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I think we should have pursued Holland last year. We could have guaranteed him the closer job, and be the one getting a pick from the qualifying offer.

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IN regards to pouncing on Greg Holland, wouldn’t it likely cost a compensatory pick? Given the money involved that might be turned down, a qualifying offer would be a no brainer.

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In trying to determine what Cardinals will do as far as trades and free agent signings I question our upper management on some strange and surprising moves, or non-moves. I list them as such:

1) WHY DID WE NOT FIX THE BULLPEN?
I believe we would have made the playoffs with a better bullpen

2) The Chad Huffman era
Why did we call him up when our bullpen was and still is, a mess?

3) We trade for Juan Nicasio with a small cup of coffee left in the season.
Did management decide to bail out on this season and no t tell us?

4) And if were giving up on this season, why not cut loose Duke, and OH in September. Oh pitched like 3 games in a month, or so it seemed. Try some of our other young arms out?

I don’t like being a pessimist, but our management has a lot to do this offseason, and while I think can be done, I have much less faith in them this offseason. I hope I am wrong.

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Not sure how a trade would match up with several suggested targets but here goes:

Donaldson for Gyorko or Wisdom, Hudson, Mercado, or Grichuk, or Bader, perhaps Jose Martinez instead of one of the prospects.

Yelich and Gordon, for Alcantara, Bader, Wong and Woodford. GYorko or Martinez could replace one of the prospects, but that would hopefully fetch some relief help also. Maybe Tayron Guerrero.

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I think ranking Helsley in the teens is fair. But Baseball America, among many prospect rankings, did not have ranked in the top 30. IN fact, if he can stay as a starter, couldn’t a case be made to rank him near 91-100 in overall rankings. He throws very hard, and has a better breaking ball now than Jason Motte ever did. And I think career ERA is important. In fact, after Memphis finishes their playoffs, I would like to see Helsley in the Cards bullpen. BUt I bet I won’t, since management keeps calling up others, instead of a reliever like Montgomery.

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1 Alcantara
2 O Neill
3 Gomber
4 Montgomery
5 Mercado
6 Wisdom
7 Sheriff
8 Martini

Basically, I would hate to lose any of those mentioned by me or others, but I would really NOT want to lose the 8 I listed. The only thing I don’t know is if some will leave because they are minor league free agents. But I think, barring trade, it is invevitable we will lose quite a few players.

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I still do not understand why when our bullpen was imploding Montgomery didn’t get called up. As far as 40 man roster goes, he’d be more valuable than Valera or Gilmartin.

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I have a quick note and a couple questions.

I believe Rosenthal can be a free agent after 2018, and he is Scott Boras client. He cost $6 million this season, and no doubt would cost more next year. BUt the question is, WHY can he be more dominant? I think pursuing a trade with him might be the best option. AS long as the return is decent, of course.

At this point, who is there to trust in the Cards bullpen? And why have we not tried some of our minor leaguers. At one point, I thought sending Rosenthal and Siegrist down, but Rosenthal’s last couple of games have given us hope for him pitching better, or being a more valuable trade chip. BUt I still say send Siegrist down. Minor league relievers Montgomery and Sherrif have earned a chance. Or cap the innings on starters Flaherty or Hudson, and use them out of the bullpen. I just wish they would try something. I mean good management shouldn’t have let there be a possibility of 20 bullpen losses. The 40 man roster is the only deterrent to my thoughts.

Also, does the qualifying offer change this offseason? If the Cards can get a sandwich pick, that sets a pretty high bar for Lance Lynn trade talks.

Last question, and I know it is probably too early, but given the 40 man roster crunch, how many more youngsters will have to be protected. We surely do not want another Cordoba situation. I think O’Neil, Mercado, Derian Gonzales, Patrick Wisdom, and possibly Junior Fernandez would need protected, unless they are packaged in a trade.

Sorry for being so long winded, but I think my questions tie together.

Thanks
Scott R
Springfield, IL

P.S. I think the Cubs trading their prospects away will level the playing field between us.

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