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Some interim reading and viewing.
Cardinals Acquire Lefty Pitching Prospect Matthew Liberatore
The trade between the #Rays and #STLCards is a big one, involving six pieces, three on each side, sources tell The Athletic. At least two of those pieces are draft picks. LHP Matthew Liberatore, heading to STL, still only known name.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 9, 2020
If draft picks are traded as Rosenthal suggests…
Only Competitive Balance Round #MLBDraft picks can be traded — the #STLCards have a selection in Round A and the #Rays have one in Round B.
Complete order: https://t.co/Cx8iv5qgi5
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 9, 2020
The guys on The Fast Lane 101.1 have been talking about this being a precursor to a trade with Colorado. Also, said that there are three players on each side with Tampa Bay sending two of their prospects.
The St. Louis Cardinals are trading OF Jose Martinez, OF Randy Arozarena and a Compensation A pick (after 1st round) to the Tampa Bay Rays for LHP prospect Matt Liberatore, a low-level catching prospect and Compensation B pick (post-2nd), sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2020
I am glad they got rid of Jose Martinez to open up playing time for the players that are left.
This is the kind of trade the Cardinals need to do more often – consolidation trades of people ready to go for high upside prospects…
Lol Heyman is a legend lol
Have heard now #STLCards have no intention of trading Tyler O’Neill. They expect big things from him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 10, 2020
In the process, #stlcards clear two 40-man roster spots, but not a lot of salary savings. Quantity for prospect quality deal. Thumbs up here. https://t.co/HyHrLKiSwW
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 10, 2020
Some (not me) thought this trade might be a precursor to another deal in which the #stlcards would take on significantly more salary. One deal to clear money for another. Clearly not it. Still, clearing OF jam for a quality LHP looks good. https://t.co/CmuoM7RoWD
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 10, 2020
I guess we shall now see what Jose Martinez can do in the AL as a DH. Let me be clear here – I hope he thrives. He might now that he doesn’t have to play defense.
r/Rat
I was thinking Randy had to be the piece due to similar status within the organization.
I believe there is a Gorman Thomas season in O’Neill. Randy Arozarena can now fulfill his destiny to give life to the memory of Bernard Gilkey. Jose Martinez can now dh.So that seems like O’neill will be in LF, Fowler is sadly in RF, and Bader vs Thomas vs Edman in CF?
While Matt Liberatore is a very highly touted prospect, one NL evaluator likes this deal for the Rays: They get a bat in Martinez that kills LHP, a guy in Arozarena who has hit everywhere and move up about 40 spots in the draft. Called it "an excellent move for a win-now team."
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2020
That said: The Cardinals traded from an area of extreme depth in their outfield and got someone in Liberatore regarded as one of the best pitching prospects in the game. Gives them tons of options. This can't be seen as anything but a win for them, too.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2020
I really like this trade for the Cardinals, cleared the roster, upgraded the farm system…
PLUS, Passan is reporting the Cardinals are shopping Fowler…If they can trade him as well this will be a very productive offseason…
“So that seems like O’neill will be in LF, Fowler is sadly in RF, and Bader vs Thomas vs Edman in CF?”
Maybe I’m overthinking it, ChiTown, but I think this deal was partly to make a clearer path for someone in particular. I’d lay even money the Cards announce a Marcell Ozuna signing within 48 hours. And I’ll hate it, regardless of the dollars or duration of the contract. But it won’t be quite as painful now, since they’ll be blocking one fewer outfielder.
In a vacuum, though, this is a fine trade for both teams. Cards deal from surplus to fill a true organizational need. (And no, it has nothing to do with Liberatore’s handedness. He’s an elite pitching prospect, that’s all that ever matters.) Devil Rays improve for the now at least, and maybe the later. Much will hinge on how well Liberatore develops; he’s got talent, no doubt about it. Wonder if the young Tampa catcher involved is Edgardo Rodriguez. Looked pretty promising based on his DSL season in 2018, before a lost 2019 season.
Love this deal. I don’t want to trade our new LHP + prospects for 2 years of Arenado. If you can get anything for fowler do so. Now that Martinez is gone and the OF logjam is a little clearer I am not so averse to resigning Ozuna. I love, love, love this deal!
IF, big IF, it was the Cardinals’ choice on either Arozarena or O’Neill to the Rays, count me as someone who is disappointed. The Cardinals do not need to keep hitters who strikeout a bunch just because they can hit home runs. We need hitters who get on base and Arozarena is that type of hitter. He will also hit around 15 home runs a year.
That rant over, I am glad to acquire a pitcher that is that highly rated. It thinned out our OF glut and gave us a high rated prospect.
Bob Reed, was it for Ozuna (agree, who I’m highly against bringing back to preface) or to bring up Carlson around April 22-25th?
The Cards still have a lot of chips to play, but all of the “tanking” teams don’t have many options that would be of interest.
My take on the #stlcards trade (in more depth than a few tweets here) is now included in our earlier free article. https://t.co/S24NFymymG pic.twitter.com/1RF4Am5Jxj
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 10, 2020
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