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Because if you don’t have a degree of loyalty to your players, that will get around. Plus you have the fan base that wants fan favorites to succeed. If you’re constantly churning your players how do fans develop favorites that they look forward to watching every season? A degree of continuity is wise.
I don’t think that moving one or two guys a year is a constant churn in any way, shape or form. This is the same team that arguably stuck with guys like Matt Carpenter, Paul Dejong and quite a few others over the years to the detriment of the team. That’s ok to give everyone the warm fuzzies, but it doesn’t win games.
Again, I like Tommy and don’t think we should move him just for the heck of it, but if there’s a clear upgrade I wouldn’t be that sad. This team’s core group is Goldy-Arenado-Flaherty-Carlson-O’Neill-Gorman-Liberatore for the next couple of years at least. Add in Waino and Yadi as unmovable guys for 2022. There is a chance Edman, Bader, Yepez, Burleson, Hudson, etc get into that mix but it’s not a given.
There’s a “chance” Bader, Edman, and Hudson get into that mix? We have different views of talent, and that’s fine.
My original idea was not “who should we trade”, it was if Mo comes across something he wants, and he needs a valuable chip to get it, who might that be? The primary consideration there is what proven everyday player could be most readily replaced? That is how I came to Edman.
I also think the chances of Edman being a trade chip go down if DeJong is offloaded. It would be risky to eliminate two proven infielders, unless the guy traded for is a better proven infielder. So maybe trying to move DeJong early will be a priority, so Mo knows what his chip is or isn’t.
DeJong, Sosa, Edman, Gorman, Donovan, and Robertson. The MI depth is good. Yes, there might be a trade chip in that group.
My guess is DeJong.With Gorman showing so much promise and apparently headed for St. Louis in 2022, one of DeJong, Edman, or Sosa is going to have to go. Which one it should be is a tough call. DeJong is only a couple of years past hitting 30 HR, and his defense is above average, if not elite at times. I expect him to show up at spring training revitalized, and ready to compete for the Opening Day shortstop job. Edman, for me, is the spark plug for this team. He has to play. He’s going to continue to improve. But where do they play him when Gorman is ready? I guess he’ll platoon with Gorman at 2B until 2023, then something is going to have to give. I think every fan has to appreciate Sosa’s aggressive play. He’s been known for his defense so far, but his offense in 2021 was impressive, also. It’s hard to figure how this is going to play out. One possibility is that DeJong has a real good spring and increases his trade value to the point that we could get a closer, or a near ready prospect with lock down closer potential, for him. I still think DeJong can be a starting SS somewhere. And with Edman, Sosa, Gorman, and maybe Donovan available to cover middle infield in St. Louis, DeJong probably makes the most sense to trade.
You’re absolutely wrong, GameCard. He’s always been an infielder, and 2B is a lot closer to 1B than 3B. His quickness is there, his range is there, his hands are there, and he has a fine arm. Look at some of the video that’s available.
If the new manager decides to DH the best Cardinal infield prospect since…who knows when, that manager is going to be Shildted out of town. Gorman will play plenty of 2B and early. I doubt he plays much of any 1B, ever. Edman will be shifted around, if the team wants his presence in the lineup.
I see Walker as the ultimate replacement for Goldy. That said, there’s no way I want to hurry Goldschmidt along. His defense has saved us more than a few games. He’s going to get HOF votes when the time comes.
I don’t see DeJong as having enough value to be Mo’s trade piece if something good comes along. Everybody knows his steep downhill trajectory since 2017 and complete ineptitude at the plate that got him benched despite his glove. And his contract leaves him with little, or negative, value. If Mo needs to put value on the table he needs something else.
Without change this Team doesn’t get better offensively. Same Hitting Coach, same players, same result. The bench could be better with the loss of Carp, but unless you add a couple hitters to the mix another season of being competitive is all you have. That should not be the goal. Having a Championship caliber Team should be.
I see 2022 as a very good chance of offensive improvement. But also there will be growing pains that our young position players as they sometimes will get diced up by veteran pitchers. There is also a strength in numbers. Compared to having Williams as our 4th outfielder who was pressed into starting when Bader and O’Neill were injured, we will have Nootbaar and Burleson being the depth as our corner outfielders. Yepez will be able to play all over the field, and some DH. Gorman will give us a power bat at second base, perhaps freeing Edman to move to shortstop. And there is the possibility of Dejong improving from a very poor 2021. I see plenty of reasons that our offensive numbers should improve greatly. I just hope there is no strike or lockout.
Everyone would agree with you, ks. It’s just that some look at what Nootbaar, Yepez, Gorman, and Donovan are doing in the AFL, and feel that some very good bats are going to be available internally.
Nootbaar, Yepez, Gorman, and Donovan own 4 of the top 5 BAs on Glendale. Our pitchers down there are all faring very well, sans Hicks. This has been the best showing for the Cards in the AZL that I can remember.
The home grown influx should help by 2023 at least. The question is whether any of them will be impact hitters in 2022? It would be nice, but it’s probably not fair to expect it. That’s why some of us wouldn’t mind adding another plus bat to the lineup to help in case.
One determining factor is the unknown of how healthy will all the players be come opening day. No way to predict so there has to be Plan B and even Plan C. Holding on to depth now could avoid problems down the road. We can’t rely on all of the prospects that are MLB ready to actually be successful.
I’d rather see the Cards add a starting pitcher for some depth from the free agent market.
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