Episode 6 of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Simon Hampton is joined by Katie Woo of The Athletic to discuss:
- The Cardinals’ decision to move Willson Contreras out of the catching position for the time being (3:16)
- Nolan Arenado’s early-season struggles (8:22)
- Will the Cardinals trade an outfielder to fill other needs? (9:49)
- Jordan Montgomery, possible extension candidate? (12:06)
After Katie talked Cardinals with Simon, MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald comes on the podcast to dig into:
- The Braves’ rotation in the wake of Max Fried’s forearm strain (15:56)
- Why have the Rays been so good? (19:17)
- The Astros’ sluggish start to the season (25:16)
Check out our past episodes!
- White Sox trade candidates, Red Sox options for improvements, managers on the hot seat – listen here
- The state of the Twins, Bryan Reynolds’ extension and Madison Bumgarner’s future – listen here
- Free agent power rankings, Shohei Ohtani’s next contract and Aaron Nola or Julio Urias in free agency? Listen here
Astros will be fine if they can tread water through the end of May. Think about this lineup and rotation:
Lineup in order: Altuve (R), Brantley (L), Bregman (R), Alvarez (L), Abreu (R), Tucker (L), Pena (R), Dubon/McCormick (R), Diaz/Maldonado (R)
Rotation: Valdez, Javier, Brown, France, McCullers/TBD
“You’re out, Willson.”
(Michael Corleone voice)
But he’s not… John Mozeliak signed him for 5 years to block other defensively ailed prospects who could use the time at DH rather than Contereas but here I am typing about how Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Juan Yepez all could DH? Yet we repeat past mistakes because John Mozeliak never heard what Albert Einstien called the definition of insanity? Like trading for ozuna, signing Fowler then dealing away Garcia and Arozarena because they were blocked and you didn’t get to see who they were as a GM and this is how he owns the mistake? By blocking 4 other prospects 6 if you wanna count Kizner and Herrera? By signing Wilson Contreras and no hate for Contereas now that he’s here anything to help the team win but it’s got me saying as a mess up of a person who couldn’t do any better? What’s going on with John Mozeliak? Realized he couldn’t ride Jeff Luhnows coattails to his baseball grave since he’s managing soccer now?
The funny part was that, when they traded for Ozuna, every writer in the world screamed about Miami tanking, that this is what was wrong with baseball, and the Cards fans pretty much liked the deal.
I’m first to admit how excited I was about that trade. Was I ever wrong…
Everyone knows that Wilson is not a wartime consigliere and has to go. The cards will never win this “war” with Wilson as consigliere.
The Cards will not win with their current Manager. No more to discuss.
The Rays played 26 games against poor teams. The first 9 were against DET, WSH and OAK then played BOS, CIN, PIT and CHW. They better have a great record.
Marmol has burned the bridge. Time to move on.
Rays 12-6 record against teams above .500 is best winning % in MLB. They are just playing fantastic baseball + added bonus of dominating the lesser clubs. They will cool off at some point, but have built a nice cushion in the meantime to make playoffs.
And just how many +.500 teams have they played not including the Pirates?
Playing those teams, including division leading Pirates, will give a team all the confidence in the world. I’m not saying the Rays are not a good team.
Why is the media talking everyone’s role in Cardinal pitching woes except the change in pitching coach and pitching philosophy? That needs to be addressed but it’s not even being mentioned.
When you had possibly the best pitching coach in Maddox, he’s hard to replace.
However, when you have “power pitchers“ what good is a 100 mph + pitch if you can’t control it, Hicks for example , you can’t blame the P.C. Give me 5 Pedro Martinez’s or Greg Maddox’s any day.
It’s not just replacing Mike Maddux as the pitching coach, Molina knew how to handle the pitching staff on the field. Willson does not. He was never good at it with the Cubs.
And it’s not like the pitching rotation has been on fire since replacing Willson behind the dish.
The Cardinals will feel justified in the Contreras decision, because the team has won 3 str8 since. I can’t comment on the Card’s pitching, because I don’t watch them everyday. I’m more of a cherry picker, who only watches the best, sexiest teams play daily.
When you had possibly the best catcher in baseball at calling a game, he’s hard to replace
Hicks’ issue is that despite throwing harder than almost anyone in MLB — he throws very straight, making his pitches more hittable when you get the timing down.
CardFan57 is correct, you had possibly the best pitching coach in the game with Maddox, he’s difficult to replace.
On the other hand, when you have for example Hicks who throws 100 mph + but can’t control it what good is it?
Give me 5 Pedro Martinez’s or Greg Maddox’s any day.
What is a Maddox?
It’s a Maddux. Maddux’s pitch, Maddox’s cover all the ground not covered by water – per Ralph Kiner
Whoa u would rather have Greg Maddox or Pedro any day??
I would also rather have Pedro Martinez than Hicks.
I’m biased, but Maddux everyday and twice on Sunday. It’s a different question, who you are taking in the primes of their careers (possibly Pedro), but for the career, Maddux, who pitches 5 more years than Pedro in part because of how he was not so reliant on velocity and more on pitch usage, location and deception.
Hilarious blaming a catcher when you have one of the worst managerial hirings in recent memory
It was obvious from day one Marmol would be a disaster
So rather than simply firing Marmol, they blame the catcher. Total managerial incompetence
Two seasons are wasted because Marmol was in line for a promotion and the GM didn’t have the fortitude to pass on him for the job
He would have never been hired by me, and I would have shown him the door if he wanted to go to another organization
Even CB Bucknor knew he wouldn’t work out
And what r your credentials in running a team for u to make that decision
What are your credentials to allow you to comment on a baseball website
One opposable digit to scroll and type plus an opposable attitude to fuel it?
“Great sales job there by Marmol.”
-Simon Hampton
Even the decidedly neutral MLBTR guys are making fun of the Cardinals. That takes a lot. The mask has slipped. The veneer of professionalism can’t cover the rot when the losses pile up.
There are serious philosophical issues with the Cardinals. Changing catchers hasn’t changed a flawed approach to pitching. Much has been made about how many hits the Cardinals pitchers have allowed with two strikes on the hitter. No one has mentioned how many times it was a full count. The Cardinals pitchers are constantly working from behind in the count, throwing WAY too many pitches, and putting their own defense to sleep by refusing to throw strikes. They also get beat by trying to work the top of the strike zone instead of the bottom. If it were just two or three guys, it could be attributed to poor execution or declining performance or whatever. But it’s the whole staff. These are guys who have established major league track records and no history of control issues. The system is broken. They need to move on from this approach yesterday. Get back to throwing strikes, inducing ground balls, and playing great defense. Dusty Blake is a failed experiment. Mo’s gotta go.
The veneer of professionalism can’t cover the rot when the losses pile up.
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Meh.
The Cards are one of the best organizations in BB. In the past 23 years, they’ve been over .500 22 times, in the playoffs 16x, in the WS 4x, and won the WS 2x.
This year, they are off to a slow start, mostly because of an unsustainable 1-7 in one-run games. They have plenty of talent. Come back to me in August and we can discuss.
Watch the games and see what I’m talking about. But I’m up for it in August.
.500 ??? Ha! I’ve heard that excuse— one too many times ! As to just how good the Cardinals have done since Mozeliak got there. Just How many of those .500 teams made it to the playoffs?
There have been multiple posters who have alleged that Contreras is a horrible catcher. If that is the truth, how is it that Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, Jason Hammel, Hector Rondon, and Wade Davis had such success and pitched the Cubs into the post season?
John Lackey, Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon regressed when Contreras took over duties from Montero. Jon Lester regressed when Ross retired. Wade Davis only pitched one season for the Cubs and Hammel wasn’t on the 2017 team.
Lester got old reason for his transgression not becaue of catcher stop making stuff up to fit your narrative
Lester threw to Ross until he retired.
I wasn’t going to go down this road but since you wanted to make a “tough guy” comment I’ll play.
4/5 pitchers in 2016 had eras over a run higher when Contreras caught them
Jon Lester was second in cy young voting in 2016, in 2017 his era was over 4. Guess he got “old” over night. He did bounce back in 2018 but was bottom of the rotation in 19 and 20.
Jose Quintana was an upper middle of the rotation starter, he turned into a bottom of the rotation starter.
Lackey went from a solid middle of the rotation starter to awful the following season.
The cubs developed exactly zero pitching prospects before Gomes came to Chicago last season.
Fact is, Contreras is toolsy, but he cannot speak pitcher. His relationship with pitching isn’t toxic like the Michael Barrett but he doesn’t maximize pitcher value at all the way Gomes does and Molina did.
I’m not cherry picking to fit my “narrative” I’m looking at evidence and formulated an opinion.
St Louis needs pitching. Atlanta needs pitching. Everybody needs pitching! Opt out or not the Tigers are going to grab a decent prospect from someone for Eduardo Rodriguez if he keeps it up. 4-2 and 1.57 era.
The jury is out on that. I’m not sure the Tigers got the best deal for Gregory Soto. It’s working out so far but I think you understand my point.
Yeah prospects are always a toss up. Mlb.com had a writeup on redrafting the 2013 draft and I was amazed how many guys from the first round bombed. Soto has not looked good though…4.76 era and a lot of rough outings lately. Maton has some holes and Vierling does too but so far im happy with that trade. We got wicked value for Jimenez. Henry-Malloy has looked really good. So far I’m pretty happy with Harris’ moves. No one thought they’d be 16-18 and in second place.
Maton some holes?? I think his bat has a giant hole
I can’t do the podcast. The accent is too much for me. I need closed caption.. I usually have the volume down and watch the game. Simon sounds knowledgeable..just difficult for me to follow in my over 50 years. The Netflix shows with the accents I turn the volume down and follow the bouncing ball. I usually mute Ron Darling. The worse in the business. I wish we could have a vote on that or a poll!
You just felt like posting to let everyone know how lazy and weird you are? Thanks for that.
Drink another..dont forget where u parked!
wait probably already had em taken away…riding the metro?
Too many Truleys? Reminds you of your favorite child hood juice box.
What was weird about what he wrote? I have to watch Ted Lasso with closed caption on. I can barely understand Lasso, let alone the Brits.
I didn’t think that I would ever say this as a cards fan, but a full rebuild might be coming. Move as many of the veterans you can (yes, including goldy and Arenado), play the kids ( we already have alot of young position players let as many as possible get some run) and then try to pick up 2-3 arms in the offseason either via trade or FA (I’m thinking the best one or two year deal guys or some change of scenery guys) along with whichever of the young pitchers perform the best this year. the rest of this season and maybe next year might be tough but there’s no reason that it can’t be a relatively quick turn around if we’re proactive and spend real money on arms.
Nashville Stars expansion group sending out feelers on potential sale of the White Sox by Jerry Reinsdorf?