Comments on: Daily Farm Report 11/6/08

By: Easy

Easy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:20:37 +0000

I agree that the major problem with this trade is the payroll issue and how it relates to plugging all of our other holes. Since we are using two outfielders to get one it is unlikely that we would trade another, such as Ankiel, for middle infield or bull pen help. That would mean that, in addition to resigning Holliday we would need to solve those other issues by throwing money at them in free agency. As you indicate we’re not likely to do that and it’s probably not good policy anyway.
Regarding the splits, I also don’t think they mean that Holliday is not a good player. I don’t, however, see him hitting significantly better here than Ludwick did last year and possibly not significantly better than he would this year. I also agree that Rasmus is the future but I actually think that Skip has turned himself into a useful player and will outperform Colby at the major league level for the next year or two. Given all of that I would much prefer that we use our surplusses to directly address our very serious defecits.

By: erik

erik — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:17:05 +0000

For what it’s worth, Holliday has very good +/- ratings, a +11 according to the Fielding Bible.

I don’t think it’s as horrible as some of you are making out. Skippy becomes addition by subtraction in a way, clearing a path for Rasmus to play every day. Boggs is probably a 5th starter/mid-reliever. Ludwick will still be a good player, but not quite the same caliber as Holliday. I’m not reading quite into the splits thing as much as some of you are. The thing I don’t like is it killing payroll flexibility. If DeWitt is willing to increase payroll in a recession, then all I could say about that is wow. He would have to in order to address the middle infield and the bullpen, unless Mo makes some sort of amazing unforeseen trades.

By: Easy

Easy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:02:52 +0000

That long term contract would be the franchise killer I was talking about. I think Dustin’s right that the Cardinals see Ludwick’s season as a career year. I don’t but even so we should use him to fix our holes rather than make it financially impossible to do so. Beyond the money and the road splits I have seen Holliday make some absolutely dreadful plays in the outfield. Small sample but it adds to my confusion as to why the team would be even slightly interested in this.

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:33:46 +0000

I don’t think they would trade for Holliday unless they knew they were going to sign him long-term.

By: Dustin

Dustin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:12:46 +0000

Trading Ludwick for Holliday is a big gamble and I think the only reason you do it is because you’re positive that Ludwick had a fluke year.

Now what has happened to Ottavino? I’m pulling for him but right now it just looks bad. Maybe a switch to the Pen is needed?

When does “The Walrus watch” start? Or you going to avoid that with him?

By: Easy

Easy — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:42:51 +0000

The idea of trading a cheap slugger PLUS PROSPECTS (!) for a very expensive free agent to be, with terrible road splits who does’nt address our many weaknesses is an absolute franchise killer. Bringing up Colby before he’s ready, as I think is the case, makes it even more putrid. I’m afraid we may pay the price for this surprisingly competitive season that Tony engineered by cow towing to his win now screw later agenda. Worst of all I don’t think we’d win now as I don’t think Holliday would put up numbers approaching what Lud did last year. I’d love to get Escobar too but I doubt we can. It is, though, the kind of trade we should be pursuing at this early stage in the off season.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:34:14 +0000

One positive thing about acquiring Holliday is that he would certainly be a type A free agent and certainly decline arbitration for a long term deal, leaving the Cards with 2 draft picks.

I would prefer to get Escobar from AtL, just because a SS is so much harder to come by. Plus he has a great glove and has put up pretty decent numbers with the bat as well.

By: Abe Froman

Abe Froman — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:03:32 +0000

i dont understand ludwick for holliday. i wonder if this is only half true…i.e. the cards would have to ship ludwick + other stuff to SD for peavy, and are angling for holliday to replace ludwick?

By: BigJawnMize

BigJawnMize — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:35:28 +0000

I think most of the Holiday rumors are being generated by the Rockies to drive the price up for him. This junk doesn’t make much sense to me, we want an impact bat so we trade an impact bat that is considerably cheaper. Let the Phillies have him.