Joe Strauss has his laundry list of the Cardinals needs and wants. Normally this blog is reserved for “future” Redbirds, but I believe there is a good chance of a trade or two happening with the glut of outfield, third base and relief prospects, not to mention Bryan Anderson.
So you be the GM. What prospect would you trade and who would you trade for? Who do you pursue in free agency? And what do you predict Mo will actually do?
For a point of reference, here is a listing of Type A/Type B free agents and a full listing of free agents.
I’ll give you my 2 cents in another post, AZ and Roarke can feel free to do the same. I’ll tell you one thing–I would stay far away from the free agent landmine that is Edgar Renteria.
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My top two targets are Orlando Hudson and Rafael Furcal. Seeing as how the Dodgers and Furcal both seem to be open to another contract, that leaves Hudson. Hudson can put up a line somewhere near .290/.370/.410. If Hudson is in place, you can bring back Izturis as your 9 hitter. As much as I didn’t like his bat, his glove was better than advertised.
After that, I’m looking at bringing in Heilman via a small deal with the Mets. I always have like his stuff and I think with better coaching, he can be a major league version of brad thompson (ie: actual big league stuff).
Finally, I’m moving Schumaker for a left handed reliever.
A few random thoughts off the top of my head:
– I’m not sure signing any free agent is worth giving up that first round pick. Furcal might be the exception. Might is the key word.
– If you can get Holiday, you have to think hard about it. Anderson would be in the deal, but what else? Would Rasmus have to be included? If not, you have to think long and hard on that. Would you do Anderson, Jones, Perez and something else? That’s still a lot to give up for a position they aren’t hurting in.
– I don’t have the aversion to Renteria many have. Defense sounds to be the problem, but I wonder if Oquendo could help to rectify that at least bit. That said, I wouldn’t give up a first round pick. Renteria should only be in play if the Tigers don’t offer arb. And, a big contract is out of the question.
– Last season, we saw a rarity with the Twins and Rays making a swap that helped both teams (Young for Garza). Unfortunately, trades involving two young players with high upsides are indeed a rarity. If a trade like that could be worked out for the Cards, who might it involve? Any thoughts? The Cards obviously could deal from the outfield or righty relievers or Anderson. Could they target a young shortstop? Any good matches out there?
for me, it’s apparent anderson is an attractive trade piece. i’m ok with that; i like molina and i don’t think anderson would be best served being a back up.
one of the third basemen have to be considered as well. wallace is unable to be traded yet, plus i like his upside over freese and craig. freese seems to be the most logical trading piece of the three; he’s by all accounts major league ready and his value is at it’s highest.
you’ve got to consider some of the glut of righties. i’d like to hang on to motte and perez, but everyone else could be had. i do like boggs, he may have modest value and although i haven’t seen todd, if the right deal struck i would be ok with him being a chip. now for the outfield situation……
i don’t trade rasmus….unless you could get an absolute stud SS for him. like a tulowitzki. but i don’t see how on earth that would happen; colorado would be nuts to give him up. so i hang on to rasmus. of ludwick, schu, ankiel i gotta choose one of the lefties. i like them both, schu does not get enough credit-he was clutch all year. ankiel’s a toolshed. but something’s gotta give. ludwick stays cause he’s righthanded.
free agent signings for me would be to load up the left side of the pen. fuentes and affeldt are my two picks. fuentes is a great cushion for perez/motte and affeldt could be a swingman or above average lefty reliever. the rotation is what it is. not spectacular, but solid so stack up a killer bullpen. we have crazy cheap options from the right side: perez, motte, boggs, worrel, todd, etc. and i’m good with that. maybe bring back springer as a veteran presence for the kids, though franklin is still in the mix for another year.
gotta get a middle infielder (or two). i’m ok with lopez/miles at second, although would love to get hudson. SS options?!? not liking what’s on the FA market at all. sure, furcal is attractive but he’ll cost a fortune. some idiot GM will overspend for him. trade possibilities if at all:
-guzman (washington): not too crazy about it, but could live with it. modest contract, use him for a year or two.
-tulo (colorado): i’d do that in a heartbeat, but again colorado is crazy if they trade him.
-k. greene (san diego): i’ve always liked him, he’s a gamer who would fit right in with our clubhouse mentality. solid glove, inconsistent bat with pop. i’d be willing to take a risk for the right kind of trade. only one year on contract left; if he stinks he’s gone in a year.
-perallta (cleveland): don’t know if he’s on the market or not. got a good stick, but i am convinced his days at short are limited. short term fix at best.
-b. wood/aybar (anaheim): seems as if wood’s been a prospect on the verge forever; i gotta imagine he’s either available or aybar would be moved to make room for him. i personally would rather have aybar. like his speed (which we desperately need more of) and i think his chance of staying at short are better than wood’s. although wood has seen plenty of action at third already……
-crosby (oakland): dude’s always hurt it seems like. like the way he plays but it would have to be a small trade package on our behalf to land him.
-betancourt (seattle): doubt he’s available, but i’d sure like to see him making those highlight reel plays in redbird red.
-young (texas): high-risk, high-reward trade option. texas’ system is stacked and young could be had. he’d probably cost alot to get and his contract would be tough to take on. plus, i wonder how much longer he’ll be at short. but, man he can hit. be a nice bat in front of albert.
wow, i’m beat but it’s always fun doing this kinda stuff. it will be interesting to see what other ideas come forth.
I would move Jon Jay + Joel Piniero (eating 1/2 of his salary) for Khalil Greene. I like Jay as a prospect alot but we have a glut of outfielders and especially CF’s. I would make them take half of Joel’s contract to get a prospect like Jay. Otherwise I would think Mark Shorey for Greene.
I like Greene because he is very solid with the glove, has pop in his bat, and probably could benefit from 1) getting out of Petco and 2) just getting some different batting instruction. He would not block anyone in the Cards system and the team has a year to evaluate him before he would be a FA.
Just my 2 cents.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think anyone would take Joel Pineiro in a trade.
It’s so hard to match up player value to team needs, i heard it said, you think you know, but you don’t. i don’t know, but i know who i’d like to see.
Kelly Johnson- this one’s easy, zips calls for a .281/.362/.456 next year, put up a .375 obp a year ago. are there any better options for middle infield?
Logan Kensing- simply, has great stuff, but hasn’t put up the kind of results one would expect. was once billed as the closer of the future, now looks like could be next years grant balfour.
Boof Bonser- all depends upon the price, still striking batters out, throwing 95, and letting those that reach base have a quick round trip rest themselves on the bench.
Jeremy affeldt- this one’s been banded about pretty regularly, he’s left handed and throws in the mid to low nineties, I get it.
Alfredo Amezega- because he’s really good defensively, anywhere. call it a response to the the ultra-white aaron miles, but i like athletic players. could be the left handed side of a platoon at shortstop.
aurthor rhodes and brian shouse- they still retire lefties, will require short contracts and don’t cost prospects or draft pics. i hate to see any of the potential of our minor leagues squandered on 30ip a season.
Josh Johnson- there’s no secret here, he’s a talented young pitcher. not particularly well known, but his results have been quite nice in the big leagues. would cost a lot, and unlike everyone else on this list, doesn’t really have a reason to be moved.
2009 has the opportunity to be a great season with talent in the majors, depth in the minors, and flexibility with payroll. 2010 might not be so kind, with the departure of guys like glaus and ankiel much of the flexibility will be lost. this off season, i think you have to target young under control players, and to do that it will take some sacrifice of the minor leagues.
erik – I understand that no one wants Joel Piniero. SD is looking to shed salary and get younger. They can shed a portion of Greene’s salary and pick up a younger player or two if they take a portion of Piniero’s contract. If they want to just dump the contract then they cannot really expect to get a decent prospect back. Thus for the opportunity to gain a better prospect the Cards would ask SD to take on Piniero and a portion of his contract. The Cards free up a rotation spot for someone younger, cheaper and likely better and divest SD of Greene’s entire salary and (in their eyes) bad attitude. SD in order to gain a younger player(s) with talent, upside and cost controlled years agrees to take on a portion of Piniero’s contract in order to gain better talent. Furthermore, Piniero might be an ok pitcher in that ballpark and he stabilizes their rotation innings in the likely event that Peavy is traded.
I am amazed at the interest in Khalil Green. For 9 more homers than Cesar Izturis had (1), the Cards would lose 19 stolen bases (24 to 5) and 50 points in batting average (.263 to .213). I consider their “D” a wash. If you want a Greene at SS with power, no much average and loads of K’s, we have Tyler Greene in the on the farm. He has powerlow average (except for AFL) and is (was?) reputed to have good D. Loads cheaper than Khalil. I still like Rentaria, but maybe it is nostalgia. His NL/AL splits are interesting, though. I would pass on him if he’s offered arb. and stick with Cesar.
If the Cards want a short term closer to give Motte and/or Perez time to grow into the position, I would suggest Salomon Torres from the Brewers. 28 samve, 3.49 era and 1.35 WHIP last year. He’s 36, so long terms would not ba a problem.
For lefties in the pen, I would look to Scott Downs (Blue Jays), but that would have to be a trade. For a lefty specialist, our own Villone had a BAA of .176 (OPS .623), and he’s cheap. Beimel would be a good choice, as would Marte if Yanks don’t offer arbitration.
As you can see, I’m trying to save $$$, hopefully for a Ben Sheets kind of starter.
Getting ready to head to work from school but in the mean time the prospects I’d have on my shopping list include–Anderson, Jay, Freese, Craig, Solano, Mather, Boggs, and Walters. Not to say I’d trade all of these but if a viable deal came along these would be who I am most willing to part with.
The positions I’m looking to fill/upgrade–2B, SS, SP, LHR, CL
SS is my number one priority and I’d go youth first look for a trade obviously the Halos fit best obviously Aybar is a fun name but here’s another Statia a 22 year old SS who’d defense is supposed to be better and he’s hit for average so far through AA.
2B I’d be happy to fill with Miles/Lopez if the SS is upgraded otherwise I’d love the O-dog but would probably not pull the trigger because of his A-status so sadly enough I’ll probably stay with what I got at this position.
SP- I’ve got Waino, Lohse, and Welly…Boggs and Piniero can fight for the 5th spot in the rotation. I’d have to go out and look for a veteran with a past history of success (see every previous offseason) for Duncan to try out. That being said I’d love to see Lowe in red for one year.
I’ll have to ponder the rest during my shift but I want to keep our youth movement going, if we sign old, sign short.
Any idea what it would take to pry Brandon Wood from the Angels to play SS?
I would like to see if we could get Tulo for Raz.
Although I think we may be better off with Raz in the long run.
But if we can expand the deal to include Holliday and throw them say a Tyler Greene/Brendan Ryan with a Schumacher/Barton and throw in maybe Boggs we might have nice deal on our hands and be ready to make a run at the playoffs again.
But I would do none of anything till I fix the bullpen. If you can’t close you can’t win.
MI: I’m with Grimm on Renteria — The Tigers I think are unlikely to offer him arbitration, and he should come fairly cheap. Past that, I guess you have to look at trades as I’m not really convinced signing Orlando Cabrera or Rafael Furcal would be worth losing our first round pick. Cabrera’s defense varies from year to year, and Furcal missed over 75% of his team’s games last year. They just don’t seem like the type of players you dole out big bucks and lose your first round pick for.
I’d be open to looking at prospect types like Brandon Wood, but what would we send the Angels? They already have enough OFs really (Torii, GMJ, Vlad, Willits), but I guess if you look at Vlad as a DH, and consider that GMJ and Willits aren’t really cut out for a corner spot offensively it might be possible. Though, Wood has looked lousy in the Winter Leagues so far, striking out 12x in 8 games. I’m not sure if he could make enough contact to hit in the majors.
Lillibridge would be easier to get, but he was pretty lousy last year. Nonetheless I think he could put it together and be OK. The Braves are probably looking for some OF help too, which matches up well.
Khalil Greene was abysmal last year. I wouldn’t give up a prospect for him, not even to dump Pineiro, who we still might need if Carpenter can’t pitch. Yea, I could see him recovering and putting a decent season together, but I still wouldn’t bet a prospect on it.
Not really many options. I think Renteria is actually the safest choice. He won’t be pretty but he should be tolerable.
At 2B I’m not sure about chasing Orlando Hudson. If he’s going to be expensive, I’m not really that interested. Again, we lose our first round pick, and he’ll be 31 in December and he’s only had one season with 150+ games. It really comes down to the number of years on the contract I guess, and whether Arizona offers arbitration.
Otherwise, I really like bringing Felipe Lopez back. He hit real well for us when he was in St. Louis. Granted he won’t hit .385 .426 .538 over a full season for us, but couldn’t he hit .275-.280/.350/.400 ish with some decent defense for cheap?
Tyler Greene audition for a larger role by helping out Aaron Miles as a backup/part-time guy if he keeps up his performance at Arizona.
Lefty Reliever: Will Ohman? He gets the job done against lefties pretty well, and isn’t bad against righties. Neither a Type A nor Type B FA, he won’t kill the draft for us. He was much better against lefties last year than Beimel or Affeldt.
Where is Tyler Johnson? I know he had surgery, but shouldn’t he be around next season?
SP: I really think we need one for two reasons.
1. Carpenter is not a sure thing.
2. Joel Pineiro.
Plus, pitchers get hurt, it wouldn’t be bad to have another quality guy even if Carp is around, and just stash Pineiro in the ‘pen or Memphis or something.
To that end, I’d like to sign Randy Johnson. He’s a left-handed starter, which would be nice to have, he strikes out everyone, he’s a legend, he’s looking for W #300 and maybe even K #5000, and is actually pretty durable (less than 20 starts just 3x in his career: 2007, 2003, and 1996). He won’t be looking for a long term deal, and while he’ll demand a fair salary, it shouldn’t be the kind that kills us. If he can put up a sub-4.00 era in Chase Field, he would do well in the new Busch, which has been a pitcher’s park. Also he finally got his mechanics properly adjusted after his back surgeries, as evidenced by his 2.41 ERA in the 2nd half.
On the buy low side, maybe Brad Penny? It seems unlikely the Dodgers would exercise that option. Bartolo Colon?
On the expensive side, I heard at mlbtraderumors.com that A.J. Burnett prefers St. Louis, though that contract could be steep, and I’m sure Toronto would offer arbitration and take our first round pick.
I don’t see any real urgency to get another bat in the lineup. The Cardinals scored the 4th most runs in the NL last year, and that was with Cesar Izturis at short. I think we’ll see some return to the mean for Ludwick and a few others, but if MoZ does an adequate job of getting MI help it should take care of itself.
Players that could be traded:
Rick Ankiel in the right deal.
Chris Duncan
Bryan Anderson
Brian Barton
David Freese
Allen Craig
Mitch Boggs(not a fan personally.)
Adam Kennedy
Shane Robinson
I don’t move Rasmus or Daryl Jones. I hold on to Jon Jay for now, especially if Ankiel is moved.
I know that prospect-for-prospect trades are rare, but I’d like to see the Cards move Freese for a young SS or 2B. His value should be relatively high right now but he is easily replaceable w/in the system.
Jason Donald from Philly is at least a year away but Freese would immediately be an upgrade over Pedro Feliz at 3B. If Furcal is resigned and they decide DeWitt is the future at 2B, Hu may be available. Eric Patterson or Adrian Cardenas? Any other suggestions for blocked SS or 2B besides the studs from LA of Anaheim?
I’d also like to see the Cards move K-Mac into the rotation and bring Springer back. This will help free up the glut of RH in the bullpen and maximize K-Mac’s value.
I’ve seen a lot of people mention Brandon Wood of the Angels and even Erick Aybar. The guy I’m wondering about in Anaheim is Sean Rodriguez. He was simply horrible last year with .204/.276/.317 line in 167 at bats. He also struckout 55 times with 14 walks. Certainly not numbers to be impressed by.
That said, in 211 at bats for Salt Lake in the PCL, he put up .318/.395/.678. He also had 19 HR with 27 walks and 38 whiffs.
I don’t know much about his defense at short. Sounds like he might be better suited for second. This is what John Sickles had to say about him in April:
“Sean Rodriguez was drafted by the Angels in the third round in 2003, out of high school in Miami. He hit .269/.332/.380 with 11 steals in the Arizona Rookie League in 2003. He was considered a decent, if undersized, athlete but with questions about his bat. There were also questions about his defense. He had a strong arm, but not everyone felt he could play shortstop due to range limitations, and some even suggested moving him to catcher. I gave him a Grade C in the 2004 book.
Rodriguez began ’04 with Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League, holding his own wiht a .250/.333/.393 mark with 14 steals in 57 games. Sent back to Provo in the Pioneer League once short-season ball started in June, he hit .338/.486/.569 with 10 homers and excellent plate discipline. His defense at shortstop improved enough to keep the Angels interested in him at that position. I gave him a Grade B-.
Rodriguez went back to Cedar Rapids in 2005 and played the full season, hitting .250 but with 14 homers, 27 steals, and 78 walks. Despite the batting average mediocrity, the other numbers were all very solid. I lowered his grade to C+ in the ’06 book, but this was more because I was still wondering about his defense. . .his range did not impress me when I saw him in person and I thought he’d be better off at second base.
Promoted to Rancho Cucamonga in 2006, he hit .301/.377/.545 with 24 homers, 15 steals , and a 47/124 BB/K ratio, a big deterioration in his plate discipline though it obviously did not inhibit his production. He hit .354/.462/.662 in a late promotion to Double-A. I was impressed with his production obviously, and gave him a Grade B+ in the book last year, writing that he could develop in a Bobby Grich direction: hitting .260 or so but with strong power/speed production.
In retrospect that was too aggressive and I didn’t account enough for California League stat inflation, though in my defense much of the enthusiasm was from seeing him in person in ’05 and ’06 and not just based on the numbers. Lsat year he hit .254/.345/.423 with 17 homers, 15 steals, and 54 walks but 132 strikeouts for Double-A Arkansas. I lowered him a bit to Grade B this year, which is still more than most people expect out of him. He has a habit, apparently, of playing really well when I see him. This is sort of the opposite of the Steve Register Effect: every time I see Steve Register of the Rockies system pitch, he gets crushed. Every time I see Sean Rodriguez play, he does really well. Interesting coincidence that they both have SR initials.
Anyhow, the general expectation is that Rodriguez could be a fine utility player but won’t do quite enough to be a regular. I retain hope that he could do better than that, at least at second base. He’ll need to cut back on his strikeouts a bit for it to happen.”
My long desired move is to flip Craig or Freese to the Twins for a young starting pitcher. Boof Bonser wouldn’t be a bad target, though Freese might be worth more than that. In either case, the Cards glut of 3 baseman seems like a ready-made partner for the Twins who have a whole at 3b.
I’d sign either Fuentes, Rodriguez, or Wood. The big league staff proved that it will almost always keep the team in the game, and most of our games were up fo grabs in the later innings. Adding a CL moves everyone down a spot, so the entire pen improves and we can all relax a bit in the 9th. I also think there is a good FA market on the closers. We know the supply, but with the two biggest spenders (Bos, NYY) set at closer, this market should have some sannity. There’s Mets and MIL, but I think the Angels and Cubs might be planning on filling the position in house or by trade since they haven’t resigned their ’08 closers yet.
I consistant theme from the posts above is the concearn about losing the 1st round pick, and I think too much value is being assigned to this particular asset. By the 19th pick in the draft, the sure bets and extremely high upside guys are usually taken, and the money saved from that pick allows us the flexibility to make up for the talent lossed from the 19th pick by spending in the international FA market or later in the draft on the Melville types that drop due to bonus concearns.
I would take a run at Fuentes or Cruz (cheaper alternative that would take less money and years until Perez comes on full time) as a closer. Pick up Springer. Trade your pacakge of chips (trade) for a young starter Sanchez/Bonser/Scherzer that would compete with McClellan for the last starting pitcher spot.
I think we can’t afford starting free- agent pitchers and the track record for signing them is not great — see Schmidt, Hampton, Burnett, etc… so why waste your free agent dollars on them and give up a draft pick, too. Develop or trade for young pitchers — trade Pineno at the next deadline to a desperate team!
I would not mind Edgar Renteria for a short term inexpensive deal — better than dropping a lot long-term on Furcal or Cabrera — which is not worth it. Lopez would be my second baseman unless you can trade for a young proven alternative. Don’t see them going after Hudson!! Too much $$$
These trade suggestions for young and unproven middle infielders are interesting, but don’t see Tony going for too many young unproven players in the middle infield positions.
My trade chips would be Anderson, Freese, Boggs, Todd, Schumaker, Duncan (after he shows he’s healty in spring training maybe). If you have to Motte, but like to have two young power arms for late in the game!! Can’t see how they trade Kennedy but…
I would not trade Ludwick or Ankiel. They are too young, still have more potential and are under control. Ludwick might fall back to earth a little, but still he’s a bargain and a decent outfielder, too! Ankiel is still learning, but just might bust out again! I like Ludwick in left, Rasmus in center and Ankiel in right. Good offensively and defensively!
Do not trade Rasmus — never ever trade young talented center fielders or shortstops i.e. great talents at premium positions.
Cruz — 6 million or Fuentes 10 million
Renteria – 6 million Renteria 6 million
Lopez – 3-4 million Greene .5
5 million or so left over to pay a couple of LOOGYS (Beimel, Reyes, Affeldt, etc). and/or help pay off Kennedy’s contract.
Wallace made be used as part of a trade package, too. There are a couple of other 3rd baseman coming up soon, so he is not vital to the overall future plans!!