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The knock on Jordan seems to be he has no real position b/c of range so he may just be a DH… he does appear to be able to hit wherever he has been…. he is hitting .298 with 6 HR’s at AAA this year, he hit .320 with 6 HR’s at AA before being promoted
If anything this gives them some more depth in the Orginization to hopefully make some future moves…they are definitely going to need some starting pitching next year
Blaze Jordan is a good value for Matz and the amount of money he was making for his role. His numbers have been really good, but I think he projects as a platoon bat most likely. Not even a great 1B defensively and Blaze is a free swinger. His BB% looks better than it will be in the majors as he swings at a lot of pitches out of the zone. He did make some improvements there this year. But there is power in his bat even if he hasn’t consistently tapped into it and getting something potentially useful out of Matz is better than nothing.
I like Mason Molina, but again I wish they would have tried to acquire 1 player instead of 2. Molina has a plus changeup and that seems to be the other thing this FO is targeting is pitcher with either a plus fastball or plus changeup. Hale has a plus fastball and plus slider and looks to be a middle reliever type. I’ll call him by his last name Hale as I have never been found of the name Skylar especially for a man.
trade grades according to CBS Sports…
St. Louis Cardinals: B
The Cardinals came in aiming to move their three-walk year relievers, and that’s exactly what they did. Ryan Helsey was shipped off to the Mets for a solid return, Steven Matz fetched an interesting hitting prospect from Boston, and Phil Maton returned a pair of minor-league arms in a deal with Texas. They still have a lineup logjam in place, and that probably should’ve been addressed. The winter, though, may bring clarity on that front after Chaim Bloom takes over as lead decision-maker.I am somewhat familiar with Mason Molina. I saw him pitch a few times here at the University of Arkansas. He was
considered a number 3 starter at a high level college program which isn’t bad. He has good stuff but had a few injuries and a few control issues but I think he has potential as a pro.Besides the Cardinals need another Molina.
Interesting comments on Blaze Jordan. He is listed as playing 1B and 3B. If he’s got lead feet and can’t catch the ball, they shouldn’t say he can play 3B. The bottom line is that we’ll just have to wait and see what we’ve got. I hope he gets invited to spring training.
When you were a kid and on Christmas morning you woke up all excited and then found out that all you got were socks, pajamas, underwear and a pencil case for school? Probably not but this is what that would have felt like.
Interesting comments on Blaze Jordan. He is listed as playing 1B and 3B. If he’s got lead feet and can’t catch the ball, they shouldn’t say he can play 3B. The bottom line is that we’ll just have to wait and see what we’ve got. I hope he gets invited to spring training.
Well he has to be added to the 40 man or exposed to the rule 5, so I’d guess he’ll be on the 40 man and thus part of Spring Training.
Arenado has been a big disappointment to me. Had boped to geta little bit more out of him offensively. Finding out he was still holding onto his no trade clause unless it was to one of his already chosen 5 teams makes me even more disappointed in him. If he was a lifetime cardinal it would be great but hes not. I could understand not wanting to go to a losing team but surely sone team still in the race was wanting him though maybe not. Like i say unless its a loyalty thing where the player has always been with a team or maybe grew up roofing for the team, i feel it shows some bad character flaws when a player wants to stay in a losing situation.
It sounds like they are committed to giving Saggase and Gorman more opportunities at 3B. Makes sense for this team to do, but also maybe not getting as much playing time the rest of the year makes it clear to Arenado it is also in his best interest to waive the no trade clause. That assumes anyone would really take him, and without throwing in some more money, I don’t think teams would be clamoring to acquire Arenado.
I feel the same as 2023 deadline. I don’t dislike the moves that were made and think the return for what they had to offer is reasonable, hope some work out and we’re still evaluating 2023 because 2 of the “better returns” in Robberse and Roby have been dealing with injury. Svanson and Saggese look like at least valuable role players with potential as more. But, same as 2023 I wish they would have went deeper into tearing it down. I really feel this team isn’t going to be truly competitive until 2030 or later. Arenado is under contract through 2027 and seems like he’s probably not tradeable or they would have done it at this point. Gray is under contract though next year, with an option for 2027 that surely won’t be exercised. Maybe he agrees next year to waive it. Contreras is under contract though 2027, option for 2028, and I think he is tradeable but hasn’t been willing to waive the NTC. The money of those 3 isn’t helping the rebuild. I like Donovan and Nootbaar but they are running out of team control and the return for them could have really sped up the rebuild and giving a better look at guys like Saggese and given a chance to get a look at Church or Prieto or possibly even Wetherholt. I know eating the money of Arenado isn’t ideal, but probably should have just been done and move him and give 3B to Gorman and go with it. The said in the off season they were doing a “reset” yet here we are still stuck in the middle of competing and a rebuild with a .500 record in 4th place in the division (10 games back) and 5.5 games back of a wild card spot.
The Cards turned Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Stephen Matz into:
Jesus Baez
Nate Dohm
Frank Elissalt
Blaze Jordan
Mason Molina
Skylar Hales
$250k international cashIt’s a decent collection of potential, with the obvious downside of no MLB players in return, given that the best prospects are in A ball and the guys closer to the bigs have lower ceilings. The upside is probably that Baez becomes a big league 3B, Jordan at least becomes what we hoped Baker to be (right handed pinch hitter with some thump) and we get a couple of bullpen arms from the rest of the collection. It’s a gamble on some good fastballs, which is in line with how the team approached the draft this year. We will see how it works out. Hopeful to see the minor leaguers in action before long. It should help moribund Peoria out a little, at least.
I really feel this team isn’t going to be truly competitive until 2030 or later.
2030?? That seems extreme. Other than the Dodgers, there’s no team that we can say with any confidence will be competitive in 2030. Any team is just a couple of big hits from this year’s draft from being competitive well before 2030.
That said, the lack of star power limits the ceiling for this club for the next year or two. We are desperate to have someone, anyone turn into an All Star regular. It’s a collection of 2-3 WAR at max guys and that won’t cut it. There certainly are players in the system, and even at the big league level who could do it (JJ, Doyle, Mathews, Hence, even Jordan Walker) but it has to happen to be a challenge to the big spenders.
I guess I’m not understanding CIN trading for K’Bryan Hayes. Appears PIT dumped Hayes contract and i still can’t figure why CIN wants him.
Lets get realistic about NA’s NTC. He’s not going to waive it. A NTC is valuable, and he is not going to just hand it over in some sort of magnanimous gesture. There was, is, and will be a number that makes it go away. Obviously that number was not hit in the past or recently.
In the event NA does get moved this winter, somebody has to play 3B next year. The two obvious possibilities are Gorman and Saggese, so it is not unexpected if they see some work there. There is nothing to be learned by playing the depth pieces Fermin and Prieto. There is also nothing new to be learned by playing Donovan there.
Who knows what the ultimate plan is, or will be, for Wetherholt. But it is a fair assumption that if his arm is left side capable at the ML level, then he will be deployed on the left side. That means either he or Winn will be at 3B. I hope they give that some advance planning before Wetherholt shows up and they have to sort it in MLB.
Thanks for the Blaze video clip, ShakenBake! An interesting talent for sure. It kind of troubles me a bit that in 358 PA’s this year, he was not once intentionally walked. That’s a total lack of respect towards a big bopper such as Blaze. Hopefully one day in the near future those numbers in that category will greatly escalate.
The Athletic graded all 30 teams at the deadline as either Winner, Loser or Snoozer. The Cards are among the losers.
The Cardinals had held on to closer Ryan Helsley, looking for the perfect time to trade him. This seemed to be that time. The return, though, was light. Keith Law described it as “a heist.” An evaluator who’d been impressed with how little Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski gave up to acquire Duran then said the Mets’ David Stearns “blew him out of the water” with the Helsley deal. Jesus Baez is a massively skilled prospect, but he’s raw and a long way off. None of the other minor leaguers acquired at the deadline — Nate Dohm, Frank Elissalt, Skylar Hales, Mason Molina, Blaze Jordan — project to be above-average big leaguers.
I read a comment by Arenado that he wasn’t going anywhere because he has a two year old at home now. It’s a shame that we have to pay him for what he did earlier in his career, but that’s what MLB has come down to. I’ll miss his defense after he eventually retires. Jesus Baez could be a sleep for 3B some day. The Cardinals are not going to DFA a future HOFer. That’s just not their style.
Cardinals need more guys that can consistently hit in the lineup to provide some lineup depth and protection
Arenado has been a big disappointment to me. Had boped to geta little bit more out of him offensively. Finding out he was still holding onto his no trade clause unless it was to one of his already chosen 5 teams makes me even more disappointed in him. If he was a lifetime cardinal it would be great but hes not. I could understand not wanting to go to a losing team but surely sone team still in the race was wanting him though maybe not. Like i say unless its a loyalty thing where the player has always been with a team or maybe grew up roofing for the team, i feel it shows some bad character flaws when a player wants to stay in a losing situation.
You think there’s a market for him when there really isn’t. His only 2 real suitors basically said no thanks and pivoted The contract no one want.The Cardinals don’t really want to pay anything down and even if they did good luck finding a place that will take a defensive first hit corner guy who can’t hit 20 homers and drive in 80. You think anyone really wants that? Get used to him being around at least for another season.
Lol at career Cardinal. There is really no such thing in baseball any longer. So you might want to get used to that along with Whiteyball being dead for 30 years.
He wants a right situation to win a title in. I think he’s fine staying in St. Louis where he has currently had only one losing season had has been competitive especially with him have kids and not wanting to move them unless it’s the right fit. Which I think at this point he, the Cardinals and our fanbase need to warm up to the reality that he’s going to be around a bit longer.
Gotta leave it to Mo to hold on players past their peak value and then only get scraps for them. He’s perfect at doing just the bare minimum.
NYquist: Christmas time chez nous we always went around in advance shaking our packages to see if they were rattlers or rustlers, hoping for a lot of the former. I’m afraid this trade deadline we came away with mostly rustlers.
858booyah, i believe loyalty still can exist but it goes both ways. I think arenado might could have been moved if he had said i just want to go to a team that is at least competing for a playoff spot this year and no that isnt st louis. Instead he held fast to the teams he had already said. Now if its because he wants to spend more time with his two year old, im fine with that. I can understand that but that doesnt help the team win ball games. I just read where hes going on the 10 day injured list and the article hinted it could be pushed further so i guess he may get to spend that time with him. The article also hinted that if he had went to one of his teams, he prob would still be playing. So i dont know. His numbers outside defense are pedestrian at best. Almost any player could put those numbers up with the same at bats. We will see what happens in offseason.
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