IMHO this team needs to move on from several underperforming and aging players .Carlos Martinez-too much clown show,too much drama,will his shoulder hold up and will he ever mature and become dedicated to his craft?Jose Martinez-defensivewly challenged,made for the DH……hes okay but there are younger more athletic options in the wings.Andrew Miller-solid at times,bad at times,makes too much money to be a LOOGY (and he seems inconsistent at that too).Matt Carpenter-Whats he bringing to the table anymore..a rare hot game or two...….a walk or two..more than offset by a lot of strikeouts and average defense a best....A MO mistake extension.Dexter Fowler-way overpaid,plays poor defense,doesntt steal bases,strikes out a bunch,does nothing well except eat salary.Standing in the way of younger possibly better players.
IMO the Molina extension was foolish and premature but it is what it is.Trying to deal some of the aging guys for prospects/young untried players should be considered.Many people have complained about the high strikeouts rates,poor situational hitting,baserunning mistakes so why not infuse some more new young blood with the core you have now?
Molina,Goldschimdt,Wong with DeJong offer a group to start with and Edman,Bader,O`Neill,Lane Thomas,Arozarena,Munoz,Knizner with Carlson on he way sometime next season offer youth and energy.Picking up a LH bat off the bench would help,maybe Ravelo could be a RH pinch option to fill JMarts role.
By trading some big dollars if possible then Cards can decide if to go after another solid innings eater solid SP or a contact hitter with XBH power.
MY POINTS
1.Stabilize SP
2.Find another bat or two with solid contact skills with XBH power(more doubles etc, Homeruns are nice but cutting back on some of the swing and miss is needed).
3.better defensive options at 3B instead of Carpenter,better OF defense LF,RF (O`Neill,Thomas,Arozarena).
4.Work with DeJong and Bader to better hitting skills-both are young enough to improve,both provide good defense.
5.Find a solid LH bullpen guy or two-you have Miller if not traded,Cecil is still around,maybe Cingrani on the cheap I he signs plus there will be several low cost LH bullpen gus in FA looking to rebound (Sipp,Loup,etc) .Tyler Webb doesn`t give me a lot of confidence but he has done okay..
Didn`t mean to get longwinded here but I see this as a chance to improve the offense and adding to the SP is major need IMO.Wacha is gone,Wainwright bounced by okay but how long ? CMart is not the answer IMO,Mikolas,Flaherty,Dakota Hudson offer a solid 3..maybe Woodford,Gant,Gomber,Poncedeleon with Wainwright for the SP.