It has been a fairly quiet winter for the Cardinals, who are looking to defend a triumphant return to the top of the NL Central heap. In the latest edition of the Best Podcast In Baseball (audio link), Derrick Goold and St. Louis Post-Dispatch colleague Ben Frederickson examine the question whether the organization can still plug a big new bat into its lineup. There’s ongoing contact with Marcell Ozuna and interest in Nolan Arenado, but it’s still largely unclear whether either player — or some alternative — will end up with the Redbirds in 2020.
More from the NL Central:
- The Reds are surely still contemplating additions even after inking Shogo Akiyama and making other roster upgrades. But GM Nick Krall suggests the outfield won’t be the focal point, as John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports on Twitter. With Akiyama installed up the middle, the Reds now have loads of options for finishing their roster, including potentially moving existing outfielders in various scenarios. The team will adopt an “opportunistic” stance with regard to free agent outfielders, Krall says. Further improvement could happen, it seems, but only if a compelling value proposition arises.
- There has been a lot of turnover for the Brewers this winter, though it seems fair to say the approach has been one of seeking incremental, cost-efficient improvement. Certainly, there hasn’t been a marquee addition. The organization may or may not have something bigger up its sleeve, but it likely isn’t done making moves. GM David Stearns told reporters yesterday he’d be “surprised” if he isn’t able to make further roster tweaks, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Twitter links). The top Milwaukee baseball decisionmaker also indicated that he thinks it likelier the team will make its next strike via trade than through a free agent market that has already been drained of many of its best assets.
- The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (subscription link) provide an update on the not-yet-updated Cubs roster. Perhaps unsurprisingly … well, there’s really not much new to report. The club remains disappointed in the level of demand they’ve found for top potential trade chips Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras, per the reporting duo, which says that rivals feel the Chicago org has placed “sky-high asking prices.” Internally, the front office simply does not and has not ever intended to move those high-grade players “for anything less than a massive haul.” Under the circumstances, it’s not surprising to see ongoing stasis. The trouble is that the Cubs roster — which is examined in full in the link — doesn’t appear especially likely to make strides without new additions.
Cue the experts who know exactly what Stearns has up his sleeve, how it won’t help the team, the brewers are destined for 4th place, and the owner is hoarding all the fans hard earned $$ to finance his outlandish lifestyle….
I think the only way ozuna goes back to stl is if his markets completely crashes and he takes a one year “prove it” contract and re-enters free agency without draft pick compensation. It’s starting to look like moustakas 2.0. Slightly above average bat with average defense, and nobody wants to lose the dollars AND the draft pick to sign him.
Brewers are being smart they don’t have the talent to compete so might as well take gamble on cheap guys see if they have bounce back year. Still need to see if Brewers move Hader I think writing will be on wall that next year Yelich is gone also and Brewers are back into the cellar in full rebuild mode for 5 years
So after 2 years of “not having the talent to compete” but still making the playoffs it’s somehow a guarantee that next year that prediction will actually come true?
I’m not saying they will, but I’m not going to automatically bet against it 2+ months before the season starts either. IF* they move Hader I’ll agree they’re taking a step back for THIS year, to make a run in ’21. But I won’t believe they will be so bad that moving Yelich is a sure thing either. With Braun coming off the books they likely try to extend him before any thoughts of a trade come up. If he refuses then it makes sense to move him sooner than later.
Here comes Mozeliak in full panic mode.
Expect a long term offer to Ozuna for millions more than he’s worth.
Panic mode??? Hardly. He’s preached patience from the start. Ozuna can go, unless he will sign for 3/45. Trade for Arenado is way more important.
Mikolas. Fowler. Carpenter. All panic overpays that were NOT NEEDED. Ozuna is the next benefactor from the MO…ron.
You and CFAP should get a room and cry about Mozeliak together.
Mikolas has been productive for the price and a good deal. Fowler has a couple of bad years, Last year’s was OK. Carpenter is a reward for the past.
It’s the deals for those other Pitchers that are still on the books! Otherwise Ozuna 2 years $35M could work. Arenado for a bunch of Quality prospects could work as a deal.
I forgot the Molina panic overpay of 3/60. So far, where have all these signings got the team? Reward for the past. What the hell then. Bring Freese out of retirement and give him $20M
Lol, none of these deals were driven by panic except the quick signing of Fowler. Molina earned every single dime of that contract and then some from his career, it was about giving a special player a bonus for everything he has done for and meant to the franchise. Likewise Carpenter was already signed, why would he panic to resign an already signed player? Makes no sense.
The ballpark is full with fan favorites. The team wins more often than not. The teams that do it make the $$$ and keep the mystique. Stl does great for the mid-market. Freese? Willie McGee.
Exactly. It makes no sense. Why give Carpenter 2 more years when he didn’t need to? Why give Mikolas 4 years when he didn’t need to? I’m waiting for the 4/80 for Ozuna, 6/40 for Bader, and 6/50 for Edman. These next couple seasons of signings by “Ron” should be fascinating. I’m guessing since the 4th starter got $68M, then Hudson is in line for $100M and Flaherty might get $150M before he even reaches ARB. Wainwright screwed up. He should have held out until ST. He may have gotten a guaranteed $15M.
Hell, bring back Willie Jay. In Ron’s mind, he’s probably worth $10M right now.
WillieMaysHayes24, CFAP obviously got his latest account banned. They are the same person.
This division is going to be interesting this year. Only true on paper improvements have been made by the reds. No way of knowing how the rest shakes out, but sure seems like the rest of the division has been made weaker by stagnation.
On paper?, Moustakas is 4 real, last year’s pitchers are for real & now added Miley who was 14-6 last year as 4 or 5 th starter, you must b a Cubs fan, we whooped up on them last year, Milwaukee lost players Mous/ Grandal and pitchers, Pittsburgh is off, cards are only team in it & they haven’t done much yet
Nothing in the pirates
Pirate org’s main emphasis this year is not the MLB club.
Brewers will be lucky to finish 3rd in the NL central. So many great players and fan favorites have departed. Maybe some of their cheap replacements will rise to the occassion
Just curious….. who do you think finishes 1st and 2nd?
Cubs. Reds. Brewers. Cards. Pirates.
1) Cardinals
2) Reds
3) Brewers
4) Cubs
5) Pirates
Cardinals win NL Central. Reds take the wild card. As a Cubs fan just being realistic. The Cubs have made 0 improvements during the off season. We all know the narrative as to why. So, they won’t add by the trade deadline as well. They will subtract. The starting pitching just won’t hold up over the long season. The bullpen will struggle all season long. The offense will be similar to the last 2 years-All or nothing. Score 10 runs one game then go 3-4 games with 2-3 runs scored per game. The front office is completely hand cuffed. Poor free agent signings. Some poor trades. Aging veterans. Younger players who have failed to meet expectations, A depleted farm system. Ownership’s mandate to lower payroll.
Even a cubs fan knows that to not be quite accurate
Crap i think your right…at least we seen a World Series before we died
No TV contract revenues as before and Tribune cut the cord.2-3 yrs until spending recovery
Nuts
Raisins
Apples
Beef
Ginger Beer
“So many great players and fan favorites..”
They lost 2 borderline “great” players (Moustakas and Grandal). Lyles was pretty good..for a combined 2/3 of a season (over a w season period).
Thames is the only legit “fan favorite” that will be missed. If you consider the likes of Anderson, Shaw, Grisham, a fan favorite, congrats, you like below average-to-sucky players.
In this story the Cardinals may or may not do something. Who knew?
Why would anyone be surprised at a high asking price for Bryant? Did they think the Cubs were just going to salary dump Bryant for a bullpen arm and a prospect?
Well Bryant may be only available for 1 year if he wins the court case instead of 2 which makes him a lot cheaper.
He’s not winning that
Doesn’t matter; he wants to leave…strained relationships
Stop reading the idiot media. That grievance is going nowhere. Neither is Bryant.
So simple. Trades of Bryant, Quintana, and Contreras takes 35M off the books and brings back much needed pitching prospects. Coincidentally, Arenado =35M yearly cost…Would Colorado take Contreras and Cub’s 2 best prospects (not named Hoerner) for Arenado? I think its a fair trade considering Arenado’s opt-out clause and overall cost.
Cubs most likely get pitching in return for Bryant at a higher level than either Quintana’s or Lester’s current ability, and get an upgrade at 3B. Sound good Theo?
Could you imagine the defense of both Baez and Arenado playing the left side? Best ever?
Colorado has no pitching. The Cards are the only real fit. That’s why Colorado is trying to convince the Cards to trade. The Cards will do it only if it suits their style.
Who said they are trying to convince the cards?
How old are you ???
Best ever ???
You must not have seen Ozzie Smith & Terry Pendleton on that turf
Arenado better than Pendleton. Ozzie better than Baez. However, if you combine Baez with Arenado, it’s pretty darn close.
Brooks Robinson better than both 3B. Take your pick of Aparicio and Belanger, who may be a step back form Ozzie but at least comparable if not better than Baez. I’d take them over either of those combos.
When you combine offense and defense, Arenado and Baez crush your combo though.
But you were not talking offense. You were talking defense
Do the Cubs even have 2 prospects? Even if they trade Bryant or Contreras, Epstein or his coffee boy Hoyer can’t be trusted to make a good trade anyway. I’m not spending 1 dime to watch a 3rd or 4th place team on the new cable station they are pushing while over spending 500 million on a ballpark and spending nothing to upgrade the roster.
Cubs are very close their next19 year drought.
Cubs are very close their next 10 year drought.
So the Cubs should deal a top 5 third baseman and a top 3 catcher for maybe pitching?
Yes. They can get the other Contreras from Atlanta if that is who they deal Bryant to. Anderson, Wright, and Contreras for Bryant is doable, and Colorado can take Alzolay, Amaya, and Contreras if they wanted.
Brooks Robinson and either Luis Aparicio or Mark Belanger may have something to say about best defensive left side ever.
The Cubs are trying to get under the first salary cap threshold. Your trades wouldn’t get them to that point.
I’d rather have Baez at 3rd and Lindor at SS. At least the Cubs would have a legit leadoff hitter in Lindor and Baez can play play any of 3rd, SS, or 2B.
I certainly agree about the spending. That would seem to be the solution: to sign pitching. But as long as they’re still in contention for the division, I just don’t see how you could justify dealing Bryant or Contreras.
I can justify it if it means getting a leadoff hitter. Until the Cubs get that position addressed, the offense won’t be firing on all cylinders. The team needs a lead table setter to go along with sluggers like Baez, Rizzo and Schwarber.
The summary on the analysis of the Reds position in this off-season is wrong. It should be concluding that the Reds are opportunistic not just in value acquisitions (cheap FA) but also potential trade targets, dealing from their prospect capital and roster.
Poor Cubs!
I was driving down Addison today, and Theo and Tom were having a car wash to raise money for free agents.
Let me tell you, Theo and Tom in short cutoffs and tight white t-shirts getting all wet washing cars was not a pretty sight in this weather.
I don’t think they’re going to raise much money.
Contreras, Quintana and Heyward for Arenado. Who says no,
Heck, I would trade Heyward for a used jock strap, a bag of waterlogged BP balls and a half eaten Snickers….You’re welcome for the Jimenez for a 6 spot rotation bum….
Bryant will lose his case…….or MLB will see a flood of lawsuit cases / grievances.
A agreement is a agreement…….look at what your Players Union agreed to !
Blockbuster Trade…….
Rockies send…….Arenado, Blackmon, Freeland…plus $$$$$$
Cubs send…..Caratini, Heyward, Happ, Almora, Alzolay, Quintana., Marquez, Short
who says NO first.
Uh, the Rockies for obviously. My trade offer above is better.
Rockies would say no in an instant
PlayStation trades are fun
Brewers will finish no better than 3rd in the NL Central behind St Louis and Cincinnati. Their discount shopping of Korean cast offs and MLB wannabes is a joke. Brewers were too cheap to bring back Moose, Grandal and Thames. Brewers are the Dollar Store of MLB and are squandering Yellich’s tenure.
Cubs trade Bryant to Dodgers for prospects (19 million off the books), Get Verdugo (OF), Gray (SP), Gonsolin (SP).
Cubs Trade Contreras, Marquez, Alzolay, Heyward (30 million off the books) to Rockies for Arenado (add 3o million)
Cubs sign Castellanos for 4 years 80 million to play RF (15 million the first year, increase salary after 2020)
Boom under the tax and a decent team going forward.
Also, trade quintana for some mid level prospects. Sign some releivers like Kintzler and Strop for the price that Quintana would be.
Rotation would look not so good in 2020 and have little depth. But in 2021, the Prospects will be emerging and ready to go.
As a Reds fan, it pains me to say this, but the Cubs are still pretty good on paper. They underachieved, but I think a lot of teams would take an infield of Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, Bote, and Contreras behind the plate.
The cubs weren’t a good fielding team last season. But that’s not what they should be worried about. The aging rotation and weak bullpen is their biggest concern.