seasons. Carpenter’s arm and back, Fowler’s hitting, Ozuna’s arm, Wong’s oft injuries, C. Martinez mental attitude, A. Reyes arm, Wainwright arm, Wacha’s shoulder, Miller’s injury past, Cecil ?, Gregerson ?, Leone?, and on and on. All have to click to even be a 2nd Wild Card contender. So…..we’ll find out if John Mozeliak is really in touch with reality in comparison to the Cardinals and the other Central Division teams. Or….that he is totally out of touch and the Cardinals as they stand now, won’t make the playoffs for another season.
batty
Goldy was traded for.
The Reds picked up an aging Kemp and a prima donna in Puig with a few #4’s or 5’s as starters. The Brewers got Grandal on a 1 year contract. I wouldn’t say any of those moves are beyond the respective team’s comfort zones.
Calm down.
gocincy
Disagree. The Cardinals and Cubs might be guilty of complacency. It’s a tough division and every roster spot will matter. The edges of the Cards roster look questionable, especially when you consider the injury history and ages of the starting lineup.
megaj
The Cubs have the luxury of being complacent because if you think about it they are getting the equivalent of 4 solid free agents in Darvish, Bryant, Morrow, and Hamels who were either not with the team or injured most of last year. Add those to the depth they have added to their bullpen ranks and I think the odds makers have it spot on that they take the division this year. Seriously, if the Cubs would have added Kimbrel or one of the other 2nd tier closers, they would probably be the most rounded team in baseball.
moethacker
Good objective analysis Cardinals17. A lot of fans freak out when someone comments as you did, but all of your points are well taken. I do see Batty’s point also – who knows what Puig will bring to the table and Kemp’s career has been marked by its inconsistency, Brewers only signed Grandal for a year, but given that the seasons ahead is the one you are expressing concerns about, The Reds started to get some buzz at the end of last year and they are still the trendy pick to improve in the Central. I like a lot of their moves because they have kept their top prospects in house in the process.
Cubs fan resigned to the Ricketts family decision to sew up the purse strings this offseason who can see the Cubs finishing anywhere from 1st to 4th, It’s easy to think Theo’s broken offense is going to heal itself and maybe they will. Maybe they will get a healthy season out of Bryant – maybe Contreras won’t wear down to nothing – maybe Rizzo won’t hit .150 the first seven weeks – maybe Baez will build on what he did last year, and on and on. It could just as easily go the other way. Young players who are part-time players (Schwarber, Happ,Almora) find it difficult to settle into anything consistent offensively – again – Baez regresses – age catches up with Zobrist (see 2017) – Heyward’s suckage continues unabated – Russell (who should have been released) continues to deteriorate as a baseball player. Haven’t even mentioned the concerns about starting pitching. Lester and Hamels have age issues. Hamels was very good after the pick up, but prior he had shown significant drop off, which might come nearer his full-season performance than last year’s change of scene, change of league boost. Quintana is okay – except for that one inning a game where he stands on the mound with a look on his face suggesting that he does not know where he is or why. Hendricks is consistent, although his early inning woes, especially early in the season, were hard to watch. Although the bullpen put up good numbers (aside from Duensing and Kintzler), their appearances in games did not inspire confidence last year even though they were 6th overall in save percentage in MLB.
Kayrall
/book
Payne Train
Agree with cards17 .
bourbon
Not disgusted and dont want Harper, Machado, Kuechel or Kimbrel.
jd396
Jesus
klarmore11
At least two unnecessary commas in the last sentence… I don’t know whether MLBTR is just trying to confuse us or just doesn’t know how to use them, either way #StopCommaAbuse
gocincy
Please propose a rewrite. I think those commas are perfectly valid. Personally, I would have used dashes in lieu of the commas, but that’s preference, not grammar.
JJB
It’s probably TC’s fault as he’s still new and learning his way, which is why Steve had to step in as a “co-writer”.
swinging wood
The comma usage in the last sentence was correct. I have no idea what you are griping about.
Furthermore, you don’t know how to use commas in your own comment. You are also missing a period at the end.
moe 3
Ban coma’s
throwinched10
What is the Reds starting OF this season? Winker in LF, Schebler/Senzel in CF and Puig in RF??
Payne Train
Sorry MO – but your probably competing for 3rd or 4th in the central. You stopped to early at trying to make the team better.
If miller gets hurt our bullpen is literally worse than it was last year …. and it was bad last year …. Such a joke.
throwinched10
If the Cardinals are smart, they keep Alex Reyes at the back end of the bullpen with Jordan Hicks and Andrew Miller. 100 mph doesn’t stick in the rotation, taking the ball every 5th day for 5 or 6 innings. The offense is solid but the rotation could use a bump. I think their offense will keep them in the hunt though.
22Leo
I’m not a Cards fan, but quite frankly the only thing interesting in this MLB off-season so far is their acquisiton of Goldschmidt. That goes for the entire league.
snakebyte32
Yeah the cards have not done enough to be favorites to win the division. They have payroll space. It’s not even disputed when they are asked. Don’t get why they aren’t doing more to separate themselves a bit. I would think a starter over another bullpen or bench piece.
TheAdrianBeltre
Maybe Puig in CF? Surely he cannot be worse than Choo…
22Leo
Puig isn’t terrible for CF, but he is a beast in RF with that arm. You never know when he may throw a slacking runner out on a routine single at first base..someone like, just off the top of my head, Manny Machado. Wherever Puig plays in the OF players are clearly hesitant to push their luck to gain an extra base when he fields the ball.
its_happening
I wonder if Passan was overcome by emotion while covering the story of Hagerty. Feel-good stories will do that to social justice snowflakes.
petrie000
What’s so inherently terrible about the occasional ‘feel good story’? Does any emotion besides anger make you break out in hives or something?
ottomatic
just ignore it. or try. I’m sure he’s a miserable human being.
petrie000
Yeah, probably. Though honestly I don’t get why anyone who enjoys baseball wouldn’t like this story
The dudes finally getting a chance to live his dream on a contending team that could very well be in a position to give him a significant role.
If everything breaks right, this guy could go from out of baseball to on a playoff roster, that would just be cool.
its_happening
Petrie – has nothing to do with the player. It’s a nice opportunity for him, The writer is a different story. If you had read the comment properly you would have recognized that. Instead, you and Ottomoron debated whether I’m miserable. Hate to break it to you both, things are pretty good.
its_happening
Hey sorry Petrie, after my comment I took a look at some replies to other comments (I do work and have a life, so sometimes I don’t check here often). Just want to let you know you made the Top 5 stupidest commenters on this site and want to be the first to congratulate you. Your ignorance is second to none. Keep up the bad commenting.
petrie000
That would hurt if respected your opinion on anything, snowflake
Chuck W
For the Reds and their “unfilled” centerfield opening. I see no mentioning of the 3 in house possibilities.
1st. Jose Siri. A top notch prospect that seems to get no love. Been showing great progress in the minors.
2nd Lorenzen has been taking field in the off season and says he wants to play CF. Bell has already said that he is very open to the idea. Thought to been able to be a 50 HR guy when drafted. If he could obp over .350 could be a very fun thing to watch even if they would lose games again this year.
3rd Jose Peraza leaving Senzel to start at SS. Which makes the most sense to me since as you are only looking for a 1 year guy in CF anyways when Trammel comes up. Also he is quite capable of hitting in the 1 or 2 whole.