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Latest Cardinals Hot Stove: Antonetti, Eckstein, Maroth

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Let’s take a look at what’s going on with the Cardinals.

  • Viva El Birdos has a hunch that Chris Antonetti will be the team’s next GM.
  • According to RotoWorld, the team has released Mike Maroth.  The 30 year-old lefty was terrible with St. Louis, but will probably hook on somewhere for $2-3MM.  He would’ve been non-tendered anyway.
  • Interim GM John Mozeliak recently talked about his dealings with David Eckstein.  No deal is imminent, and he may test the free agent waters.  I don’t see the team going with Brendan Ryan, so look for some trade activity this winter if Eckstein departs. 

Glavine Interested In Cards?

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Sounds like Tom Glavine is considering more options than just the Mets, Braves, and retirement.

According to Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Glavine has interest in finishing his career as a Cardinal.  While he might not be the "ace" the team is looking for, he might be the next best thing.

We also noted earlier this month that the Washington Nationals might be in the mix.

All that said, the Braves are probably still the favorite for Glavine.  David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently expressed near certainty that the Braves would sign him.

Odds and Ends: A-Rod, Posada, Cardinals

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A few articles that caught my eye this morning…

  • Scott Boras seemingly scoffs at the idea of Alex Rodriguez being forced by the Yankees to sign in November.  Reggie Jackson, a special adviser to the Yankees, thinks Rodriguez will top $300MM if he leaves.  Jackson takes a subtle shot at A-Rod for his lack of postseason heroics.  Rodriguez’s .279/.361/.483 career postseason line pales in comparison to Reggie’s .278/.354/.527.  Wait, no it doesn’t.
  • Barry Rozner thinks Jerry Reinsdorf could arrange for two blockbusters for his teams, netting Alex Rodriguez for the White Sox and Kobe Bryant for the Bulls.  Rozner thinks the $300 mil would come back five-fold.  Rozner manages to work in a shot at Aramis Ramirez, his second in two weeks.  What did Aramis do to Barry?  Anyway…I don’t consider the White Sox serious contenders for A-Rod. 
  • George King says Joe Torre’s departure is more likely to drive Jorge Posada away than Mariano Rivera. 
  • Bernie Miklasz talks about the Cardinals opening their wallet so far this offseason.  Is there a chance payroll could go past $115MM?

Cards Hope To Re-Sign Eckstein

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Last we’d heard, David Eckstein was expected to leave the Cardinals and sign with the White Sox, Tigers, or Mets.  However, the Cards’ team spokesman said two days ago when Joel Pineiro was signed that John Mozeliak’s next order of business was to re-sign Eckstein.

Eckstein earned $4.5MM this season in the last year of his three-year deal.  He turns 33 in January, and has averaged 120 games in the last two seasons.  Eckstein has a solid career OBP of .351.  There’s a great point-counterpoint over at Viva El Birdos about whether the Cards should re-sign him.  Their best estimate is that he would earn about $6-7MM per year on a two or three-year deal.  The Cards stand to net some solid draft picks if they let Eckstein walk in favor of Brendan Ryan or an external candidate.   

Odds and Ends: Wakefield, Guillen, Lowell

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Some random rumorage not quite worthy of individual posts…

Cardinals Sign Pineiro For Two Years

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Rather than test the market, Joel Pineiro has come to a two-year agreement with the Cardinals.  I’d mentioned earlier that I thought he was in line for a Jason Marquis 3/21 type deal.  According to Ken Rosenthal, it’s a two-year, $13MM pact. This seems like a solid move by John Mozeliak.  That’s the going rate or even a mild discount for a fourth starter, and Pineiro could be decent.

The Cards now have Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, and Pineiro locked into the ’08 rotation.  According to Joe Strauss (linked above), the goal remains to acquire a "front-line" starter.  The Cards seemingly have about $20MM to spend this winter, and $5MM or so of that will go to Pineiro (depending on backloading).  Can a front-line starter and a power-hitter/shortstop be had for roughly $15MM total?

It can be done – Edgar Renteria makes a little more than $6MM, leaving maybe $9-11MM to spend on the starter.  Jon Garland and A.J. Burnett each make $12MM, Dontrelle Willis would be more affordable.  Guys like Joe Blanton and Noah Lowry are supercheap.  It just depends on how extensively the Cardinals want to mortgage their future to make a 2008 push.  They’ll either do it by trading good young players or by giving out at least one ill-advised long-term contract. 

Cards Negotiating With Joel Pineiro

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Cardinals interim GM John Mozeliak has already exercised Jason Isringhausen’s option and re-signed Russ Springer.  Next up: hammer out a multiyear pact with Joel Pineiro before he files for free agency.

Pineiro wants to start next year, and the Cardinals are definitely on board with that.  They have roughly $20MM to spend for at least two starters and a shortstop.  Some of that will probably have to come via the trade market. 

I don’t expect Pineiro to come cheap.  He posted a 3.96 ERA in 11 starts for the Cards, his first taste of the National League.  He bears some similarities to fellow future free agent Kyle Lohse, in that they’re relatively young and revived their careers in the NL.  Pineiro was HR-prone as a Cards starter, but he showed a career-low walk rate.

If he were to hit the open market, Pineiro would surely match Jason Marquis’ three-year, $21MM contract.  Wouldn’t surprise me to see him get the 3/25 of an Adam Eaton or Miguel Batista.  Surely Pineiro’s agent, Arn Tellem, is aware of this.  If Pineiro doesn’t test the waters, it would imply that he’s willing to settle for less money to remain a Cardinal.  I don’t see the Cards giving him a three-year deal. 

Random Rumors

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Some random rumors to help you get through your Thursday morning…

  • As you might imagine, the Rangers are keenly watching and hoping Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract.  That would free up $7MM for them in each of the next three years.  Rangers’ manager Ron Washington’s wish list includes a center fielder, corner outfielder, and first baseman.  The Rangers have been connected to Torii Hunter quite a bit, but they’ll have plenty of competition.
  • Will the exchange rate free up a bunch of money for the Blue Jays?  Perhaps even enough to make a pass at A-Rod?  Hey, fans can dream.  Mine!
  • Something I didn’t mention yesterday – Elijah Dukes is playing winter ball.  The Rays still don’t seem to have any room for him in the outfield or at DH.  Maybe the Marlins will get involved again?  Would Kevin Gregg work?    
  • Gordon Wittenmyer thinks the Cubs should keep Jacque Jones for 2008, which makes sense.  Wittenmyer also believes 22 year-old Felix Pie with 194 big league plate appearances, has proven conclusively that he can’t hit Major League pitching.  His suggestion is to trade Pie now.
  • Larry Borowsky wants the Cardinals to sign Milton Bradley.   
  • Jeff Sackmann recommends against Geoff Jenkins’ $9MM option for ’08, but the decision was tougher than you think.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Bonds, Nathan, Barrett

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Ken Rosenthal has a new rumor column up.  Feels like it’s been a while.

  • Rosenthal thinks it’s a sign of desperation that the Angels would entertain signing Barry Bonds, who doesn’t fit in with their club.  His OBP would fit in anywhere, but he would tie up the DH spot at the expense of Juan Rivera and Vladimir Guerrero.
  • The Cubs are expected to bring Daryle Ward back at $1.2MM (makes sense) and Steve Trachsel at $4.75MM (questionable).  Cubs fans can only hope Trachsel would be considered a tradeable asset, as Rosenthal opines.  Rosenthal also quashes the idea of trading Aramis Ramirez, both because of his full no-trade clause and the team’s impending sale. 
  • David Eckstein is expected to leave the Cardinals, no big surprise.  Rosenthal reiterates recent rumors connecting him to the White Sox, Tigers, and Mets.
  • Rosenthal’s idea for Bill Smith and the Twins: keep Johan Santana this winter, and instead trade the $6MM super-closer Joe Nathan.  Teams would line up for him, and Pat Neshek wouldn’t be a bad replacement.
  • Do you think Michael Barrett could be a free agent bargain?  Rosenthal talked to one exec who feels this way, and it is a good point if he can bounce back to .280/.350/.480 for five million bucks.
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