How about Ludwick and David Freese to Arizona for Max Sherzer

(2) As VEB pointed out, this Redbird squad has earned the right to fight for the playoffs

(3) Despite the seeming fixation on B. Fuentes, he is far fron the only lefty bullpen arm available. A guy like Ron Mahay–or better, Scott Downs–should be just as good as Colorado’s all-star, and *much* more reasonably priced. Or heck, the Cards could add a RHP to the pen instead. After all, other than McClellan & Springer, who elicits confidence from Cards fans when he takes the bump?

(4) The Cards could even trade for a mediocre starter, allowing them to shift, say, Wellemeyer to the less taxing relief role. (Too many 5-inning outings for TW lately.)

It’s fine with me if Schu or Duncan or Brad Thompson are traded to an A.L. contender, since they are eminently replaceable–Mather would in fact provide a likely *improvement* over Skip/Dunc at this point. So much more power than the former, better defense/baserunning than the latter.

To Card management, I’d say: “Don’t overpay for Fuentes…but you MUST get a solid bullpen arm. Preferably a southpaw (TLR has the obsessive need for multiple pen lefties) who will be with the team beyond 2008.

Anyways, I’m sure you meant 2007.

Even though they never made any major trades that year, Larry was obviously right — including the suggestion of trading Reyes, who I know he liked — and I was wrong. But I like this year’s team, and they’re in the thick of it, despite only having a small chance of actually making the playoffs.

It probably doesn’t matter what they do, however, since it’s not likely that they’ll make the playoffs, or give up too much, if they choose to sell. Funny thing is that I’d hoped that they would become sellers throughout most of this season, but my opinion has changed as deciding factors have been more clear. The two most important factors are that a) they are still in the race and b) I’m skeptical that they’ll receive much in return for anyone other then Rasmus or Garcia, whom most of believe are untouchable.

I very well may be wrong, but I’m skeptical that trading either Lohse or Ludwick would bring a great haul in return. If they would, then I’ll climb aboard the sellers express, but I’m not for selling to receive anything less then prospects with star potentials. If they don’t sell, then I won’t mind if they dig into the farm for collateral, as long as it’s the right move(s). Currently we’re loaded with outfielders, the rotation seems pretty well setup for the future, and we have a finicky pitching coach, so if the right deal came along for Rasmus, Garcia or Todd, then that’s okay with me. All I ask is that they don’t let any of these guys go for rentals that have no future with the organization, since it’s unlikely that they’ll receive anyone who will vastly upgrade the current team, with the possible exception of a dependable closer.

Though young, and lacking the composure that comes with experience at times, this team is pretty solid and doesn’t need much to push it to the next level. We really need to address the glut in the oufield while we have value there, which can happen whether we’re buyers or sellers. However it goes down, I think we can all agree that we don’t want to mortgage the future, but they can do that with either route — even with a deal that includes Rasmus.

i wouldnt do it just to be dumping salary (glaus is worth his paycheck and will be next year if we exercise his $11 million option), but if we are looking towards the future, we have some depth at 3b with craig, freese, and wallace.

Suppose exactly that had happened: an even record early, with everybody healthy, and Carp returning soon after the All-Star break. The consensus, if you believe BP, would be that the team might think about being buyers rather than sellers, because they’d still be in sight of a playoff spot. So with a BETTER result early, and WORSE injury problems than BP anticipated — yet with the prospect of a couple of big-name competitors coming off the DL shortly — why on earth behave more pessimistically? I don’t see becoming a seller at all. PHE, I agree with you: make smart moves, not hyperactive or fatalistic ones, and try for the best of both worlds. The team is good enough that it’s achievable.