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I am curious about the current roster at Memphis as anyone can be taken in the Rule 5 minor league phase below Memphis. Where could I find current info on this?

And projecting next year, who would the Cardinals need to protect from Rule 5? I am thinking Helsley, Fernandez, Woodford, and Hicks, possibly?

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Also if Stanton has anything close to his production in 2017 for the next 3 years, he may opt out. With Harper, Machado, and Trout hitting free agency salaries, their salaries will sadly get ton$40-$50 Mill a year.

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Report says Cards offered Piscotty and Grichuk for Stanton. I am assuming such a low offer would indicate we’d pay Stantons entire salary.

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Good move protecting Derian Gonzalez. (I had a feeling the Padres would have taken him, as they could have for the third year in a row.)I have always been high on him. He could move quickly as a reliever, and we need relievers for sure. Too bad we couldn’t find a spot for Wisdom. Seems funny for a team not scoring runs to bypass a player who hit 30+ home runs. I would like to at least seen him play for the Redbirds, given that they gave CHad Huffman (who??) a chance. Also, Martini might make someone a good 4th outfielder.

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Malncon too. But Samargzia and Melancon might be better next year. Cueto I think is on the downhill slide. SO glad we didn’t sign him.

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And thinking of the Giants, how many bad contracts do they have? Cueto, Samargzia, Cain come to mind. Although Cains might be over or be able to bought out.

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Jason Heyward has a full no trade clause for the first 3 years of his contract. I just don’t see him being trading in a situation where he can win every year, to likely a rebuilding mode.

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I just don’t think Holland is worth in the neighborhood of Chapman and Jensen money. Plus a draft pick. What maybe 4 years 80 million plus?

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I read a publication offering up an idea for a trade. ALedmys Diaz for Kelvin Herrara. That might be enough. I believe Herrera will be a free agent after next year. Maybe throw in Mayers or Tui. That trade actually works for both sides.

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As of now, the roster stands at 35, and 36 when Alex Reyes is taken off the 60 day disabled list prior to the Rule 5 draft. I really don’t see Holland is in the Cardinals price range. There are better options out there in Nicasio, Morrow, or Swarzak, which In like in that order, with no draft pick being lost. I think it might be wise to use one of the young kids, i.e. Hudson, Helsley, Alcantara. Perhaps they give the a little time (starting) at AAA to see who the 6th starter might be. All 3 have closer type stuff, and would be valuable using in the 7th and 8th innings, similar to what was done with Lynn and Wainright. Injuries likely will play a role in who does what.

I have wondered also if they are interested in a starter, how about Aaron Nola from the Phillies? Not sure they would deal him, but he has tremendous upside.

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I am surprised that Lynn wasn’t traded. Was there no better offer than what you can get for a pick between the second and third round next year?

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I think Lyons was our best reliever, and should not be considered for the rotation for 2 reasons:

1) Do we really want to rely more on Cecil?
2) Lyons has had his share of injuries, and may not be reliable for 30+ starts.

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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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