The Cardinals weren’t one of the league’s better-hitting teams in general last season, and in particular struggled against right-handed pitching. For that reason, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters (including MLB.com’s Anne Rogers and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold) that “if we could find a way to get a little more lefthanded, we would be encouraged to do that. So, I think people feel that they’re a little too lefthanded [in their lineup] then it might make sense for us to be talking.” Mozeliak hinted that the Cards would prefer to add a lefty bat in a trade rather than through the free agent market, though trade talks have been “slow” to date.
To this end, Goold reports that the Cardinals have been looking to add a left-handed hitting outfielder in exchange for a package that would include at least one of their young right-handed hitting outfielders. Looking at such players on the Cards’ 40-man roster, Harrison Bader, Jose Martinez, Yairo Munoz, Tyler O’Neill, Lane Thomas, Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, and Rangel Ravelo are all either full-time outfielders or at least have some outfield experience, leaving St. Louis with a wealth of possible trade chips for trades large or small.
By contrast, the Rangers are a team with a surplus of left-handed outfielders, and Goold reports that Texas and St. Louis have indeed been in talks. The Cards’ ideal acquisition would be both relatively inexpensive and capable of playing every day. The latter issue could keep the Cardinals from pursuing someone like the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, in Goold’s view, given Pederson’s struggles at hitting lefty pitching (though I would submit that the Cards would certainly seem to have enough right-handed hitting depth to find a platoon partner for Pederson in center field).
Of course, the Cardinals would get an immediate boost against right-handed pitching if their most prominent left-handed hitter returned to his old form after a disastrous 2019 season. Mozeliak revealed that Matt Carpenter has begun an offseason training program to add both weight and strength, after tests from the performance department revealed that Carpenter declined in both areas over the course of the season. “He’s one of those types of players that has a hard time holding weight,” Mozeliak said. “One of the things that we’ve tried to do this offseason is find a strength program that we think could work for him so he can maintain that. As the season unfolds, it’s something that we’ll need to be conscious of and intentional about to try to keep that up.”
In addition to their search for lefty bats, the Cardinals are still interested in a very prominent right-handed bat in Marcell Ozuna. Mozeliak felt his club was “still in the game,” for the free agent slugger, saying “we’re not closing any doors. Doors may get closed, but it’s not our doing.” The Reds, Braves, Rangers, Diamondbacks, and White Sox have all been mentioned as interested parties in the Ozuna market, and with reports indicating that the bidding could go as high as five years, it seems hard to imagine St. Louis is willing to truly break the bank to re-sign Ozuna. Since Ozuna rejected the qualifying offer, the Cardinals will obtain an extra pick (roughly between the 75th-85th overall selections) in the 2020 draft should Ozuna sign elsewhere.
Mazara to Cards? Could be interesting. Wish Choo was still a little better in the OF, would love to see him in the lineup for a year or two. Calhoun is one of my favorite prospects, but that seems a little more far-fetched.
I’m a big believer in Justin Williams, though
A few LH OF that I would reasonably consider for the cards would be joc Pederson, David peralta, Kevin pillar, mazara, Gallo, or maybe try to pry Kyle tucker from the Astros, but I doubt that happens. Unfortunately none of these guys jump off the page as difference makers that put your team over the top. Maybe gallo if he can stay consistent.
Are they going to teach Pillar to bat LH? He’s a RH batter. TX won’t trade Gallo. Period. Unless you want to part with Flaherty or some stupid ask.. So no way. Plus Gallo strikes out a TON. I do like Pederson a lot, probably more than others. But he is a platoon bat. Mazara is not worth it imo. Unless he’s cheap. He’s been terrible. Tucker would be very interesting, but at what cost? Houston would want to fleece the Cardinal’s. Nah, I stay away from Houston until punishments are decided. They probably won’t want to trade Tucker anyway for fear of draft pick, or international spending punishments. Before I gave up a lot in a trade for mediocre, I’d just sign Corey DIckerson or Kole Calhoun and use my surplus OF trades for pitching. Unless we’re really looking at MadBum or Keuchel. Which I hope they are.
TBH I’d throw handedness out the window and try to get Haniger or Mancini. Although Mancini might be Castellanos 2.0
But you are correct, none of the ones you listed scream MVP.
Mazara is a Rangers home field creation.. Pass
His average is better at home (by 31 points), but he’s hit only 3 fewer homers on the road in his career. He’s better than you give him credit for and is still only 24.
Yeah, I’m sure he and his career 92 wRC+ is just what the Cardinals are looking for. [/sarcasm]
Jackie Bradley Jr is a lefty bat. And the Sox have a lefty pitcher. Of course, my trade presumes sending Carp to Boston in return. socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/12/cardinals-pitc…
Get ready for Jon Willie Jay to return.
How exactly does Mazara improve the offense? He’s never even been a league average hitter!
Corey Dickerson is the perfect fit. 1-2 Yr deal in the $8M per season range. Ozuna has no market. Qualifying Offer Attached, defensive liability corner bat. Watch he lands w/ Brewers on pillow contract the way Yasmani Grandal did last offseason.
Brewers don’t need an outfielder
Not a Cardinals fan, but I agree that Dickerson makes a load of sense. He had a 136 wRC+ vs RHP last season with a career mark of 125 wRC+.
That being said, what they REALLY need is a LHH CF because starting Fowler in CF isn’t ideal. Maybe Brett Gardner makes sense given Bader’s presence can give him regular days-offs.
They only start Fowler in CF when Martinez or Edman are in RF. Fowler is the RF whenever Bader, O’Neill, Lane, Arozerena, or (eventually) Carlson are in the lineup. They just need a big bat to replace Ozuna in LF, then Fowler will still play RF most of the time.
Also, Ozuna was only defensively limited while playing with a bum shoulder in 2018. Otherwise, he’s a very decent (at worst) defensive left fielder.
Dickerson played well for the Phillies last year while battling injuries. Cards would be wise to sign him IMHO. Cards might also look at Odubel Herrera (CF). Phillies would probably give him away, but he was pretty good his first three years in the league. Worth a shot, especially with the small asking price.
I like Dickerson also but like the article said they want to add and subtract by trade…the 40 man roster is full so adding anybody by FA they would either have to give someone away in a trade or release someone…which I don’t think they want to do…the outfield talent is good just everyone bats right…but they do have Carlson coming up who is a switch hitter but I assume they want him a little more seasoned in Triple A and they probably at least will manipulate his time by keeping him down in the minors
You sir, have obviously never seen Odubel play.
Why would you claim a player has no market when several teams are actively considering him? Nonsense.
Agree 100%. Corey is a great fit for several teams though
I have been championing Dickerson for a long time. No reason he could not be platooned against tough lefties and replaced late in games by a better defender, although he is no slouch. The question remains what to do about Edman who is a budding star. He has to play every day. I guess he could also platoon with Carpenter and Martinez, but while he has shown to be a good outfielder, his infield defense is so good it seems like a waste. I guess it is a good option to have with multiple options, but another leftie bat at a corner outfielder spot is essential.
they are saying that Edman is going to be the backup for shortstop this year also
Jose Martinez and a mid-tier prospect for JBJ on the Sox? I know JBJ doesn’t exactly scream left-handed offensive weapon BUT he does have plus power and if the Cards think he can revert to his prior form of a couple years ago it could be a relatively cheap (acquisition cost wise) move that would bolster their defense and give them a LH-hitting OF with some power and potential to be an average to above average LH-hitting OF. Plus he’s definitely an ‘everyday guy’ more or less though if he doesn’t improve offensively he also isn’t exactly a big bat they may be looking for.
Pretty redundant with Bader imo
Would acquiring Bradley really require Martinez and a prospect? It seems like Martinez alone would be enough…
I’ve thrown around a different trade.
Cardinals get:
Mookie Betts
David Price
Red Sox get:
Matt Carpenter
Alex Reyes
Ramon Urias
Lane Thomas
The Cardinals play Edman full-time at 3B with an OF of O’Neill/?, Betts, and Fowler. Price certainly helps that rotation. The Price-Carpenter swap essentially means the Red Sox are “eating“ over 1/2 of Price’s contract.
The Red Sox solve their hole at 1B with Carpenter, get the type of high-upside young MLB-ready arm they covet, get potentially passable solutions at 2B/OF….all while shedding $40M payroll.
It is kind of a bananas proposal that made more sense before Wainwright re-signed. But it does make some sense for both sides. It would require Cardinals ownership to increase payroll by $40M for 1 season. It would require the Red Sox to realize the only way to move enough of Price’s contract is to package him with an asset like Betts(safely assuming Xander and Devers are completely off the table)
Unfortunately, Carpenter has a full no trade clause. No way he signs off on a trade. We’re stuck with him and that joke of a contract extension he signed after two hot months.
He will certainly waive his no trade if his 2022 vesting option becomes guaranteed(which my proposal assumes)
Keep stating factually incorrect information.
Carp was cold in April & Sept 2018 season, then banged out MVP numbers.
Stop lying about easily provable facts. Just makes you look dumb.
Also, IIRC, the no-trade doesn’t kick in until start of 2020 season.
Betts for Hudson and Edman.
I wouldn’t trade Edman for Betts straight up. Edman is that good.
You would trade a player who had a few decent months for an MVP caliber player?
You wouldn’t trade Edman for Betts? You really are dumber than I could ever imagine.
Yeah, I meant, wouldn’t?
Replace Carp with Miller and Cecil that makes the money a little closer Carp will not waive his trade clause. Unless they pick up his option. I like the idea
I suggest Carp for JBJ + Price. As with you, frees room for Edman.
An error or two on yours. Carp would be 2B; that’s where the Sox black hole is.
Mo ain’t trading for Betts as a rent-a-player. Just not happening.
This is much simpler otherwise.
socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/12/cardinals-pitc…
no one is taking carp lol get real
Even without Carpenter, the Cardinals can’t afford both Betts and Price with the huge raises that are due to Goldschmidt and Mikolas. Just resigning Ozuna would be close to tapping out their 2020 payroll.
Besides, the Cardinals don’t even need another high level starter with Martinez likely due to return to the rotation and plenty of depth (Reyes, Gomber, Gant, Ponce de Leon, etc.) even if C-Mart has to stay in the bullpen.
This would be the Carlos Martinez who just had a shoulder “procedure” of some sort?
This would be the Reyes who’s been injured two years in a row?
Unlike many other Cards fans, I don’t count unhatched chickens.
I like it. But it will never happen!!! The Owners and the front office will never admit what a royal screw up by signing Carpenter to 2 yrs. and $36 million. This blocks Edmans at 3rd or trading for a 3rd baseman. Also? $36 million would be available toward someone who can actually hit for an average instead of waiting for a walk or strikeout. It’s a shame Carpenter didn’t retire while he was at the top of his game rather than ending it in disgrace!!!!.
JBJ plus a certain Sox lefty on the mound (in exchange, sending Carp back, which would fill a Sox need). socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/12/cardinals-pitc…
Carpenter will start the year at 3rd base, guaranteed. And he’ll contribute. Just repeating yourself aint gonna change nuthin.
Carpenter’s performance did not deteriorate during the season. Started bad. Stayed bad. Not sure this program is the answer, but good luck with that.
I think they meant his performance on the strength test, not his on the field performance.
You are right though.
He started to come good towards the end of the year. Had some clutch hits, didn’t do much to cement his spot in the playoffs. Disappointing year overall but come on perfect candidate for a bounce back year.
Kole Calhoun is a perfect fit. He’s a durable left handed bat and you will get amazing defense.
I agree.
Mets have too many LH-hitting corner OF’s and need pitching.
_
Michael Conforto and Jake Marisnick to the Cardinals.
John Gant, Harrison Bader, and 2-3 Triple-A pitchers to the Mets.
_
Mets can put Gant in their bullpen, and move Lugo into the rotation. They can try to get Bader to hit, and work on the AAA guys to become bullpenners in 2020.
Cardinals have LH- hitting corner OF run producer. Marisnick can share CF with Fowler.
I think this is actually a reasonable trade idea, but I also think there needs to be some sort of salary relief heading the Cardinals way for them to consider it. Both teams are at the top end of their stated payroll range, so it would probably have to be a near-even deal money-wise for either team to bite.
Conforto would be good, but why would the Cardinals want Marisnick? He’s basically a poor man’s Bader. Besides, in this scenario the Cardinals would play Conforto in LF, Fowler in RF, and have O’Neill, Lane, Arozerena, and Carlson compete in CF..
Who cares about defense? The Cardinals need offense, and Calhoun doesn’t provide enough of it.
Lanidrac – I don’t think anyone would agree with your contention that defense isn’t important. Calhoun has saved a ton of runs for the Angels over the years with his glove and his left arm is a cannon. Calhoun has a career .249 average, which means he averages one hit per game assuming 4 at bats. He had a down year at the plate in 2018 and that seems to be all anyone who isn’t an Angels fan looks to for assessing his value. He will be a huge asset to whatever team picks him up.
You can have Derek Fisher
“tests from the performance department revealed that Carpenter declined in both areas“
Thank God for an entire department of PhDs and interns. I mean how else could they possibly read a scale or count the plates of weights?
Seriously, how are they just noticing now? I imagined player’s workout were logged(at least at the team facility) and they got at least monthly “check-ups” that at least included weight.
Also, I am no doctor. But if keeping weight on is a problem, a new strength training program won’t do anything. That is a problem with his diet. He clearly isn’t eating enough of the St. Louis-style Ribs(which in fact originates because the guy who drafted the cut standard for the USDA was a Cardinals fan)
I could help with the weight gain. I suggest eating more Suzy Q’s and more cheeseburgers and fries. Along with pizza and beer. It seems to work for me. Oh and swinging at more first pitches would help the batting average. Being behind in the count almost always is no way to hit.
Too much salsa, I guess.
why does st louis want to limit the team to a lefty. just get whoever can help the most, regardless on which way they swing.
Who said they were? They’d just prefer a lefty. They could trade for a righty if it’s the best option, or they may just resign the righty Ozuna.
Jackie Bradley
Agree along with David Price…..the Red Sox could get Reyes and two prospects….
cardinals are not looking to add to the payroll so I don’t think Price is realistic
Figure out what Ozuna will get in free agency, minus trading Carpenter back, and from that POV, it’s no payroll addition at all.
no one is taking carp…no one!…plus he has a no trade clause….like i said it is not realistic…
The no-trade clause of Carp’s doesn’t kick in until start of 2020 season, which we’re not in.
Second, in exchange for what I proposed Boston dumping, Boston’s black hole at 2B and Carp’s past playing there?
Not unrealistic at all.
Oh, and with Strasburg and now Cole? Bum & Keuchel will both want 6/$150, maybe more. Some team will pay.
Makes taking on Price look less pricey, doesn’t it?
Not news. Nothing new to see here.
Jake Cave?
I would rather see MN trade OF Eddie Rosario to Cardinals. Maybe Twins could get Martinez & a pitcher back in return?
I like it. You can have both Martinez’s for Rosario.
Sorry, Rosario’s going nowhere.
They should go for mookie Betts. I would think we would have enough to get it done. What are they looking for in return?
They have needed a left handed hitting outfielder impact bat for a few years now. Since there seems to be more right handed pitches in the league.
The rangers heard left-handed hitting corner outfielder and they crapped themselves. Gallo and Calhoun are virtually untradeable (both LH corner outfielders)…. but Mazara is trade-able… Get him away from texas, and maybe he suceeds finally.
I honestly don’t see the Rangers trading Gallo. To much upside there. Mazara is terrible, but he’s young so he might be fixable. Calhoun is less than impressive as well. I’m not trading 2 for 1 for him, and I think thats what the Cardinal’s are wanting to do. Unload multiples for one proven. Calhoun hasn’t proven much past what they have tbh. Not that he’s bad, but he’s still pretty average at this point. Average they have, just bats RH’d. I’d love to see Gallo batting behind Goldy though, if they could teach him not to strike out at a 35% clip or whatever it is. I know its a lot.
Kole Calhoun rf good d decent bat tradw outfielder or 2 for another pitcher.
Calhoun is not the offensive upgrade the Cardinals are looking for. Even with his career high 33 homers last year, he only managed a 108 wRC+, and his two previous years were even worse.
I am surprised no one mentioned Sterling Marte lol
No don’t think that will happen but they want a young catcher knizer for matte and a pitcher from the cards works. But interdivison trade .
This whole inter division trade thing is only a big deal if both teams are contending at the same time. Which they obviously aren’t. The Pirates would be smart to shop him in the division first as they are horrendous and could weaken a Central teams future team by getting some of their young talent.
Also, the Cards aren’t trading Knizner after trading Carson Kelley. Ivan Herrera would be the only catcher they would consider moving, talented but still very young
Sometimes I wish Mozeliak would say nothing. The BS that spews out of his mouth…
Dickerson would be perfect but they won’t do the smart thing and hedge their bets in case the young OF’er stumble or Bader and Fowler continue to flounder at the plate. They don’t want to commit to a multi year deal either and block their beloved of depth.
K. Calhoun I guess would be a ok 1 year stop gap. Not thrilled.
Pederson would be ok as well but don’t see a deal between them working. I could see them dealing him to an AL team.
Not exactly that excited with deal for any of Texas players. Stats can be inflated playing in Arlington. Busch isn’t exactly kind to hitters.
GMAFB on Ozuna. That’s just Winter Meetings speak.
Reddick is available. Plays good defense and bats left handed
Reddick also played for Houston. I would bet a whole heap of money that there isn’t a single executive in the sport that believes any of the numbers coming from Houston’s hitters, so no one will want to touch that without an accurate gauge of performance.
How about we just look for who the best available option for the middle of the line-up is and we orchestrate a deal to acquire them. If I am Mozeliak, I wait for the Yankees to sign Cole and then offer them J. Martinez, Tyler Oneil, and Brett Cecil in a deal for Giancarlo Stanton.
I would imagine that NY would like to unload this contract, Stanton would much prefer St. Louis now vs. two years ago under Matheny’s management, and it would solidify the middle of the order for the next 5 years unless Stanton opts out; which would be the dumbest decision ever.
First of all, the Cardinals can’t afford Stanton’s contract without clearing one of their own large contracts.
Second, why would anyone trade for Cecil? The Yankees would want a decent prospect as the third piece of this hypothetical deal.
I think the Yankees actually wouldn’t expect much in return for clearing Stanton’s contract…and might actually take on Cecil if the cardinals ask for them to eat his contract in order for them to acquire Stanton, cecil only has a year left so it wouldn’t be that big of a deal for the yankees…I don’t think they would want Oneill or martinez, but it they offered the right prospects plus Cecil i could see this trade happen…with that said I wouldn’t take the risk on Stanton and that contract
The thought is the Yankees are about to have a ton of money on the books if Cole signs there. They have to want out of this deal with Stanton. I think the situation is significantly different than 2 years ago. He doesnt have to be the Lone Ranger because we have Goldy for the next 5 years. If I was going to pay it all two years ago, 8 sure sounds alot better.
Stanton didn’t want to come to St. Louis when Ozuna did. The Yankees can eat that contract. IDGAF if they GAVE us Stanton, I don’t want him. And the Cardinal’s probably feel the same way. 2 years ago was before Goldy. They are no longer interested in him.
If Ozuna does go elsewhere, at least the Cardinals won’t have to worry about giving him another uniform number now that Ted Simmons’s #23 will probably be retired.
Odubel Hererra for a bag of baseballs.