[CardsFanInChiTown]

2019 has a year and a half to figure itself out, for 2018 they would have Ozuna, Fowler and Bader in the OF or sign a Bruce or RF type of you want to make Bader a 4th, but with the depth/log jam I don’t see that being an issue. Donaldson, DeJong/Diaz if he rebounds, Wong and for 1st, it’s not hard or expensive to find an Alonso type to play 1st. Remember how many decent guys were available late in the offseason? A guy with some power to hit 5 or 6, love Yadi but don’t love him as the 5 hitter.

Starting 5 in 2018 of Cmart, Wacha, Weaver, Leake, wainwright, Reyes and how many other options are in the high minors? I’m also a big fan of a reclamation project or two for the 5 spot. A reunion with Jamie as an example….

BP’s in general are so fluid yearly, or even monthly. Tui, Cecil, Siegrist, Bowman, Brebbia, Duke, and about 5 guys in the high minors can sort it out this year and one might emerge as as solid closer(Tui needs a shot). Going into 2018, once again, it’s so fluid there is zero point in predicting who will step up.

My thoughts were more toward setting up for 2018 since I feel this year is lost, but adding those pieces at least makes them bearable to watch the rest of the season and finding a 5/6 power guy for 1B isn’t that hard for 2018 if they don’t feel there is a good internal option. They could potentially even make a big play for Hosmer (highly doubtful of course). So yes, overall with the Cards pitching and OF depth(which they don’t have spots for on the 40 man) this makes them better overall this year and next.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

The middle of the order bat (or two) has to be found, 2017 is lost in my opinion, the Cards aren’t catching the Cubs folks! Not with Gyorko as your cleanup hitter…

Idea
Trade Lynn for X
Trade Pham for Y
Trade Rosey for Z
X Y Z could all be potential top 100ish
Trade Oh for, well anything
Then send Grichuk, Hudson, Lyons, X, y and Z to Miami for Ozuna and the Cards have a #3 hitter for 18 and 19.

Then trade Carp to the highest bidder for prospects a,b and c
Trade Gyorko, Piscotty, and a,b and c to Toronto for Donaldson

Trade for Bruce from the Mets for salary relief for them

Trade for Alonso from A’s (again, light market)

Pick up some wild card RP dumps and put them on a short leash…

Fowler, Wong, Ozuna, Donaldson, Alonso, Bruce, Yadi and DeJong would be a fun 17 team to watch at the least!

Ozuna, Donaldson as 3/4 With a FA 1B signing would provide a much more optimistic outlook on 2018 also.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Anyone else notice that 7 of the 9 Cards starters tonight have spent time in the minors this year?

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Here’s what I’d do to remain competitive this year and give them a good shot(not that anyone cares)

1) Trade for Marcel Ozuna (he starts in CF) – Flaherty, Bader, Gomber, Junior Fernandez and Gallen
2) Trade Carpenter for a top 100 hitting prospect with power potential
3) Trade Lance Lynn for a top 100-150 hitting prospect with power potential
4) Weaver slides into Lynn’s spot in the rotation (I don’t think that would be much of a downgrade if any)
5) Trade Oh and Rosey to the Nationals for Juan Soto (ranked around 90) and a wild card minor leaguer
6) Call up Marco Gonzales to start over Wacha (likely an upgrade)
7) Move Wacha to a possible closer role or go with a closer by committee or Tui
8) Trade for JD Martinez (starts in LF/RF) – Grichuk, Alcantara, Oscar Mercado and a lesser prospect
9) Call up Carson Kelly

Lost: Wong, Lynn, Oh, Rosey, Grichuk, 7 replaceable prospects
Gained: Ozuna, JD Martinez, two top 100 hitting prospects, Juan Soto, lesser prospect

Lineup 2017 – Fowler(RF), Wong(2B), Ozuna(CF), JD Martinez(LF), Gyorko(3B), Piscotty(1B), Molina, DeJong(SS)
Rotation 2017 – CMart, Leake, Weaver, Wainwright, Marco G
Bench 2017 – Pham, Voit, Garcia, Kelly, Jose Martinez
Bullpen 2017 – Wacha, Siegrist, Bowman, Cecil, Lyons, Tui, Brebbia, Duke, Sherriff, etc

That team has about 100 times better shot of winning than the current one….

Lineup 2018 – Fowler, Wong, Ozuna, Gyorko, Piscotty, Voit or FA 4 hole hitting 1B(Alonso or Hosmer?), Molina, DeJong/Diaz
Rotation 2018 – CMart, Leake, Reyes, Waino, Weaver, Marco, Hudson, Lyons, etc
Bench 2018 – Pham, Kelly, Garcia, Voit if they add a 1B, Martinez etc

This was a lot, but all very realistic and it makes the team much better short term and long term. It also clears up some log jams in the system and gets some top tier hitting prospects in the minors.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I’m confused why folks seem to think the Cards would have to give up a big prospect package for Stanton, from what I’ve read, it would take very very little (besides taking on all of his contract) due to his contract. I don’t see them doing that of course.

I think Marcel Ozuna (2.4 years of control left) is the best option if they are looking long term, with the number of starter prospects that the Cardinals have, ship off a half dozen of them for him and call it a day. I’m in the opinion that Weaver needs to be the 5th starter ASAP with Wacha moving to the already crowded BP so he’s the untouchable one.

Would an Ozuna for Grichuk, Bader, Flaherty, Junior Fernandez and Gomber be enough? Bader and Flaherty are the headliners in my opinion.

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