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Cardinals’ Offseason Plans

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains the Cardinals’ offseason plans.  The areas of concern: middle infield, lefthanded relief, and perhaps the rotation (maybe a swingman type pitcher).  The Cards would also like an impact bat to protect Albert Pujols, but that is of lower priority.

Strauss says the Cardinals will investigate the price for Brian Fuentes and Joe Beimel.  They’ll also consider bringing Edgar Renteria back to St. Louis on a one-year deal worth considerably less than $10MM.  The Cards should have $20MM+ to spend in total.

As for trade chips, young catcher Bryan Anderson could be one.  Second baseman Adam Kennedy wants out, but has negative trade value.  The Cards could also move an outfielder.  Derrick Goold of the P-D suggests possible matches.

Odds and Ends: Rivera, Floyd, Peavy

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Links for Tuesday…

Peavy Rumors: Friday

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As Kevin Towers and Barry Axelrod intended, things are slowing down on the Jake Peavy front.  The Braves, considered the favorite, got the word out yesterday through the AP that they do not want to trade top prospects.  Of course, that may have been a strategic move.

  • Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to Braves GM Frank Wren today.  Wren says there are players he will not trade under any circumstances, and O’Brien believes three of those are Tommy Hanson, Jason Heyward, and Julio Teheran.  Freddie Freeman, Jordan Schafer, and Gorkys Hernandez are close to untouchable, according to O’Brien.
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney wonders if the Braves may have enough quality young players to pull off a Peavy deal without surrendering Heyward, Hanson, or Jair Jurrjens.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains that the Cardinals do not have what the Padres are looking for in a Peavy trade.
  • MLB.com’s Corey Brock says not to expect movement on a Peavy deal for the next week or so, as Towers takes a step back and conferences with the pitcher.  Towers wants to figure out which teams he can engage before the November 3-6 GM meetings.  Peavy’s five preferred clubs are known publicly, so perhaps Towers hopes to expand that list.
  • Jason Rosenberg analyzes the MLB.com report over at his blog.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Thursday

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2:05pm: Braves GM Frank Wren spoke to the AP today about the Peavy rumors.  He still says the Braves will not trade their top prospects.  He notes that much of the talk lately is based on questionable speculation by rival executives.

12:27am: Let’s kick things off with the freshest Jake Peavy rumors.

  • Dan Hayes of the North County Times says "as many as 14 clubs" inquired about Peavy so far, with some teams taking an aggressive approach.  Barry Axelrod and Kevin Towers want to slow things down now, have some meetings.  A trade will not be announced during the World Series and is not likely until the November 3-6 GM meetings at the earliest.  Axelrod and Towers again suggested Peavy could stay in San Diego.
  • Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says at least three Padres scouts watched Braves pitching prospect Tommy Hanson in the Arizona Fall League recently.
  • J.C. Bradbury explains that the only team that benefits from Peavy’s below-market contract is the Padres.  Is it too early in the morning for econ?
  • Cardinals GM John Mozeliak "all but dismissed" the idea of being in the mix for Peavy.  They have their ’08 rotation locked in, pending Chris Carpenter’s health.  They’ve already got more than $32MM committed to the current group of starters.
  • ESPN’s Keith Law does not feel that a package of Tommy Hanson, Jordan Schafer, and one of Kelly Johnson/Yunel Escobar is a reasonable expectation for Peavy.

Cardinals Rumors: Pujols, Payroll, Needs

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest Cardinals buzz…

  • The Cards are going to stand pat with their starting rotation until they learn more about Chris Carpenter’s injury.  He’ll be examined in late November.  Strauss says a swing man type acquisition is possible as insurance.
  • The Cardinals are likely to approach Albert Pujols about an extension before he enters his 2011 option year.  Pujols will earn just $16MM in each of the ’09, ’10, and ’11 seasons.  Teams must be salivating at the prospect of Pujols on the free agent market, but the Cardinals will try to prevent that.  Pitchers Hit Eighth recently did a roundtable about this very topic.
  • The ’09 payroll is projected in the $106-108MM range.  The Cardinals have $20MM+ to spend, with the exact number depending on several arbitration cases.
  • The Cardinals need middle infielders and lefthanded relievers.  Strauss says, "The club prefers to deal from its surplus of righthanded relievers, outfielders, minor-league pitching and corner infielders."  I have argued about this in chats a bit…is there really a surplus here?  To me a surplus in baseball means more starters than positions (rather than just good depth).  The Cards have a starting outfield of Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, and Skip Schumaker, with Colby Rasmus coming on fast.  Rasmus will be a rookie, while Ankiel is a Boras client eligible for free agency after ’09.  There are other interesting players on the roster (Brian Barton, Joe Mather, Chris Duncan), but the Cards aren’t overflowing with starters.
  • Viva El Birdos contests the idea of a surplus of righty relievers, and would like to see Russ Springer re-signed.
  • Strauss says the Cardinals have yet to talk to the agents for Cesar Izturis and Felipe Lopez.  He sees players such as Rafael Furcal and Khalil Greene as possible middle infield targets.

Odds and Ends: Prior, Mulder, Cameron

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Links for Wednesday…

Cards Not Likely To Acquire Peavy

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According to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are not a serious player for Jake Peavy.  Miklasz’s Cardinals sources downplayed the idea and noted that they’ve only had one conversation with the Padres.

As Miklasz says, it could be the money, the prospects, or both.  Viva El Birdos believes it would limit roster construction.  If the Cardinals take a pass and the Astros don’t have the goods, it might be down to the Braves, Dodgers, and Cubs.

Cards To Buy Out Mulder’s Option

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According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have informed Mark Mulder’s agent that they have chosen a $1.5MM buyout over his $11MM option.  No one expected otherwise, given Mulder’s shoulder woes the past few years. 

Mulder’s shoulder now checks out structurally; he’s had two surgical procedures.  So far the thumbs up from doctors hasn’t translated to the mound.

Cafardo’s Latest: Lowe, Maddux, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

  • Interestingly, the Red Sox are reportedly Derek Lowe’s preferred destination.  It’s unknown whether the Sox intend to add a starter this winter, but they may lose free agent Paul Byrd (and will have to decide on Tim Wakefield’s $4MM option).  Cafardo names a dozen other clubs interested in Lowe: the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Cubs, Angels, Braves, Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Blue Jays.
  • Bill Mueller, 38 in March, admits he’d like to play again.  Medically, it’s a long shot because he’d need to regrow cartilage in his knees.
  • One of Greg Maddux’s teammates feels he’ll retire. Maddux could return to the Padres as a player/coach (specifically, he’d prefer a bench coach gig).
  • The Brewers as a sleeper for Jake Peavy?  They’re not on his list, but he’s named other midwest clubs.
  • Cafardo believes catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez will be available this winter.  Makes sense, given the weak free agent market at the position.
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