Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
This isn’t a question about this week, but….has there been any news about Hjerpe’s injury? It was “undisclosed” when he went on the IL. It’s been nearly two months. Thanks!
Thanks, Bob! I’d managed to forget that relief appearance and had not seen the co-incident velocity problem. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that any physical problem is of the sort that an offseason will help.
Bling-
Curious why you’d like Hudson gone. I might have said the same till his callup. He looks to me like he’d at the very least be a solid long man in the pen, better than a lot of 8th reliever options, so I’d like to see him around. Whereas Liberatore I’d like to see at AAA till he shows he’s figured things out.
Bob and Brian-
Thanks for the warm welcome back!
Brian-
I don’t think I had recognized your point re payroll. 16th??? That does explain some stuff. And makes me guardedly optimistic they might actually outbid someone on a major starter this offseason.
Bling-
I’d slot Hudson over Liberatore for fifth starter next year. He’s had a couple seasons that are at least that good, and there’s a plausible physical explanation for his problems early this year. My money is on his getting one of the spots opened up if they trade both Flaherty and Montgomery to audition for next year’s rotation. I’d rather he were 6th starter next year, though. Liberatore hasn’t shown the MLB performance, and reading commentary, sounds like the front office has grown less certain about him.
Cranny,
Getting that additional set without adding anything to the pot? That would be great. My sense is that that second starter might be asking too much. Lots of demand for innings eaters and I worry it will be tough to get one much less two. Another mid-reliever maybe, though.
I’m with Brian on this one. And I reflect on our getting Montgomery last year for Bader, even with Bader on the DL. That makes me think a package of Montgomery and one of O’Neill/Carlson/DeJong to a team needing an OF or SS in return for a starting pitcher with longer control than Montgomery would make some sense. The other team keeps their rotation strong for the stretch with Montgomery and strengthens a weak position. Flaherty and Hicks would provide rotation or bullpen depth and I think I’d trade a solid (not spectacular) AAA prospect for that were I a team in need. Maybe packaging Flaherty with one of the position players gets something like the Montgomery/position player deal.
The other five (Stratton, Knizner, Yepez, Baker, Burleson) I’d see as sweeteners, not centerpieces.
Thanks for that info, Bob. Makes me all the more hopeful for the young man, and for what we all have to look forward to at short.
I was wondering about that Bling. If Suarez has maybe 3 good relief outings this week, can he net a marginal prospect? Could be that they want someone who can provide innings tonight if Waino doesn’t get out of the first inning or two. Or both. I remember some favorable commentary about Suarez back in spring, so I’ve been hopeful that he has something to bring.
Thanks jnevel, 1953, and gsc for the info!
I’ll keep from getting too optimistic, while keeping Gragg on the watch list as a possible back of rotation guy. I do still wonder if something changed that got him the more recent success.
jnevel–I’d assumed Paniagua and Hence would not be in the big leagues next year, save possibly the very tail end if things go just right. Am I missing something? I’ve not had my eye on Cornwell or Pereira, so thanks for the flags. Looking at your list, I, too, am most excited re Graceffo. I figure Hudson, Pallante, Liberatore, McGreevy, and (now) Gragg as more of the coins in a coin jar for next year. Having some trouble seeing it with Woodford and Thomas.
Thanks, Bling! Mystery resolved. As of 2:05 eastern, the Memphis starter for today is TBD. Curious if it will be Gragg. As others have noted, they could use another arm!
The 40-man is gonna be a challenge. That said, if Gragg has figured something out, he’ll have to be on in October, so earlier isn’t necessarily bad. For the 40-man guys on the Memphis roster, Liberatore pitched on Saturday. Naile and Leahy have been optioned within the last 10 days. Thomas, Walsh, and Zuniga are all on the DL. I suppose if, say, Contreras goes on the DL they could bring Naile back up, but he’s not been very inspiring! I’d think that Walsh, who just turned 28, could be dropped off the 40-man without a lot of consequence.
667-
I thought that too. I just looked at the rules (ok, on wiki) and it seems to be “at most” 13 pitchers, not exactly 13. I’m a bit surprised they don’t want another live arm, just in case. They could have DFA’d Tepera to get the 40 man spot and called up someone to eat a few innings in a blowout. (Walsh seems the only option. Of the other Memphis pitchers on the 40-man, Thomas and Zuniga are on the DL; Naile was sent down the 16th so needs more time in Memphis before he can be recalled, and they probably want to keep Liberatore pitching regularly.)
Maybe they want the extra position player till Donovan’s fully healthy? I’m a bit surprised they are sticking with three catchers, though Herrera looks promising. Maybe they are riding things out till the deadline trade(s)?
Interesting that they cleared a spot on the 40 man by DFAing Cabrera. O’Neill would need a 40-man space since he’s coming off the 60-day DL. But what pitcher would replace Cabrera?
Thomas, Walsh, and Zuniga are on the 40 man but have been ineffective. And Thomas and Zuniga haven’t pitched in July, I think. I’d think they would keep Liberatore in AAA for a bit to make adjustments. Naile? His ERA is over 11.
This seems more like a “clear space for a better pitcher” than “clear space for O’Neill move.
I wonder if the Cards will add Suarez to the 40-man. His last two outings have been starts, albeit 4 and 3.2 innings. He started 29 games in MLB back in 2018. Maybe a couple months audition to see if he’s a candidate for the fifth spot or a long relief/sixth starter spot?
Interesting to see Baker up and in the DH spot. Maybe they want to evaluate him more as the trade deadline approaches? But DH vs. lefties won’t get him a ton of ABs.
I posted this on the pitching staff thread. I try to sign Flaherty for a year (perhaps with a player option). Trade Monty and Hicks for a haul. I’d keep Arenado, Goldy, Gorman, Walker, Winn, and all promising minor league pitching. I’d listen to deals for others. Hope that the Monty/Hicks pickups, Herrera, marginal sluggers (Burleson, Baker, Yepez), and one of Noot or Carlson can get you two starting pitchers. Rotation of Monty/Flaherty/two new guys/ one of Liberatore, Matz, Hudson, Pallante, Thompson, with two of those last five as starters 6 and 7. Trade vs. free agent to get the starters.
With improved D (OF of O’Neill, Edman, Noot/Carlson; IF of Arenado, DeJong, Gorman, Goldy, DH of Walker, and Donovan as main backup), pitching should be better, and I’m less concerned about the lineup than the D and pitching.
My list of 2024 starters is at the end. And if the Cards go on a tear in July I’d likely revisit. The improved defense and rise of Hicks as closer has be remembering the 2006. If they can climb out of the hole, I could see a Montgomery/Mikolas/Flaherty/someone postseason rotation with Hicks/Helsley/less pressured Gallegos, and deep lineup as capable of a good postseason run. Unlikely, but I’m not yet ready to rule it out.
I wonder if there’s a way to get Flaherty to sign for a one-year deal (perhaps with a player option) on the premise that he’ll make more as a free agent if he has another good year. That’s one thing I explore this month. If he won’t extend, then I think you see what you can get trading him for a rental. I recall some chatter at the beginning of the year that both the Cards and Flaherty were open to talking during the year as his picture became more clear.
Does anyone have a sense of what Montgomery and Hicks would bring on the trade market? My guess is they will be too pricey for the Cards to retain. I’d think they could bring some talent, but I don’t attend closely to the cost of those deadline deals. Getting at least enough to parlay into a reliable starter whose contract they control for multiple years seems key. [I wonder if there’s a team that needs a lefty reliever. If so, I entertain offers for one of Cabrera, Romero, Matz, and Thompson)
I agree with the argument that pitching troubles have been in part due to the awful defense. Looking at next year, I see an infield of Arenado, DeJong, Gorman, and Goldy that is pretty good and improved from early this year by bringing back DeJong and Gorman’s growth. An OF of O’Neill, Edman, Noot/Carlson, which would also be a step up. Walker as DH, Donovan as supersub. That improved defense should help next year’s staff.
That gives them the following as trade chips: Herrera (I’d think he would be an attractive prospect at this point…), (Carlson or Noot…possibly dealing one this year if there’s a team that will do a trade like Bader’s last year; I’d hate to trade either of these guys. I really enjoy Noot, and I keep forgetting that Carlson is only 24…if O’Neill comes back for a solid end of year, perhaps deal him instead), Burleson, Baker, Yepez, and whatever they get from Montgomery and Hicks (and possibly LHR) trades. I think that needs to get the Cards two starting pitchers. The free agent market for starting pitchers has not been kind to the Cards, and I’d think that this season will diminish our attractiveness, increasing the cost. (Though maybe they can find a Mikolas….)
Rotation would be:
Mikolas
Flaherty
two guys acquired by trade
one of Liberatore/Matz/Hudson/Pallante/Thompson, with two of the others as 6th and 7th starters. August and September would largely be about identifying the best candidate from this set. If Flaherty won’t sign, I think they need two from this set.Graceffo and McGreevy in AAA, Hence, Hjerpe, Bedell, and Rajcic in AA as the main future near future starter prospects.
Also, Winn and either Antico or Scott (one, I bet, is the future CF) in AAA as interesting position prospects, along with any residuals from trades.
I wrote that last before Pallante came in and open the floodgates in tonight’s game. He’s not been last year’s version. He’s been scored on in 4 of his 8 appearances and gave up 3 runners in another. Not sure what the story is, but I’d sure think hard about sending him down to get some work in where the stakes are lower. Romero and Zuniga are both showing some signs that they could help in the big leagues.
Well that got away from Flaherty fast. I was about to write that he was looking good. My not writing that clearly jinxed him.
I didn’t think that double by Cabrera was going to carry nearly as far as it did…Glad it did, though! Having him hitting should help this team a lot.
Thanks, Brian.
Woody to Memphis would make some sense. Could you elaborate on why you think it unlikely Pallante will be sent down?
VerHagen has been the best surprise so far in the pen, I think, with Stratton and Gallegos doing pretty well as well. I wondered about a piggyback with Waino. That might not be a bad idea at all.
Looking at the pitching situation in a different way, Helsley, Gallegos, VerHagen, Stratton, and Hicks don’t have options. I can’t see them optioning Thompson given he’s taken the top lefty spot. That leaves them with just two bullpen guys they could send down if they need a fresh arm from AAA, Pallante and Gallegos. And if they want to keep a second lefty, that leaves just Pallante, which is part of why I expect him to head out when Waino is back. But that would leave just Gallegos. Or Woody riding the shuttle again.
