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I am glad to see the Cardinals draft and sign players with ties to Arkansas and Missouri. At least 3 out of the 7, right? Keep it local.
That ‘Flores Executes’ article by BW about how the signings went so smoothly is quite a good read. I didn’t like bringing Flores in when they first hired him because he didn’t have a traditional scouting background, and I thought his cameras and whatever else he brought with him was sort of gimmicky. I think most people now would say that he’s gotten better and better at what he does.
When it comes to drafting and developing players I think the Cardinals are one of the best organizations in all of MLB.
Now when it comes to signing FA’s or making trades? Meh, there is room for improvement.
Cardinals would rather not sign free agents. Overpriced and you don’t really know what you’re getting.
They did pretty well with Holliday, Berkman, and Beltran. Just haven’t been able to hit the jackpot recently.
Mud – Holliday wasn’t a free agent when they got him. In 2009, the As traded Holliday to the Cardinals for Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen, and Shane Peterson. Berkman and Beltran were indeed free agent signings. But short term deals to guys in their mid thirties. Long term free agent signings simply haven’t worked out for the Cardinals. Mike Leake. Dexter Fowler. Brett Cecil. Etc. They were outside the business model and probably will be scarce in the future.
After the trade, Holliday played for the Cards just a few months before reaching free agency. He did not re-sign until the next January, so while he had some prior experience with StL, the majority of his time with the team came after his signing as a free agent. In my book, it is valid to include him with Berkman and Beltran.
They did pretty well with Holliday, Berkman, and Beltran. Just haven’t been able to hit the jackpot recently.
Yes, but if you have to go back almost 10 years to find successes that isn’t a good sign.
I think the point that I was trying to make is that just because they have had such poor free agent signings lately, it doesn’t mean that they will never be able to have any success with it. But no one can argue that MO has been pretty lame at selecting free agents to go after whether they sign or not.
BW – You can’t include Holliday with Berkman and Beltran. Totally different cases.
Holliday was 29 years old when he was traded to the Cardinals in 2009. He played nearly 40% of that season with the Cards and slashed an incredible .353/.419/.604/1.023. He was great with his teammates, manager, coaches, front office, the fans, and within the community. As he entered free agency, the Cards went way out of their way to sign him to a long term contract because he was a perfect fit for Cardinal Nation. He went on the play 7 more seasons with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals signed Berkman to a short term free agent contract in 2011 when he was 35 years old. He only played a full season that year. The next and final year with the Cards he was in only 32 games. He wasn’t resigned.
The Cardinals signed Beltran to a short term free agent contract in 2012. He was also 35 when signed. He played for the Cards for 2 years and wasn’t resigned.
So you have one player who came via a trade who became a fixture in the middle of the lineup for many years after being signed to a high value long term contract. Versus two short term much older guys who were here for a short period of time.
Apples and oranges.
The discussion point was simply the team’s free agent signings. A generic topic.
There are as many different situations as there are individuals. Holliday signed a seven-year contract with St. Louis as a free agent. This is fact. Was he a free agent apple vs. a free agent orange? OK.
Bill DeWitt has always wanted to see how a player was with his teammates, manager, coaches, front office, fans, and in the community before making a significant investment in him. He was tremendously impressed with Holliday on all accounts during July, August, and September of 2009. That’s why they considered him part of the Cardinal family and signed him long term. The Cardinals got away from that business model with Peralta, Leake, Cecil, Fowler, etc. and it has come back to bite them. Berkman and Beltran were very short term back fills with old, veteran players. Totally different story. But a story I’d like to see them repeat right now in our outfield, where we’re very weak.
More than the #stlcards spending for all seven picks!
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 30, 2020
VERY EXCELLENT article IMO on the Cards draft and how they finagled the money to sign all:
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2020/7/1/21301284/post-draft-bonus-talk
Another great article. Glad the Cards got Bedell, as it’s nice to see guys who love the Cards end up with the team.
Agreed on both counts. Derek is going a great job and Bedell seems a good fit and to have a lot of potential.
Interesting comments from his college coach, considering he also had a 1st round draft pick in his rotation.
Great article once again, Derek.
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