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Cardinals Rumors: Smoltz, Holliday, DeRo, Pujols

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sat down for an interview last week with Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt III.  Multiple topics were discussed, including a few major hot stove items.  Let's dive in…

  • The Cardinals have seen a revenue loss of "several million dollars" this season, despite fantastic attendance numbers.  DeWitt called the loss "a meaningful number," but said the club will still try to maintain a high payroll in future seasons.
  • DeWitt isn't sure what John Smoltz's plans are for 2010.  The 42-year-old right-hander has spoken glowingly about his time in St. Louis, but could opt to retire.
  • DeWitt and Co. plan to make a "very strong long-term offer" to Matt Holliday before he hits the open market this winter.  The Cardinals are optimistic about being able to lock him up.  "He strikes me as someone who's not looking for the last dollar," DeWitt told Strauss. "He's looking to be highly compensated but in a place where he can live, raise a family and be in a very competitive baseball environment."
  • Mark DeRosa is "the type of player" the Cardinals would like to keep "if possible."  If not, David Freese could open the 2010 season as St. Louis' starting third baseman.
  • DeWitt believes this winter is "the ideal time to ensure Albert [Pujols] finishes his career as a Cardinal," even though the slugger still has two years remaining on his current deal.

It should be an intriguing, if not busy, offseason in St. Louis.  Beyond the players listed above, the Cardinals also face free agency with right-hander Joel Pineiro, backup catcher Jason LaRue, third baseman Troy Glaus, outfielder Rick Ankiel and right-hander Todd Wellemeyer.  It's probably safe to assume that Pineiro, Glaus and Wellemeyer won't be back.  Ankiel might also be on his way out.

Odds & Ends: Holliday, White Sox, Pirates

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Good morning everybody!  Let's check out some links…

  • Matt Holliday has meshed beautifully with the Cardinals since being acquired in July, writes Matthew Leach of MLB.com.
  • Ozzie Guillen says that Matt Thornton has "good enough equipment" to step into the closer role, but wants to learn more about his mental makeup as the season winds down, writes Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.  Thornton may asked to be the White Sox' fireman in 2010 if the team trades Bobby Jenks, who is entering his second year of arbitration.
  • If the Giants don't pick up his 2010 option, Freddy Sanchez doesn't anticipate coming back to the Pirates, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  • More from Dejan Kovacevic as he says that the Pirates could be calling Matt Capps their closer for 2010 in an effort to boost his trade value.  Capps has an ERA of 5.91 in 53.1 innings of work this year.
  • There are indications that the Mets will keep pitching coach Dan Warthen and batting coach Howard Johnson on board, writes Marty Noble of MLB.com.  There has been no such indication for third-base coach Razor Shines.

Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Pujols, Upton, Astros, Bradley

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FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up, so let's see what he has for us…

  • Albert Pujols is in no rush to sign a contract extension. A source "with knowledge of his thinking" tells Rosenthal that the chances of Pujols agreeing to an extension this winter are "slim and none."
  • The reason is that Pujols wants to assess the Cardinals' long-term outlook before deciding on his future. Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, and Tony LaRussa are all unsigned beyond this season.
  • Tampa Bay figures to explore the market for B.J. Upton this offseason. The Rays would be selling low, but they have needs behind the plate and in the bullpen, and it's possible a team could offer a package that would satisfy those needs. If they don't get an offer to their liking, Tampa will simply hold onto him.
  • The Astros managing job might be Jim Fregosi's to lose, but don't be surprised if Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar "gains momentum." Even though he's relatively inexperienced, Bogar is a former 'Stro who also managed in their minor league system, as well as in Cleveland's. Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell all think highly of him.
  • Teams have already called the Cubs about Milton Bradley. The Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rays, and Mets are among the clubs with possible interest. The Cubs are confident they can deal Bradley without paying the overwhelming majority of the $21MM still owed to him over the next two years. They could either trade Bradley's bad contract for another bad contract, or use the old sliding scale of "the more money we pay, the better the players we get in return."

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Webb, Soria, Red Sox, Pirates, Verlander, Felix

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On this date five years ago, Carlos Delgado hit his 300th career home run. He would go on to hit three more home runs that game to become just the 15th big leaguer to hit four in one game. Now in the final year of a five-year, $60MM contract, Delgado has a season average of .298 with four homers and 23 RBI in the 26 games he played before his hip surgery. Jon Heyman reported that the Mets are open to bringing him back next year. However, Adam Rubin wrote that the Mets will not offer Delgado arbitration. With one week remaining before the off-season starts for most teams, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • MLB Notebook looks at where Brandon Webb could end up if the D'Backs decline his option.
  • Royals Authority wonders if the Phillies would be a good trade partner to land Joakim Soria.
  • The Bottom Line writes that the Red Sox either have to re-sign Jason Bay or pick up Matt Holliday.
  • Bucco Fans says the Pirates have money to spend this off-season and speculates on where that money might be spent.
  • Jorge Says No! speculates on what it might take to sign Justin Verlander to an extension.
  • Prospect Insider looks at what it might take to sign Felix Hernandez to an extension.
  • Blogging Mets lists Omar Minaya's worst moves.
  • Sports: A Game Of Inches compares Jonny Gomes to Adam Dunn. Gomes will be arbitration-eligible after the season.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Heyman On Pujols, Holliday, Acta, Cubs

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The Cardinals want to lock up Albert Pujols, but Jon Heyman of SI.com wonders if they can keep him and Matt Holliday. One GM says there's "no chance" the team can keep the two stars, despite owner Bill DeWitt's goal to "lock up both of them." Here are more details on the Cardinals' superstars, along with the rest of Heyman's rumors:

  • Heyman says it's illogical to expect Pujols to demand anything less than $30MM per season.
  • Holliday is "thought to be interested" in a deal comparable to Mark Teixeira's $180MM pact. No doubt Holliday would have interest in that kind of deal, but would any team consider it? (I doubt it.)
  • There are many reasons it makes sense for the Cards to try to lock up Holliday and Pujols. As Heyman says, such an attempt would show manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and the fan base that the team wants to win at all costs.
  • Heyman hears that the Astros will interview former Nats manager Manny Acta for their managerial opening.
  • Indians GM Mark Shapiro is facing pressure to fire manager Eric Wedge, especially now that the club has lost 11 straight.
  • Not surprisingly, two GMs consider Alfonso Soriano untradeable. He has $90MM remaining on his contract.
  • The Cubs would have to eat a "decent chunk" of Carlos Zambrano's contract if they decide to trade him. A trade doesn't seem likely, however.
  • If the Cubs deal Milton Bradley, Heyman considers the Padres a logical fit.
  • Execs around the league expect Roy Halladay to be on the trade market again this winter.

Cafardo’s Latest: Felix Hernandez, Red Sox

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has his Sunday column up. Let's have a look.

  • Cafardo expects the Red Sox to make another push for Felix Hernandez in the offseason. Hernandez's price tag could prove too high for Seattle to retain him; however, they are open to extending him. Before the deadline, the Red Sox reportedly offered a 5-for-1 deal for the ace that Seattle turned down.
  • The Indians have yet to see dividends pay for the players they received for Cliff Lee. Cafardo writes, "Righty Carlos Carrasco is 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA (six homers in 14 innings); catcher Lou Marson is hitting .154; shortstop Jason Donald went on the disabled list in Triple A; and righty Jason Knapp underwent surgery to remove fragments from his shoulder."
  • Cafardo wonders if the Nats would've dealt Cristian Guzman had they known Ian Desmond would emerge as their shortstop of the future.
  • Chiming in on the Jason Bay or Matt Holliday discussion, Cafardo quotes scouts who seem to have him leaning toward Holliday as the better option, particularly for Boston.

Odds & Ends: Buchholz, Burnett, Yanks, Cards

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Some links as the weekend draws closer…

  • Thought the Red Sox were going to deal Clay Buchholz this summer? You're not alone. Buchholz tells WEEI.com's Rob Bradford he expected to be traded because of all the rumors.
  • Peter Abraham of the Journal News points out that one of the Yankees' biggest acquisitions of the year, A.J. Burnett, has pitched poorly over the course of his last nine starts. Now Burnett must prove to his teammates that he's ready for the Division Series.
  • Tom Verducci of SI.com says the Yankees' plan to add power pitchers to the rotation worked (even if Burnett has struggled lately). It's hard to argue with 94 wins in mid-September, but there's more to the Yanks than their rotation.
  • Verducci notes that some of the best free agent signings happened late last offseason and some of the worst ones were finalized early. Could we see GMs play the waiting game this winter? 
  • Joel Pineiro, Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa will have to wait until the season's over to sign their next contracts. Cards GM John Mozeliak told Bernie Miklasz that the team doesn't expect to negotiate deals with prospective free agents before the season ends.

Heyman’s Latest: Mets, D-Backs, Indians

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Jon Heyman takes a look at three teams that underachieved this season and how each might approach the off-season…

New York Mets

  • Heyman thinks the payroll will be about the same next season, noting that any attempt to lower the payroll would be a tough sell to the fans.
  • Needs include left fielder, first baseman, catcher, starting pitcher and overall depth.
  • Mets are looking at Matt Holliday and Jason Bay and could target Adrian Gonzalez and Bengie Molina.
  • Starting pitchers the Mets may pursue include Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Jason Marquis as well as Roy Halladay if he's available.
  • Mets may try to move Luis Castillo and replace him with Orlando Hudson.

Arizona Diamondbacks

  • Heyman hears the D-Backs will try to sign Brandon Webb to a new deal at slightly less than the $8.5MM option they have for next season.
  • The D-Backs may try to re-sign Doug Davis, but that will still leave a couple of holes in the rotation.
  • Arizona may try to fill the second base job via trade. Heyman suggests that Eric Byrnes and Chris Snyder could be trade bait and feels Byrnes could be moved for Castillo.

Cleveland Indians

  • Heyman says the Indians need to replace Carl Pavano's ability to eat innings. 
  • The Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee deals saved the Indians $21MM, some of which could be used in free agency.

Other notes…

  • It looks like Andy Pettitte will reach most of the incentives in his contract, nearly doubling his base salary of $5.5MM.
  • Dan Uggla feels he will be traded this off-season and Heyman says the Marlins won't want to pay his arbitration figure.

Olney On Matt Holliday And The Cardinals

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney doesn't expect the Cardinals to spend much differently than usual this offseason, despite their aggressiveness at this year's trade deadline. The Cards took on salary to acquire Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa, but the team may not be able to spend as much this offseason. As Olney points out, the Cardinals have never opened the season with a payroll over $92.1MM. 

The Cards have committed to Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter and others, so they may be unable to retain Holliday without exceeding $100MM. The club could increase its payroll, of course, but recent history suggests the Cardinals will operate on an eight figure budget.

One scout says Holliday was easy to pitch to in the American League, which could limit potential suitors. However, Olney guesses the Angels will ultimately sign the left fielder.

Cardinals Discuss Extension With DeRosa

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WEDNESDAY, 8:34am: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more quotes from Mozeliak, who admits it'd be easier to re-sign DeRosa before free agency than Matt Holliday.  Strauss says Mozeliak "minimized the potential impact of DeRosa's left wrist injury."

TUESDAY, 9:42pm: The Cardinals have discussed an extension with impending free agent third baseman Mark DeRosa, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach.  But Leach says GM John Mozeliak "emphasized not to over-sell those discussions."  Too late – we dedicated this post to them!

DeRosa, 35 in February, has scuffled to a .244/.313/.425 line for the Cards since coming over in a trade with the Indians on June 27th.  A big factor: he tore a tendon sheath in his wrist a few days after the trade; it will eventually require surgery.  The versatile DeRosa is earning $5.5MM and sits on the borderline of Type A and B status.

Mozeliak also told Leach that the team plans to go year-to-year with Ryan Ludwick rather than lock him up.  Ludwick came back down to Earth this year – his OBP dropped from .375 to .333 and his SLG from .591 to .465.

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