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Mo says that he wants to bring in 3 new starters for 2024. But will that really happen through trade or free agency? Right now they have –
Mikolas
Matz
Hudson
Liberatore
Thompson
Woodford
Rom
Roby
Kloffenstein
McGreevy
GraceffoWill there be enough incentive and motivation when the rubber meets the road during the off season? Or will they run a competition with what they have during Spring Training?
Say what you want about Mozeliak, but he is usually very careful not to make public pronouncements that could later blow up in his face.
He was very clear about bringing in three starters – and he should be held to it. He knows he will be held to it.
To date, the problem has been performance. There are no pitchers right now in Triple-A whose results are screaming for promotion, like Baker and Winn on the position player side. Maybe that will change in the weeks ahead, but if not, the unproven pitchers on that list will still be unproven this off-season and next spring.
You are also assuming that all of the incumbent pitchers will be back next season.
Free agents will see the “three starter openings” comment and perhaps be more inclined to come to St. Louis, where they could have a better shot at a rotation spot.
No matter who is there come spring, the competition will work itself out. If any pitchers are discouraged by having to compete for a job and are not motivated enough, they need to find other work.
I think he will get one real legit starter. Beyond that is questionable. A couple more guys similar to what’s on the laundry list.
Including this for the record:
More Mozeliak on the needs of the #STLCards this offseason: “(cont.) Having a repeat of that would not be in the best interest of the franchise. So I think our approach is going to be very aggressive on the pitching side. We'll see where it takes us.”
(2/2, end)
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) August 14, 2023
bb says: I think he will get one real legit starter. Beyond that is questionable. A couple more guys similar to what’s on the laundry list.
IMO, all starters are questionable primarily because of elbow and shoulder injuries which are at epidemic levels.
Matz likely will be gone until spring training ’24, so add another young pitcher will need to be added to the rotation mix. Liberatore, Hudson, Thompson and Woodford won’t be under a lot of pressure since the rest of this season be something resembling spring training on the rotation side. I don’t want to see the AAA starters brought up because their performance will be marginalized anyway. Let them finish the season where they are and go into the ’24 competition having more to prove.
As for the remainder of the lost ’23 season, Wainwright is penciled in for a least one more start and if that goes well he’ll probably be on a game by game schedule. He wants that elusive 200th but there is a lot of opinions if he should even get much of chance to.
It just baffles me that none of the above starters hasn’t been able to step up to become a solid #2 or #3, if just one of them had Mozeliak wouldn’t be having to promise to have outside guys take those spots. Damn, this season has been so disappointing in so many ways for all of us as the team fell out of contention in May. Weird and wild stuff. (scratching my head)
bccran wrote:
Mo says that he wants to bring in 3 new starters for 2024. But will that really happen through trade or free agency? Right now they have –
Mikolas
Matz
Hudson
Liberatore
Thompson
Woodford
Rom
Roby
Kloffenstein
McGreevy
GraceffoWill there be enough incentive and motivation when the rubber meets the road during the off season? Or will they run a competition with what they have during Spring Training?
I imagine it will be a combination of free agency and trades. By the way, and all due respect cranny, each year you post a list of all of our “pitching depth” but then our pitching staff goes out and gets pummeled. Quantity doesn’t mean quality. Of the 11 pitchers on your list only Mikolas is a proven big leaguer. Matz, Hudson, Libby, Thompson, and Woodford are all still very iffy and the others are still in the minors. We need proven big league pitchers.
Brian wrote:
He was very clear about bringing in three starters – and he should be held to it. He knows he will be held to it.
Yes he should be held accountable but he didn’t say he would bring in three high caliber pitchers. Rich Hill isn’t going to cut it.
It may be worth mentioning that pitches have a way of looking less “starter quality” the second or third time through a lineup.
There is going to be a Matz unreliability factor next year also. If he’s healthy and pitching ok he will be in the rotation. But what does that do for you? His history is nearly ever present performance and health problems. It will be built in rotation trouble.
I only make a list of starting pitchers because that’s what the front office is looking at. I have never suggested that we stand still.
At the same time, I saw us trade away Alcantara and Gallen, and I know they won’t want to have that come back in their face again with any of the guys that are on board right now.
Instead of just posting impressions, let’s look at some facts. For instance, how has Zack Thompson performed at the major league level? Here’s the bottom line – ERA of 2.87 and a WHIP of 1.19. 6.8 hits per 9 innings, 9.2 strike outs per 9 innings. .8 home runs per 9 innings. 25 years old. Much of this was as a reliever, but how do they view him as a starter? Is he #4 or #5 worthy? How about Drew Rom? He’s had 26 AAA starts, and in the last outing he struck out 10 in 5 innings. Did they unlock something?
Granted, Mo said that they need 3 starters. But how will he react if some of the in-house guys tear it up over the next month and a half?
Granted, Mo said that they need 3 starters. But how will he react if some of the in-house guys tear it up over the next month and a half?
I hope he will realize that after the debacle of 2023 we can’t go into 2024 relying on hope and maybes. We need more certainty. Season ticket sales could be on the line too. That should get their attention if nothing else does.
S
t. Louis Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Casey Lawrence from Memphis Redbirds.
Mo’s thought bubble: “one down, two to go”.
He was signed to be a #4-5. That’s all that’s expected of him. If he’s hurt, there are going to be other guys that can fill in. Mo needs to go after higher level guys.
Casey Lawrence now at 35 almost 36 he deserves another chance. career era 6.8 whip 1.728
Where the heck do they find them?
The minute the Mets said they were gonna shoot for competing in 2025, I bet Mozeliak had a trade set up to bring Quintana back.
I think they go hard after Giolito also who’s young and won’t cost a pick.
Sonny Gray was who I thought they would look at but he’s probably too expensive with the attached pick.
Lastly he’ll get someone like Mahle or Ryu hoping for a rebound.
Giolito
Quintana
Ryu
Mikolas
MatzThen the kids
Pads that rotation would be a 37 yr old and two 35 yr olds. I don’t think Mo is going for a short term fix like that.
That’s been his MO for a few years now. I think that would be more likely than him grabbing a couple $150M starters or drop the farm on a solid #1 in a trade.
You can flip Ryu for Mahle or Montas also
On the Cardinals official site. The article about the new guys says Rom is placed #26 on the cardinals 30 top prospects list. But looking at that list, he is not on it.
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