The Cardinals announced yesterday they have placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist strain. The placement is retroactive to August 1, meaning O’Neill could return to action as soon as next Sunday.
O’Neill’s 2019 production has been more or less what we’ve come to expect from the 24 year-old. He’s got prodigious raw power and shocking speed, but he’s yet to translate those immense physical gifts into consistent big league results. In 266 MLB plate appearances over the past two seasons, O’Neill has slashed a solid but unspectacular .266/.309/.467 (106 wRC+). That output is propped up by an unsustainable .382 batting average on balls in play, masking a dreadful combination of strikeouts (37.1%) and walks (5.0%). As a player with strong exit velocities and elite speed, it’s fair to note O’Neill has the type of profile conducive to maintaining a high BABIP, but even the game’s best hitters come nowhere close to sustaining a figure near O’Neill’s .382 mark over multiple seasons.
While O’Neill’s early MLB stats aren’t the most encouraging, there’s still ample promise in his long-term profile. Injuries and a crowded corner outfield mix in St. Louis have kept him from getting a chance to play everyday at the highest level. This current IL stint will mark O’Neill’s fifth over the past two seasons. It seems too early to label O’Neill an injury-prone player, though, and an extended run of health and playing time could give the prodigious athlete a chance to iron out the plate discipline woes that have been his undoing so far. Further, his career high minors performance has been superb, and unlike some bat-first performers in Triple-A, O’Neill comes with a top prospect pedigree.
Whether that extended big league opportunity comes in St. Louis or elsewhere remains to be seen. O’Neill wasn’t entirely off limits in discussions leading up to the July 31 deadline (although they seemingly never aggressively shopped him either), so the team could theoretically revisit talks this offseason. However, the aforementioned corner outfield crunch may sort itself out organically. Marcell Ozuna, who was activated from his own IL stint to take O’Neill’s place on the active roster, is an impending free agent and has earned a competitive market with a strong platform season. José Martínez, meanwhile, figures to again pop up in trade rumors this winter involving AL clubs, where his bat-first profile is an easier roster fit. It seems the Cardinals can make space long-term for the supremely talented, if still flawed, young slugger.
O’Neill for Wheeler. Who says, “No?” Mo says, “No.”
Would’ve said yes and pulled a quad sprinting to the fax machine.
Your a bunch of morons, giving up a bright future for a overrated 2 month rental?
This coming from a guy who doesn’t know the difference between YOUR and YOU’RE, and you’re calling others morons? Wheeler gives over 6 innings per start with a K/BB ratio over 4. His FIP is 3.51 with a 2.1 WAR. He’s sure as hell better than Wacha, PDL, or any other guy the Cards try to use in that spot. Why does he only have to be a rental? Hell, they gave one hit wonder, Mikolas, $68M.
It’s “you’re” Einstein…
The thought of giving up Oniel for a rental – especially one coming off of injury and really isn’t that great – is boarderline stupid.
Step one – glad we kept Oniell
Step two – let him play, without benching him every other game, for at least half a season.
Just pretend he is Fowler, Carp or any of these others overpaid guys that MO insists that we keep playing (I am talking about last year with Fowler)
You haven’t paid attention to Memphis. Even Springfield with Dylan Carlson, who could be the starting OF next year. O’Neill is a replaceable play. Very replaceable. The question, really, is if Wheeler is good enough to make the Cardinals better.
Payne, the idiots are ANYONE that thinks O’Neill is an every day player in this league. Therefore, he’s tradeable for anyone, especially a guy who is better than Wacha or DPDL. But as always, it’s not about winning here. It’s about being competitive and making sure there is enough grass for 3M sheeple to graze on.
Ozuna is back. 38-41. He’s a winning player.
Apart from Goldschmidt and De Jong I don’t see any above ave batters for their position going forward the next few years.
Thank you Johnny Superscout
It doesn’t take a scout to recognize that.
Look your emotional and I understand that,you’ve got to move on with your life. There must be someone willing to settle for second best.
Don’t quit your day job, cheese boy. Besides, your wife is taken.
My 2020 outfield: Arozarena, Bader and Carlson.
Trade the rest.
Lane Thomas over Bader and yes to the rest.
Bader is Bourjos 2.0
lol yes – three unproven OF to take up the whole outfield next year . It’s working well for our AAA so why wouldn’t we be successful in the major leagues.
Bader or Musclehead for Wheeler. I would’ve drove either one of them to NY myself. Great work Mo Ron. Typical Cardinals. Horde all these great prospects for the future and don’t realize you are in first place at time of trade deadline. So, if you think this team isn’t worthy enough to improve to win, who is to blame? Matheny? Now Shildt? Fredbird? Gussie Busch? Joke.
All these great prospects? They have a bottom half farm system. They need to let ot heal
Guys, it’s been stated a few times it wasn’t one of the two outfielders straight up for wheeler. It would required multiple more players and for 10 starts it wouldn’t have been worth it. Let’s this team win run and over achieve if they can and sign one or two starters from next years free agent class
It was not going to require multiple players for Wheeler.
“Quick thing, covered in here, #Cardinals “explored a deal for Wheeler and #Mets asking price was an everyday OF AND additional players. Source told me not a straight swap, but as a centerpiece. Cards saw package as high cost for 11 starts. Argue away” Derrick Goold – STL Post Dispatch
Goold is a mouthpiece for the excuse maker, Mozeliak. You really need to stop reading and listening to the local suck up media. Even if it is true, the other pieces were likely low, low end minor leaguers and a batting cage.
*Gets show evidence that they’re incorrect about sonething* NO!! YOU’RE WRONG ONLY THE INFORMATION I HAVE CAN BE RIGHT! FAKE NEWS! jeez
Yeah, because ALL news is 100% accurate. Jeez. Remember, this is the local front office idiot, telling a local media idiot, what he wants the fans to know in order to make him not look like a fool.
Just saying, I showed my source. Haven’t seen any that stated 100% it would be a 1 for 1 trade. And it definitely wouldnt have been worth it to sell the far for a slightly above average pitcher in a walk year
That’s fine. Now use logic in your own argument. If Wheeler is a rental for 10 starts, and he’s not good, why would the Mets think they can get more than a MLB READY player for him?
Because they’re the mets. They’re going to ask the world for everyone because they’re in the NY market and of they sell any part of the team the fan base will explode. They are also hoping yuup try to draw connections to the package the Ray’s got for Chris Archer and, even though Archer has more team control, the mets will try to use “Well hes better then Archer so he MUST get more of a return
Nick Stevens is the smartest person in every room he’s ever in and you’re just wrong….
Dot, you are learning. Nicely done.
Bad comp.
That’s all you got? Bad comp? Not gonna defend yourself?
Carter in here whopped you guys in this senseless argument.
He said it would taken more, you didn’t believe him. He gives you the evidence, then you cry that the source (the source we use everywhere) is somehow incorrect. All so you can complain about the front office not doing enough.
Sheesh
By you guys I mean Stevens
Lol – the Stevens guy is just a troll . Complains about everything like it’s his fantasy baseball team and acts like he understands how professional baseball is played and managed . Perfect example of why these forums are almost impossible to read .
nick has his points, most are spot on
Archer was a better pitcher with more control. Didn’t know it needed explaining.
Thank you, Judge Schmales.
Troll, if you don’t listen to local media like it’s gospel, then according these nimrod, you’re either a troll or now it’s fantasy baseball comments. This place makes me laugh every time I’m on here. I do enjoy it.
I feel like next years outfield needs to see Ozuna walk
Let it be an all out competition with the younger guys
Martinez and Fowler get first crack, and as long as they are posting 110 wRC+ or better, they can start most games.
But then I would have an open competition for the last two outfield spots on the MLB roster
Bader, O’Neill, Thomas, Arozarena, maybe even Justin Williams
Whoever is playing the best is the third starter in the outfield (with a CFer necessary of course), and the second place guy is the 4th outfielder and primary injury replacement and day off sub. And then the next two shuttle to Memphis and back as injuries and regression happen. The competition stays on all year.
But if Carlson gets the call to the big leagues at some point in the year, he needs to be playing everyday. He has the upside to be the best of the bunch.
Let Ozuna walk, no need to sign anyone or trade for any outfielders. There is plenty of talent here to see two or three guys emerge into everyday players eventually, hopefully allowing Fowler/Martinez to move on.
Ozuna will most likely accept the QO, and it will be Ozuna in left, Fowler in right, and CF up for grabs … that’s my best guess just by seeing how that outfield has been managed over the last handful of years.
All of that pending a trade or two in the offseason . But if everyone’s asking prices are as high as they were during the trade deadline – we won’t be trading anyone … and probably rightfully so .
What we have currently will, in my opinion, only be a serious playoff team, if they sign a Kuetchel, Cole or someone like it in the offseason, as well as monitor the bullpen market.
I can see Ozuna accepting the QO, and that would be pretty painful if he did because if the team intends to have a payroll around $180M, that would mean they wouldn’t have really any funds for pitching (depending on arbitration players, they will be right around $160M committed)
Personally, I’d go into the off-season with just some minor moves
Add Freese as a right handed backup for 1B/3B and let Munoz and Edman work in Memphis and be the injury backups for Wong/DeJong/Carpenter/Freese (Munoz has one option year left, I say use it).
Bring back Wieters so Knizner can have his service time delayed, and if there is an injury to Molina/Wieters Knizner can be up and start to intend to have the full time job hopefully in 2021.
And then use the remaining $20M to spend on pitching. Cole is probably out of reach (I assume he’ll get around 6-7 years at around $33-35M per year) even if the Astros don’t re-sign him.
Ozuna could accept that QO, and that would be the remaining funds, but that would mean there isn’t anything left to address pitching without other payroll saving roster moves.
If the team comes out slow next year, a rebuild/re-tooling at the deadline makes a lot of sense (Wong, Martinez, Fowler more easily, Miller, etc can be moved) and start to prepare for hopefully Carlson, Gorman and others and do a softer rebuild. If they are competitive by mid-season, then add where necessary to the roster.
I don’t think they will be offering Ozuna the QO unless he just tears it up the remainder of this season, and that $20M will go toward the rotation/bullpen.
I guess you don’t know who Ozuna’s agent is?
Ryu is a Boras client and accepted the QO last year. Wieters also did it a few years ago. And that’s just from memory, I’m sure others have as well.
I stand corrected and he’s NOT represented by Boras any longer. However, don’t think that changes that a soon to be 29 year old will sign a QO. Not when a handful of dumb teams out there are likely willing to give him $20M per over 3-5 years.
Maybe, but with so few teams wanting to lose draft picks, and players aging poorly, and Ozuna being really just a 115 wRC+ hitter. It’s hard to see someone wanting to give him $75-100M with a QO if he doesn’t improve upon his season. Maybe I’m wrong.
Tyler…..make your rehab last until the end of Memphis’s season. Play and hit every day getting ready for 2020!! Help Bader lead the Redbirds to winning ways. Don’t come back up to watch Mozeliak’s dumbed down lineup because of his own ignorance.