- This topic has 47 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Best case scenario 12 wins or above in 16 games before trade deadline, buy with caution. Second best scenario, 12 losses or above, sell. Worst case scenario, anywhere in between. They need to be able to either Buy or Sell, nothing in between. I would actually prefer being able to sell. The only way to buy is trading actually young assets and this team need to keep pretty much every “young” asset they have.
Off the top of my head, of the young big league players, without being overwhelmed I am not trading Winn, Liberatore, or Walker. Maybe Gorman, not sure. Of the minor leaguers, have to keep Wetherholt, Matthews, Rodriguez, McGreevy, Roby, Rodriguez and one of Bernal/Crooks.
They have screwed up development of young players over the last few years. Liberatore, just turned 25, rushed to the majors because Randy Arozerena played out of his mind after the trade and Mo would look bad. Liberatore, Walker and Gorman were rushed to the majors when they should have worked out their issues in the minors.
Age comparisons
JJ Wetherholt 22 years 305 days – Not ragging on him, just moved to AAA and I think he will be a STAR!
Nolan Gorman 25 years 61 days – Brought up at 22
Jordan Walker 23 years 49 days – Brought up in 2024, less than 4 months older than JJ is NOW
Matthew Liberator – 25 years 246 days – Brought up in 2022.Yes, as per a previous post, if overwhelmed I would trade Herrera. I just don’t know where he will play other than DH.
Anybody else…Also, if you can trade relievers for comp picks, SELL, SELL, SELL
They aren’t buying anything major if they do. I remember last year vividly. We basically traded the payroll of a player who had not suited up all season for 2 players and their payroll and we released one of them. We added Armstrong who I believe was a salary swap of sorts for Carlson by Tampa and he was released and the Cubs picked him up and had his for a couple weeks before they kick him to the curb.
In a perfect world they stay competitive and they can Dump Fedde. They also could dump Helsley for maybe some close to ready fireballer. I don’t think Matz will be dealt unless they eat a ton of cash. I would not be shocked if they got rid of Ryan.
It’ll be interesting. I don’t think they can snag th last WC but they are in distance currently. Think the division is a pipe dream.
I hope they sell than play some decent ball in August and September. Bring up Jj for a stretch in September. Go into 26 with hope.
Ages can be misleading when comparing high school drafted to college drafted players. For example, was Wetherholt’s experience at West Virginia comparable to Gorman playing in the low minors at the same age?
Gorman, Walker and Liberatore (plus Winn) were all HS players. So were Roby, Hence and Saggese, among others.
Westerholt is the most ML ready player we have had lately. Maybe that tells us something about our low minors development system and it’s inability to have these guys ready. Especially Walker and Gorman.
There are so many possibilites between now and 5pm on July 31:
1. Buy mode: Probably pick up a cheap reliever and maybe a cheap starter like when Mo got Happ and Lester. We might have to give up a top 30 prospect or two. Nothing too exciting but would keep us in the wild card race.
2. Sell mode: Dump all of the expiring contracts for a return similar to 2023 or maybe better. I would only do this if we crater the next two weeks.
3. Stand pat: Self explanatory and would not accomplish much.
4. Buy and Sell: This is where it could get interesting. The Cardinals might sell Fedde and Matz to pick up a couple of prospects but then also trade Gorman or Noot and maybe one of our catching prospects for a young major league ready starter with multiple years of control. Maybe even go crazy and look for a RH bat for the OF. They cover both bases by gaining prospects for the future and a player who can help right now. This approach makes the most sense to me.
” a RH bat for the outfield”
Upgrading a Hampson / Pham type 4th outfielder? Or are you uncomfortable with Noot, Scott or Burleson as starting outfielders?
Not sure if posters on here realize this or not. But our only hope for having a chance in 2026 is free agency. Period.
All of the current players we are playing have shown the last 3-4 years what they are capable of. And it’s not good enough.
I don’t see anything of substance happening until Mo has ridden off into the sunset. Than I see trades as being a lot more viable than free agency. Especially in light of the uncertainty around the labor agreement after the 27 season.
Upgrading a Hampson / Pham type 4th outfielder?
I wouldn’t consider those to be upgrades.
Or are you uncomfortable with Noot, Scott or Burleson as starting outfielders?
Yes I am uncomfortable. Against LHP’s here is the average and OPS for each player this year:
Noot: 211/622
Scott: 205/536
Burly: 220/585KCB wrote:
I don’t see anything of substance happening until Mo has ridden off into the sunset. Than I see trades as being a lot more viable than free agency. Especially in light of the uncertainty around the labor agreement after the 27 season.
The CBA actually expires after the 2026 season. It will be interesting to see if that stalls several teams next year. They might wait until there is more labor clarity.
Not sure why Bernal isn’t being mentioned. I see Bernal as our catcher of the future. Of If they’re going to trade a catcher, I’d just as soon them trade Crooks. Crooks and Fedde might bring a pretty good prospect.
I don’t think anything will happen at the deadline. If we are out of it maybe see what a Helsley rental brings. This winter Bloom may make some moves, but nothing that takes on substantial payroll. They won’t trade Mathews, Wetherholt, Winn or McGreevy.
Vs lefty splits as rhb:
Winn .656
Pages .545
Walker .513
These are/were starters. We don’t need more righty bats, we need better right hand bats.
we need better right hand bats.
Better RH bats who can be an everyday player somewhere besides 1B/DH. That is the part the org is likely to forget about or bungle.
I have said before it is like the FO is playing in a fantasy league and stuffing all the bats they can come up with onto the roster and then addressing the disfunction by finding scrap heap guys who can play some defense.
It is a compliment to the character of these young players that they have been able to hold it together and play pretty well much of the time. I think the dog days are going to be tough though.
Bill and his baseball love child have driven a venerable franchise with 100 years of glorious history right off a cliff.
FWIW, position eligibility is also a major consideration in fantasy baseball. 😉
If a player hasn’t already appeared at a position previously (minimum number of games vary by league) this year or last, he is not eligible there now.
P.S. It is true that defense does not matter in fantasy, but that isn’t close to being the most pressing problem facing the current Cardinals.
Well, you would know. But looking at the roster, and what is at AAA, what in the world is Bloom supposed to do about putting a team on the field next season? They don’t have one single outfielder who is a difference maker, or even a complete player, offense and defense, besides Noot and he has vanished. Post Arenado they have one left side infielder, Winn. They have no everyday catcher. There is little quality on the pitcher side. As I said on another thread, Bloom is probably googling how to say a Hail Mary.
When we face lefties, it’s currently Willson and I hope someone helps.
Its hasn’t been Hampson or Saggese. Herrera is IL and occassionaly Oli lets Pozo play. Its Willson vs them, and Arenado and Winn might help. But, when you have a roster of pull righties, vs lefties, the results speak for themselves.
They struggled on offense for a number of years and they made it a mission to find big bats. The problem is those guys generally play 1B, 3B, RF, LF, or DH.
I am concerned about the pitching Bling. There’s clearly an internal options plan lining up for next season, but it probably isn’t going to be good enough. That’s Gray, Liberatore, McGreevey, Pallante, and possibly Roby. Bullpen of Svanson, Graceffo, Granillo, Romero, Leahy, plus probably at least one of Hence or Hjerpe and then 2 on the shuttle. I think that’s a good pen. And a questionable rotation. They really need to sign or trade for a number 3 or better starter.
I’m not all that concerned about the position players though. CF was the one gaping hole this past offseason and I wasn’t sure Scott could do it. I think he’s proven that he’s capable and he’s young enough to assume he’s going to keep improving. RF is also a concern, but that could be filled by a free agent with one upgrade. Or we tolerate running Burleson out there. Or Walker improves. Or Baez keeps hitting. Or they turn Herrera into an outfielder (which it sounds like they are going to at least start training him some there). Lots of options so it’s likely it gets fixed. I’m not concerned about 3B. Arenado is there for 2 more seasons if he isn’t traded. Gorman could do it if he is. Or, if he falters, Saggese and Wetherholt are waiting in the wings. Crooks or Bernal will probably be the primary catcher soon with Pages as backup. That’s a good tandem.
Winn has lost his opposite field success and approach. .884 to .513 ops year to year.
He was a good rhb vs lefties in 24′, this yr he’s not, to date. The BAbip difference is there too, but I believe it’s because he only uses the outer half with 2 strikes.
He’s looking inside w/less than 2 strikes as Nado does. The timing on inside pitches vs a lefty especially, is a hope approach, and neither lets the ball travel enough on the outer half. Spotty results should be expected.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.