Joe Strauss’ Q & A touched on some minor league issues, but no real revelations. The quote that got my attention was his cryptic response to a question about LaRussa’s future in St. Louis:
Cardinal70: Hello, O King of the Chat! I’d make a tsunami reference but Gustav’s still dumping rain on us here in Arkansas.What are the odds, in your mind, of TLR packing up at the end of the year? Duncan’s contract is up, the transition is still underway, etc. Or is the fire still there?
Joe Strauss: Read Friday’s Post-Dispatch. I can’t beat myself, so to speak.
So, does that mean that he is going to break news of an extension for LaRussa (and/or Duncan) or that LaRussa is talking retirement? My guess, considering some of his answers to other questions, is that LaRussa will be staying on, but I guess we’ll see tomorrow.
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Antonio DeJesus was 1-3 with a pair of walks.
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Steve Hill was 0-2 with a pair of walks.
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Charles Kingrey was 1-2 with a double and a pair of walks.
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Shaun Garceau gave up a pair of runs over 6.2 innings on six hits and four walks. He struck out four.
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Samuel Freeman gave up a pair of runs in two innings pitched on two hits and a walk.
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Pete Parise finished the game off with a strikeout, but not before allowing an inherited runner to score on a base hit.
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Colt Sedbrook and Shane Peterson provided the bright spots in an otherwise ugly game. Sedbrook was 3-4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. Peterson was 2-3 with a double and a triple.
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Zach Pitts got the start and only gave up one earned run over 4.2 innings, but he also gave up two unearned runs. He allowed two hits and two walks and struck out three.
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The ugliest line of the night goes to Arquimedes Nieto, who lasted only 1.2 innings, but allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and two walks. Blech.
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The part that caught my attention the most from the chat (and not in a good way I should add) is this quote: “It is becoming increasingly likely that Colby Rasmus may be shopped, or at least made available. “
I could easily see him being shopped…that being said I think it would have to be an outstanding deal for us to pull the trigger i.e. a SS or SP
The OF will be a very interesting subject this offseason (Mather, Skip, Ankiel, Ludwick, Duncan, Rasmus, Stav, Jay, Robinson) All of these guys are AAA or MLB and obviously someone will have to go
I’d imagine Robinson, Jay, Stav, Rasmus are in AAA to start that leaves Mather, Duncan, and Skip as bait and maybe a package with Anderson
La Russa has another year left on his deal, so why would he sign an extension?
I still find it hard to believe Mozeliak would trade Rasmus.
I swear, if Rasmus is traded for a one year rental or non top player, I’ll be very pissed. Although I love to see the Cardinals contending for most of the year, seeing our top talent being kept down is just annoying. If the Cardinals want to build for the future, then there is no way that Rasmus should be shipped off. Lets ask ourselves this: will Ankiel, Ludwick, and Schumaker all stay healthy and produce like they did this year for the next 5 years? I doubt it.
I’m just sick of seeing Tony play favorites with veteran players when there are cheaper players who hustle waiting for the call. (Aka his fascination with Kelvin Jiminez, Mark Johnson, and Ron Villone)
Rasmus and Wallace are the closest to sure things to make it in the majors. They may not turn out to be hall of famers, but I’d sure like to see our prospects get a fighting chance.
Pierce: Because being a lame duck anything sorta sucks.
The response of Joe Strauss that caught my attention was in response to the question I asked (2nd question) when he seemed to indicate that Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies might be available and he (obviously) intrigues the Cardinals’ front office. Now Tulo would be someone that would justify a trade of Rasmus, because of his abilities, the position he plays and the fact that he would be under the Cardinals’ control for a long period of time at a defined price. This would be in contrast to the rumors of a couple of months ago about a possible Rasmus/Holliday based trade. Holliday is a client of Boras and is not likely to sign with anyone beyond 2009 when he will seek free agency.
The thoughts about Holliday being a one year rental brings to mind that the same is true about Rick Ankiel. Being a Boras client, he too is not likely to sign long term with the Cardinals. Accordingly, and despite how much we want he story and future success to be with the Cardinals, they should look to maximize his asset value in a trade this winter. That is exactly what the Cardinals successfully did with another Boras client a few years ago, J. D. Drew, who the Cards knew they (and Atlanta) could not sign beyond his free agency year, and they were able to get Wainwright, Marquis and King for him, which was a much better haul than the draft choice compensation that the Cards will receive if Ankiel leaves, as is probable.
Maybe Sedbrook should’ve gone to QC, and Nico to Batavia…
LaRussa a GM? BWAHAHAHAHA…
I wholeheartedly agree with I.C.’s thoughts above. Rasmus for T.T. Yes, in a St. Louis second.
- I think it is insane that they have made TLR’s thoughts so public. Sure, it is nice to talk about possible deals, but saying (now repeatedly) that a trade involving Rasmus is possible only hurts his confidence and trade value. If another organization knows the Cardinals openess to dealing him, his price will be driven down. Why don’t they just choose to share their thoughts internally. Instead TLR talks openly about needing “impact” players. In the process, he puts uneeded pressure on MO heading into the off-season, and discredits the prospects that his own organization is trying build up.
I don’t see the Rockies trading (or even making available) Tulo. He’s got an affordable contract, he’s had sort of a down season due to injury, and they are close to competing. It wouldn’t make sense for them.
If the Rocks make Troy Tulowitzki available, put me in the category of those willing to include Rasmus and Boggs in the deal.
I was curious when Strauss mentioned Tulowitzki (along with Holliday) in his chat at the trade deadline. That he’s brought it up again has me thinking there’s something to this, and it surely involves Rasmus.
Here’s the thing on Tulo’s contract, though: it has been noted elsewwhere that if he’s traded, he can tear up his deal for 6/31MM. If true, the team acquiring him would have to renegotiate with him if they wanted cost certainty for the next few years.
If it meant that they could get him for Rasmus and change, I’d take my chances on renegotiating with him and having Ankiel/Schu/Jay/Jones in CF.
Why in the world would you all like to see Rasmus traded for Tulo? Sure, Tulo has great range and plays great defense at short, but he was helped last year by extreme home/road splits at Coors, and he’s been below average this year. Rasmus is a 5-tool prospect with the upside of Grady Sizemore. I’d rather keep Izturis on than trade Rasmus for Tulo.
I am with you Pierce. erhaps it is my recent infatuation with the idea of a youth movement, but I think there are other ways to upgrade in the middle infield—Dan Uggla for Ankiel anyone?
Greetings Pierce, PJ:
Rasmus: 5 tools
Ankiel, Jay, Jones, Schu: 4 tools (and you could argue more or less for some of them, but 4 is a fair number).
Tulo: 5 tools
Current and future SS options: they’re all tools. (And I don’t say that as a compliment.) The only guy who approaches Tulo’s skills this offseason is Furcal, and he’s a big question mark. After 2009, the FA SS:
Bobby Crosby
Alex Gonzalez
Khalil Greene
John McDonald
Ramon Santiago
Miguel Tejada
Jack Wilson
And none of the internal options are likely to be ready before 2010. That’s two years of stopgaps like Cesar Izturis. Aaaand I just threw up a little bit.
Bottom line, IMO: if we traded Grady Sizemore for Tulowitzki and replaced Sizemore with one of the internal options mentioned, it likely makes us stronger in the near term and long run.
You’re not going to get an argument out of anybody who knows anything about potential that Schumaker or Jon Jay have the same enormous potential as Colby Rasmus. Jay ranks as an average corner outfielder who hits for a pretty good average and limited power. Schumaker has been an effective leadoff hitter, but he does not provide near the power, speed, or OBP that Rasmus can provide. Also, despite Jones’ breakout year (and I love him as a prospect), you don’t trade a guy of Rasmus’ potential (who is still a consensus top 10 prospect and is also still very young being in the PCL) just because you have a guy who has had one breakout year. You hold on to guys like that. Imagine having an outfield of Jones, Rasmus, and Ankiel in 2-3 years. Not to mention that the combined price tag would be in the range of 14 million depending upon the contract Ankiel could potentially receive.
Here are Tulo’s road numbers from his big year in 2007: .256/.327/.393, which comes out as a .719 OPS. That .393 SLG% ranked as 10th behind shortstops in baseball w/ a minimum of 393 AB. To give you some perspective on that, Eckstein’s SLG% (road and home numbers combined) was just .11 points below Tulo, but Eckstein also had an OPS ranked higher than Tulo by .20 points. So, basically, if Tulo’s road numbers kept up in St. Louis, you’d be trading Colby Rasmus for David Eckstein with a much better glove. and maybe you don’t think that’s fair singling out Tulo’s road numbers and forgetting the home numbers he put up, despite the help he had at Coors, but he’s not making much of a case for himself this year by putting up a line of .245/.318/.376.
Also, when I mentioned that I’d rather see them hold on to Izturis than trade Rasmus for Tulo, I was just saying that for show. The Cardinals will have the money to go after a guy like Rafael Furcal or Orlando Cabrera. Not that the Cardinals are guaranteed to make a move like that, but there are better options than trading a top prospect in Rasmus with Sizemore potential for a guy as overvalued on here as Tulowitzki.
Fair enough, you make a good argument.
His splits aren’t sexy, to be sure. He could turn out to be Khalil Greene. But I still believe he’s got more potential than anybody else we have mentioned among current and future SS. And 2008 has me wondering about Raz’ head.
Uck, should of seen that one coming. Why do I feel like this one could blow up in The Cardinals faces. Could be wrong, but my gut says otherwise.
Should I consider chaining myself to Daryl Jones so that the organization doesn’t hastily trade him?
I am not going to get further into the merits of a Tulo/Raz trade. I previously gave my opinion above. However I too would be shocked if the Rockies would trade Tulo, particularly since they do not seem to have a replacement for him that is even as close or as good as what the Cards have coming up throught the system.
Getting back to my the purpose of my question to Strauss, I am unsure as to how I think the Cards should proceed to cover the middle infield for next year and beyond. As to free agents, I doubt that they can get either Furcal or Cabrerra for less than 4-5 years, which would make Cabrerra 38 or 39 years old at the end of such a contract and Furcal 35-36 years old. With the salary that either will command in free agency, it seems either would clog up the Cards middle infield roster at least in the last 2-3 years of such a contract. The other free agent option, Renteria, seems to have become very old, very fast, despite being a year younger than Cabrerra. Is Renteria, with a little better bat, a better choice than resigning Izturis, with a better glove, for another year.
The SS options after 2009 listed by Meat above are also not very enticing. As an aside look at the stats for the middle infielders throughout MLB for this season. They are way down with few exceptions that are almost impossible to acquire. Thus, if the Cards are trying to add a bat at middle infield, and if Tulo could be acquired from the depth they have in the outfield, maybe it is something to pursue.
Accordingly if someone like Tulo is not available or would cost too much in talent, then the best alternative seems to be to try to muddle through until someone like Greene, Solano, Kozma, Vasquez, Martinez or Y Castillo is ready. That means picking 4 out of Izturis, Lopez, Miles, Kennedy, Barden, Ryan and Hoffpauir for 2009, and then seeing if any of the young guys are ready in the second half of 2009 and beyond.
Finally, I ask again, if they can’t get Ankiel signed to an extension in the next few months, should they consider moving him like they did with J.D Drew and rely on their seeming depth in the outfield? However, I doubt that Ankiel for Uggla would work because the Marlins would only consider trading Uggla to avoid arbitration and future free agency and Ankiel with Boras as his agent would be a much more costly and short term asset for the Marlins.
Indiana Cardinal – nice post, you are dead on. I think the Cardinals should seriously pursue trading Ankiel. I know it would piss off a lot of the fanbase but given his injury history, his upcoming free agency and the fact that he is coming off his breakout season, I do think he could anchor a major trade, possibly for Brian Roberts if the O’s were willing to part with him. I do think that they should re-sign Cesar and wait for Kozma or Greene to be ready in 2010. I just think they should use their resources to sign another plus starter. If no trade is made for a 2B, they need to spend some money there. We can’t go another season with that production
Related question – Strauss seems to think Wallace could be a factor in the majors by mid-season next year. Anyone have any thoughts about rushing him like that and/or does anyone think the TLR/Mo regime would actually plug him in so fast?