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Pitching splits for JC in 2025, his only professional season:
Righty versus righty bats: .166/.224/.256 (241 plate appearances)
Righty versus lefty bats: .252/.372/.473 (156 PA’s)Internet obscenity laws prohibit the posting of his numbers pitching left-handed. But look at the righty/righty line! That folks is a paltry .480 OPS allowed, and I invite any industrious researcher to locate a right-handed starting pitching prospect in any organization who held righty batters to a lower OPS in 2025.
So what we have here is a guy who could be truly excellent IF he can meaningfully improve against lefty batters. (Let’s say, knock 100-120 points of OPS off that number.) It’s a big if, sure. But he’s already so darn dominant against righties, that even if his splits continue in exactly the same way as 2025 going forward, I think he’s still a very plausible #4 starter or wipeout reliever if deployed properly.
I’d rather have Sloan, certainly, but that was never going to happen. But all in all, I agree with those who put the total return at roughly a grade B. To be blunt, Ledbetter is nothing. And Peete is a long, long longshot — but intriguing, anyway. But JC in my opinion has a higher upside than anyone anywhere has given him credit for, and the two draft picks are quite valuable, especially to a franchise that has excelled at draft & development for the past 30 years.
I did NOT want to trade Donovan. I did NOT want any version whatsoever of a “rebuild,” or whatever it’s being called this week. I don’t trust Bloom, ownership, Marmol, or his staff to lead this team going forward.
But it was a fair deal, for two inexpensive years of Brendan Donovan.
None of these guys will see the Majors for at least 2 years. If we get a mid rotation arm and at worst a 4th OF put of this we should be happy.
The key is the picks IMO. We don’t draft as high this year. So those balance picks will be important.
I think Chaim did ok here. I’d give it a B at first look.
I think it’s way too early to grade this trade. There are too many moving parts. I think 5 potential prospects directions is a success. I think we still need a right handed outfielder, and an ace or 2 pitchers. But we could have those assets in our farm system after these trades. Plus, there are more trades likely to come.
Peete just b/c of his age may be a decent prospect for the future, but his strikeouts/contact is a concern 162 strikeouts in 125 games ….but this is somewhat similar to what Baez did when he started in the Cardinals minor league system and now Baez is a top Cardinals prospect and there best OF prospect.
Cijntje not a fan of switch pitchers at all, have a lot of doubts it will work out, but this year should be the year to find out assuming he goes righty the whole year.
Ledbetter had better power #s at high A in 2024 than his first year at AA in 2025, needs to cut down on his strikeouts as he averages about 1 a game for the last 2 years, but a .265 avg actually makes him one of there better OF hitters in the minors….Cardinals are pretty shallow in the OF at AA and AAA.
The 2 competitive picks probably make the deal as that gives them a # of picks in the top 100.
I would say the so called money Dewitt has allegedly put into player development better pay off with some of these guys they have acquired or it’s going to be a long next 4-6 years, because they obviously are not bringing in any free agents that make much money.
I’m saddened to see the exciting, energetic Donovan shipped off for a handful of maybes but thank goodness the Cardinal brain-trust has fiercely hung on to Gorman and Walker to lead us to future glory.
Chaim has traded very well this winter. His patience to continue listening to clubs, on Donny, has paid off.
SEA will be surprised. They think they know Donovans value. Now they will see his big picture, the everyday grinder. Good luck with getting a ring Brendan.
I think overall its a fine trade. We get prospects and some picks. Even if these dont work out in the long run, it still works to our long term advantage. Hopefully donovam is successful there.
…this is one talented kid with a ceiling reaching the upper decks. We’ll miss Donny though
Peete is an elite athlete for sure. First round draft choice. Lots of swing and miss. He will test our new development team for sure. If he can improve that strikeout rate I will take a ride and go see him.
The Cards are certainly amassing guys whose ceiling as a starter is fairly high. By my estimate, there are 13 guys in the system who have a ceiling as a kid rotation guy or better if things go just right, and there are another few who are new enough post draft/trade or due to the start of their career (thinking Dutkanych, Elissalt and Graham or Young) that you could squint and see it.
It may turn out to be nothing, but they are on a good track to hopefully end up with a home grown rotation in a few years. Libby will still be young enough to be the veteran presence at a #1-3 spot and hopefully McGreevy will be a solid #4ish. The Cards have to be banking on their own Gilbert-Miller-Woo-Kirby group with them and the farmhands.
Gamecard:
Am I reading you correctly or is someone holding a gun to your head and telling you what to write?
The new POBO is having a decent off season. After Contraras, Gray and Arenado I gave him a C. Now after Donovan he has a B. If he deals Gorman and Walker then an A- and if Nootbar and Romero go then an A. Clear the decks entirely. Keep it up POBO.
If the Cardinals are ever to win, they will need to develop MOTO power bats. If anything along those lines is to come from the Donovan trade, it will be from the draft picks, which illustrates how long term this ‘rebuild’ is going to be.
Bats seem to develop more quickly than pitchers, unless you are talking about DSL types. I agree that we need some more big bats, but if the rotation can be filled out with home grown talent, the budget should fit adding a bopper or two to fill out the places where the farm hasn’t been able to produce (and I’m still hopeful that the farm will produce with JJ, Rainiel and company).
Middle order bats hit leadoff thru batting third now-a-days. Cleanup and #5 were nothing special last season (mlb). The deeper lineups have a better middle-order (financials).
Waiting on the next Pujols should take awhile. Herrera and Burly can also continue to develop. I may like both as middle-order bats, TBD.
In the past, the Cards were able to trade pitching for good ML proven bats. Look at how they got Ozuna, Goldy, and Arenado. The same may be at play as a future strategy.
14 –
Former 1st round pick
Former 1st round pick
Former 2nd round pick
#68 pick this year
#72 pick this yearWhat’s not to like if you’re building for the future?
A can’t miss future impact player type would have been better. Donovan couldn’t fetch that. Hopefully the basket of lesser stuff will pan out.
Delvin Perez
Dylan Carlson
Dakota Hudson
Connor Jones
Nick Plummer
Jake Woodford
Bryce Denton
Luke Weaver
Jack Flaherty
Ronnie WilliamsThat’s the list of Cardinals’ first and second round draft picks for 3 consecutive drafts. That’s the type of return the Cardinals COULD wind up with from this trade. With the benefit of hindsight, which 5 would make this a good trade return when they were prospects?
Flaherty is the gem of that group. Hudson, Weaver, and Carlson were ok supporting cast. Woodford was replacement level plug and play. The others were all washouts.
So if we get Flaherty and any other combination, it was worth it. If we don’t, it wasn’t.
Pozo is now the oldest position player on the 40-man roster. Bryan Torres is 2nd oldest.
The oldest player on the roster is Ryan Stanek who is 34. Next is Riley O’Brien at age 31.
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