[Bw52]

BHC- i have been following the Cards for over 50 years.I am not satisfied with mediocrity.I realize Morrison is not the greatest player.I also think a signing of Morrison would not be the only bat MO and Girsch trade for.I would love to see Stanton in Cardinal land but i think the FO needs to cover all areas.Besides i think Morrison goes to KC.

[Bw52]

Seems to me 29 year old Pham had a breakout year last season also and struckout over 100 times also.Morrison did have a breakout year and he also got more ABs than ever before.If he can be signed for a short term deal 2 years for reasonable price then why not?

[Bw52]

Cards talk says Rob Rains tweeted Cards are talking with Logan Morrison’s agent.

[Bw52]

Thanks Derek.I stand corrected.Tigers need pitching and that might be a better chance for Montgomery.

[Bw52]

Memphis FA RHPMark Montgomery signed a minor league deal with KC with a Spring training invite.he can join Seth Maness who recently re-signed with KC.

[Bw52]

If you sign Cozart then you have to move DeJong to 3B (his original position or to 2B (Wong is already there) and use Gyorko as a roving utility guy.I wouldn`t have a problem with that but i wonder how the FO would feel about a 9 million dollar utility guy (Gyorko)?
That would be a INF of Carpenter-Wong-Cozart-DeJong with Gyorko-Diaz-G.Garcia as backups.That could work.Cards still need a big bopper threat.

[Bw52]

Cards need to keep ONeill because who else is a power threat in the near future........nobody.Cards have guys like Mercado and Sierra who have stolen base ability and Bader runs well also.Given my choice i would rather lose Piscotty ,Pham,Fowler,Mercado before ONeill,Bader. I would rather keep Grichuk around as spot starter /4th OF with Bader.
Bader is young 23.Flashes some speed and power and was not overwhelmed at the MLB level.
O`Neill young 23 at AAA.Better walk rate than Grichuk and above average OF with exceptional power and some speed.
Grichuk 26 ,Big time power.Good defense.Streaky to the extreme.

Fowler 31 -massive overpay,injury prone,below average defense.Mo screwed the poochy with Fowler deal.
Pham 30 career year.Damn fine season.Injury issues,eye issues.Will he repeat at age 30.Sell high .
Piscotty 27 -can be solid RF but s trending down a bit and still has family issuies trhat obviously affect him.Rumors have said he would like to go to a West Coast team closer to ailing parent.
Sierra 21-speedy slap hitter with good defense.probably 4th OF/PH
Mercado-22 prospect with some pop and speed at Double A ball.

Those are my views and opinions.I realize Fowler is probably not going anywhere and Cards are stuck with his crappy defense,injuries and big salary.

[Bw52]

Nice article Brian;
although i would not hesitate to include Tommy Pham in a trade package for Stanton.I think 2017 was a career year for him and IMO he will end up being a 15-20 HR 60-70 RBI 15 SB .270-280 BA guy. solid but replaceable.

[Bw52]

Carlos Martinez will make around 11.5 million in 2018 and for several years.It seems like Miami would not want to take on a big contract unless they plan on flipping him to another team for young cheap controllable players.

[Bw52]

I don’t think you can have enough LH bullpen guys .Schafer is still older and trying to convert to a pitcher and he had injury problems.Littrell hasn’t been most reliable .Keikhefer is familiar to the Cards and Ege has MLB experience.I would rather have a guy who has been thru Big league games instead of a bad armed OF trying to do a reverse Ankiel.

[Bw52]

I wonder if the Cards would have interest in bringing Dean Kiekhefer LHP back on a AAA contract?
Looking at the Minor FA list i see a few guys who could possibly be of interest to the Cards .
Bobby Wilson C 34 year old vet who has MLB experience and can be a emergency guy to fill the Alberto Rosario role at AAA and mentor Andrew Knizner.

Cody Ege LHp has MLB time in 2016 and could add LH depth at Memphis.
O`Koyea Dickson 1B -OF Dodger minor FA who could offer pop at Memphis
Rafael Ortega OF- i know he was here before but he had a fine season at AAA .Hit .317 and stole 29 bases and hits lefty and is still only 26.Might be a better prospect than Nick Martini who i think moves elsewhere.
Mark Montgomery- RHP i sure would like to see him return and get a real shot.

[Bw52]

IF Cards get Stanton they will still need another bat to protect Stanton.DeJong is good but getting another power threat will get Stanton more protection.As it stands now the Cards have several 20 plus HR guys ( Pham-fluke year IMHO,DeJong,Carpenter-declining veteran,Gyorko-streaky,Grichuk-likely traded.So another bat would be perfect.In order to get another bat to provide solid protection there would probably need to be trade or trades made.Just several names to consider; Wil Myers RH bat under contract that gets expensive in a year or two.Jose Abreu 1B White Sox under contract thru 2019.kyle Seager 3B Seattle-Cards would need to send a 3B to replace him to Seattle (Would you do a Kyle Seager for Gyorko deal?).

[Bw52]

Simmons was one of the best hitting catchers of his era and average defensively.Overshadowed by playing the same time as Johnny Bench Simba was still worthy of HOF serious consideration.If Simba played in NY,LA,Boston or Chicago he would already be in HOF.Simba and Kenny Boyer both have been overlooked by voters who are fooled by big headlines and self promotion(Santo).Simmons was as good as Gary Carter and Boyer was as good as or better than Santo.

[Bw52]

Surprised Valera and Mayer’s still on 40 man.

[Bw52]

I have been thinking that it looks more and more that the chance of Stanton being traded to the Cards are getting a little better.I think it would be somewhat of a surprise if DeWitt took on Stantons contract ( even if Miami paid just 5 million a year).I do think DeWitt realizes that trading for Stanton would cause a increase in fan interest and sales revenue.It would energize the fanbase and the players .If acquiring Stanton thje Cards according to rumors would offer a young pitcher an another young cheap player or two.A Stanton trade likely means Grichuk/Piscotty /Bader/Sierra/ONeill/Mercado are trade options.
I would rather trade Sierra/Piscotty/Grichuk/Mercado and keep O`Neill and Bader.

[Bw52]

CC- Mo has stated he prefers to the trade route.Just trying to find young controllable bats is not easy without overpaying.The only Free agent bats under 30 are Hosmer and Moustakas and Hosmer will get overpaid by someone .Moustakas is okay for 3B but he will get good money also.So unless MO and Girsh are pulling someone under the radar to trade for who knows what will happen?
I think like you said; Cards might have to gamble on a young bat hoping for a breakout season.Maybe someone who just got a taste of big league time or somebody hoping for a rebound or a change of scenery (Joc Pederson?)
I admit i am trying to figure out all options and still can`t figure out a likely choice.

[Bw52]

Twins have several OF options
Eddie Rosario L/R 26 years old.27 HRs
Bryon Buxton 24 years old 29 steals
Robbie Grossman 28 years old
Zach Granite Twins #25 prospect
Niko Goodrum 25 years old.
Danny Palka OF/1B

Cards could always toss in one of the mid level OFs to sweeten the pot.

[Bw52]

A couple of names to consider for young controlable bats; Max Kepler RF Twins. 2017 stats
AB 511
H 124
2B 32
3B 2
HR 19
RBI 69
BB 47
K 114
BA .243
OBP 312
SLG 425
will turn 25 in February 2018. Has less than 2 seasons MLB experience.Bats Left throw Left .

I know someone threw out Michael Conforto `s name earlier a month or so back.He has some power 27 HRs in about 2/3 season . a slugging % .555 OBP .384. 113 Ks 57 BB .279 BA .Will turn 25 March 2018.Might be worth seeing if he could be gotten from the Mets.He will cost a couple of prospects and probably a zmajor league OF or Pitcher.

[Bw52]

I have been wavering between trading surplus OF or Carpenter and or Fowler( i wish) for a young controllable bat or just signing a Free agent big bat and trading OF surplus for bullpen help.I don`t want a one year rental (Donaldson,Brian Dozier) that could cost young arms(SP).I think the best way to go is just try and sign a impact bat preferbly LH ( Moustakas,Bruce,Hosmer) if none of them sign then go after JD Martinez.Of course i change my mind daily so whatever.

[Bw52]

I`m out

[Bw52]

CC-voted for Thomas just on potential.Toronto was high on him once and he is still young.

[Bw52]

I wonder how much trade value Diaz has since he was a All-Star in 2016?Seems like he could be part of a package deal to a team needing INF help who will gamble he can be adequate defensively and be a offensive first infielder.

[Bw52]

Nice article on Holland.I would have to say No thanks to paying that much money for any closer or any pitcher.21 million too steep for my comfort level.Why not sign Niscasio and a Cishek/Axford type to go with Lyons?

[Bw52]

66.Jose Godoy
67. Jesse Jenner C
68.Brandon Benson OF
69.Rangel Ravelo 1B
70.Brian O`Keefe C-1B

[Bw52]

Correction on vote for 65; Lane Thomas OF
Sorry i had a senior moment

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