With Chris Carpenter set to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a nerve condition in his shoulder, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the Cardinals are in the market for at least one starter and one reliever. St. Louis has trade chips though the new collective bargaining agreement doesn't allow teams to recoup draft pick compensation for rental players, changing the landscape.
Let's round up the rest of Rosenthal's rumors…
- Zack Greinke would likely welcome a trade to – and a chance to sign long-term with – the Cardinals, though it's unclear if the Brewers would be willing to trade him within the division.
- The Astros are prepared to move Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers, though Jed Lowrie is essentially unavailable. Rosenthal says they could be an obvious trade partner for St. Louis since GM Jeff Luhnow spent nine years in the Cardinals' front office.
- The Cardinals may not want to invest $20MM+ annually into a pitcher, but both Lance Berkman ($12MM) and Kyle Lohse ($11.875MM) will be off the books after this season.
- The Blue Jays' immediate strategy may be to acquire a modest rotation upgrade before reassessing at the trade deadline, shortly before Brandon Morrow returns from his oblique injury. Rosenthal believes they should consider selling high on Colby Rasmus.
- Teams continue to call the Angels about Peter Bourjos and some believe he could be the centerpiece of a deal for a quality starting pitcher. The Halos believe the young outfielder is a building block for the future, however. They do not appear to be in the market for a pitcher at the moment.
- The difference in income tax rates between Texas (none) and California (among the highest in the country) was an issue for Astros first baseman Carlos Lee as he mulled over a potential trade to the Dodgers. Los Angeles may have been willing to help "bridge the gap" had he shown enthusiasm for the deal.
Mike, it’s the 4th of July! Go cook some burgers or something. 🙂
Trade Rasmus? I usually love Kenny Rosenthal but… REALLY?Trading any of the “Core 4” would result in instant distruction of the fanbase.
People show up to games to watch Lawrie, Rasmus, Bautista, and Encarnacion.
I doubt that. I’m no Blue Jays fan so I can’t make any guarantees, but my guess is that Jays fans love Bautista, Lawrie and even Encarnacion more so than Rasmus.
yes – they love Bautista, Lawrie and Encarnacion. but there are many fans in TO that have taken a shine to Colby. thus, he is one of the Core Four. since Lawrie and Rasmus have moved to the top of the order, those four guys have been on fire.
The Jays won’t sell on rasmus now… he’s still under team control until after the 2014 season. in fact, I’d be surprised if AA doesn’t sign him up long term.
Not to mention that Rasmus has publically stated just how he feels about being a Jay, I can see him agreeing to a longer contract.
You see more Rasmus T-Shirts and Jerseys than Encarnacion…
At Yankee games, I see more A-Rod jerseys and t-shirts than Cano. I also don’t see many Mariano Rivera jerseys/t-shirts (and I’m not just referring to today or since his injury, I mean over the years).
Rasmus is quickly becoming a fan favourite in Toronto. Rasmus chants are becoming a frequent occurrence.
It’s Lawrie… Bautista. Rasmus.. Edwin
Jays fans absolutely love Colby. Starting to become a fan favorite in Toronto.
I know, it’s already been established. I thank you and everyone else for the info lol
Hes the weakest of 4 but we do love him. Problem is we have Anthony Gose waiting to take his spot
No problem Gose is great trade bait I would rather tade him then Rasmus
Gose is still ways away and it’s not like he is tearing the cover off the wall in Vegas and continues to strikeout a lot. There is no rush to bring him in the bigs and I think he likely spends another season in Triple A next year.
No guarantee Gose becomes better than Rasmus either who was a much better prospect than Gose.
Not loving the Grenkie stuff. Much rather have Garza. Doubt Grenkie would sit to well in our clubhouse.
I’d be shocked to see either one in a Cardinal uniform this year.
Don’t want Greinke or Garza. If the Cards were willing to go top tier pitchers, I would like to see them go after Cole Hamels or Felix Hernandez, which would require giving up top prospects. Otherwise, a middle tier pitcher like Wandy Rodriguez would be OK. No way on Brett Myers.
Felix would run them dry and would probably take a whopping 5 players to get because he already has team security attached to him.I bet the Mariners would demand
Miller+Martinez+Cox+Taveras+1 mid level. Along with his big contract. Those first to players in a deal would make me fient if being discussed together.And knowing Zach he will probably demand the world from you guys in order to give him up
As Far as Hamels yes he is the real deal but a similar story a costly amount of players probably not as much as the Felix deal because he is technically a rental because he is not signed to a contract after this season.Not too mention he would cost a lot of talent and money.The BP would be choking next year.I know I will get battered because you will attack me saying “Carpenter cannot be relied on to remain healthy” yes that is true but even so you guys will still have a good rotation with Miller and maybe Martinez in the awakining
Wainwright-Garza-Lynn-Garcia-(westbrook possibly)
Garza is over hyped. If you look at his numbers other then one good year with the rays he is middle of the pack
When you consider that more than a few people have gone on this site calling Garza an ace, I will agree that he is overhyped. However he’s still a fairly solid middle of the rotation pitcher to have on your staff, especially when you consider he spent a good chunk of his career in the toughest division in baseball.
Yep. Garza is what us Dodgers fans thought we had in Chad Billingsley.
That’s what I ment by middle if the pack. He is a middle of the rotation arm not a ace. Well unless the jays trade for him then he will be an ace until morrow returns then it’s morrow garza Romero and two joe whatshisnames
Garza would be fine with the Cardinals and that is probably his best fit and it would make next years rotation absoltutley deadly.Acquire some very good relievers in the offseason and you will prove all of the scouts wrong for yapping about how the Cards didn’t re sign Pujols.
2013 Rotation
Carpenter
Wainwright
Garza
Lynn
Garcia
That said it will defintley take one of your top prospects to get Garza from the Cubs.Is Shelby Miller untouchable? probably if he is the Cards could offer then a deal with Cox in it or Martinez although if it is Martinez that will basically be it.Here are some trade options
Miller/Martinez for Graza straight up similar to the Wheeler-Beltran trade
Cox+Swaggarty for Garza that could get it done. Cox is a high ceiling prospect that when drafted expected to have big numbers like Wright or Zimmerman.
Swags is out for the year with TJ. Cox probably wouldn’t qualify as a centerpiece in any deal though.
Miller or C-Mart is the only way we’er getting anyone worth getting.
Why would you want Garza over Greinke??? Greinke is a stud.
lol. Sell high on Rasmus, who at the age of 25 is on pace to hit 32 hr and 100 rbi’s all the while playing gold glove calibre center field. It took the kid a while to get acclimated, but with his move to the 2nd spot in the order, has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball for the last month or so.
Is it so absolutely out of the question, that a guy who was rated as a top prospect and has had success in the past can finially start to show some consistency at the age of 25?
He’s an extremely streaky player. I wouldn’t buy to much into this hot streak.
Right, and the idea of a player “clicking” as he approaches his peak playing years (ages 26 to 30) is simply unthinkable.
Right, and the idea of a player with a history being streaky continuing that trend throughout his career is simply unthinkable.
not unthinkable. but unless it’s actually probable, an organization with the cf depth that the jays have should at least check to see what they could get if they cashed out
I’m buying into the hot streak…and I’m also buying a 500 level seat in right field on my next trip to Toronto to catch that home run ball.
Well you see that is kind of the point of sell high. Rosenthal clearly sees this recent hot streak as a mirage. He could easily go into the tank and start hitting .200 again. For his career he in hitting about the norm for his pre all star game stats but after that he has taken a nose-dive in the past.
And he could just as easily keep doing what he is doing. We arent talking about a 5 or 10 game stretch here. It’s actually 36 games in the 2 hole with a 961 OPS with 13 hr and 32 RBI’s. With Lawrie in front of him and Bautista behind him for the foreseeable future, I’m pretty sure that a 25 year old can keep pretty good numbers going. Even if it falls off to an 800 OPS, I’d be pretty happy. Oh and he also steals a few bases as well as the great defence he has been playing.
It’s simple, he did this in St. Louis too…he’s a tremendous hitter in the 2 hole, but put him anywhere else and you will get no production. So what if he is a product of hitting in front of a slugger, if that’s what makes him offensively great, then so be it.
Sell high on rasmus!? Are you kidding me there’s no way the jays trade away a 25 year old CF especially when that us the exact player they are looking for. Young controllable talent with upside. And don’t come at me with gose either he isn’t ready and has no where near the bat rasmus has. I can see them trading JPA , Johnson or Rajai Davis
The difference in income tax rates between Texas (none) and California (among the highest in the country) was an issue for Astros first baseman Carlos Lee
The Tax Rate? Hahahaha…. still laughing…. The Tax Rate… you can’t be serious!
The more I think and laugh about this. Doesn’t his primary residence have to be in Cal”eeee”fornia to effect him. Now if Cal”eeee”fornia has a wage tax then that’s another story.
The Astros are prepared to move Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers. They have been prepared to move those two for some time now and it hasn’t happened.
Speaking of “Happ”ened. I wonder if JA Happ has anything left in the tank?
I could see Rizzo being interested in Rasmus, just not sure if the Jays and the Nats are compatible for a trade.
Let the Cardinals have Greinke! If I am the Orioles, I am no longer interested! I am looking at cheaper alternatives. I really don’t want to give up any prospects for him!
I doubt with the new cba any teams are going to trade much more then a bag of doritos for a rental player. And I think teams with those players are out to lunch on the asking prices. Maybe some prospect with little upside or a college arm but that’s it
Ever notice these writers spend a lot of their time, advising Jays to trade away their best players? The Jays are no longer a feeder team, no matter what Rosenthal thinks.
not really, no
Rosenthal and Knobler have both had pieces in the last week. Never mind those mysterious scouts that are being quoted in various rumour pieces.
You should read more.
actually that sounds like a reason not to read more
He was on the FAN 590 with Bob McCown yesterday spouting the same crap (at least I think it was him). Oh and they should trade EE and JPA and Escobar for prospects because they arent going to compete for the next 2 or 3 years.
because they are not in last place. Aside from Romero none of their pitchers have shown the ability to be more than back end starters.
Romero is kinda pitching like a back end starter this year.
lol last place yet 2.5 games out of 2nd in their division…sit down, clown.
How one’s opinion changes so quickly. Rosenthal was one of the biggest advocates this offseason, preaching the Jays being able to compete this year with the 2nd WC.
Greinke to the Cards and his choice??? He hates the Cardinals and in particular Chris Carpenter. I don’t get it.
If ya cant beat em, join em?
Keep Rasmus and see if this is another one of those hot streaks, or if the adjustments he’s made is actually bearing fruition. I have respect for Rosenthal’s journalism, but trading Rasmus, or any player, while his value is a little higher is probably one of the stupidest things I’ve heard Rosenthal ponder.
It’s not like Gose is blazing the PCL on fire and forcing their hand either. If that happens and Rasmus is legit, just move Bautista to 1B, E5 to DH, Rasmus to RF and Gose to CF.
yeah carlos…i’m sure that tax hike is really gonna break the bank for you…
The idea of selling Rasmus isn’t that stupid. Toronto should either extend him for 5-6 years, or move him.
The value is high, and his contract is only gonna get shorter by the day. So make a commitment to one of either options.
I can’t say which way would be best for Toronto to go.
Carlos Lee is worried about the tax rate of the final couple months of his 100+ million contract? Dang, how much does this guy spend???
Cattle feed is extremely expensive these days, I hear.
EDIT: In reply to burnboll
Under affordable team control until 2015, his value has only been high-ish for a month since his tweak at the plate (or as some would call, finding his swag), people were saying the same thing about Bautista and now Encarnacion when they started to not suck. No reason to blow up the team2 games out of a playoff spot. Get off the ledge folks, season’s not over.
hey Mike, you forgot to mention Jake Westbrook (8.5mil, 1mil buyout) also comes off the books after this coming season. Thats nearly 30mil, with only about 5mil going back to the team in arb raises. THen the following season, you add carpenter(11mil) and Beltran(12.5mil), if they don’t spend some coin, I’d be a bit ticked off.
They’re also going to have extend Wainwright after next year as well. Maybe they can do that after this season for a lower amount than he would command on the open market. At least I hope that’s a priority.
Wandy Rodriguez should be a Twin. They can afford it, they desperately need a solid K guy and Target Field is perfect for him. All they have to do is pay him, ‘stros won’t get anything else but contract relief from anyone.
Rasmus is worth 2 blue chip prospects because he gets on base
lmao i remember when you guys were saying that a couple of years ago
BREAK UP THE PHILLIES! Let the fire sale begin!
I love all these American writers that EVERY YEAR seem to think the jays would or should think about trading away all their assets.
Yes Ken, I am very sure AA will consider trading his young cheaply signed star center fielder in the midst of a career year right after finding a comfort level with his new team.
Most of the time I like Kenny Ken but this is not a rational thought of any kind.
Were you thinking the same thing a month ago when he was miserably bad, or is this a philosophy that you’ve taken a liking to now that he’s on a hot streak?
Greinke as a cardinal that would be something
if anything the blue jays arent dull right now! could be a blowout either way. (or both as in that game in Milwaukee where they went back-to-back-to-back, lost the lead on an ARam salami, then won it with back-to-backs)
and Rasmus and Joey Bats have two of the sweetest yard-swings in the game
Question to Rasmus defenders: Did you think trading him was a terrible idea before this hot streak? If he goes back to hitting .210, would you wish he was traded while he was hot? Not saying he will, but it’s just as likely that will happen (his career norms, btw) than that he has suddenly found the proverbial light here. Something to ponder.
My biggest concern on Greinke is the problems that he had KC!! Of course who wouuldnt have had problems in those days with KC.. I do wonder tho how his reported to himself attitude would work in St. Louis!!!
If he gives the club a great chance to win every few days, I don’t think they’d care what he’s like. You have the Furcals and Berkmans and Wainwrights as the ringleaders. Hoot and Carp haven’t always been peachy with their personas, but they’re arguably two of the greatest Cardinal pitchers to ever live. Before anyone says not a chance, Carpenter went 2-0 in three WS starts in the modern era and also single-handedly secured the W in Philly to close out the NLDS, in addition to his Cy Young and his performance in the ’06 WS.
Yeah, Colby isn’t going anywhere. And I don’t see how you can even call it selling high when Colby has shown success before (.859 OPS in 2010 as a 23 year old). The OPS isn’t even at that level yet so it’s not like he is outperforming outrageously or anything to sell high for. He is hitting like people expected and he is under control and plays CF. Absolutely no reason to trade him unless you’re getting a top notch starter back but even in that situation, you would give up prospects which Jays have plenty of, not a good major league player.
why people think we should trade away people and rebuild for the future is beyond me…the sky is definitley not falling TO. We have so much talent brewing on the farm that most people don’t even know about…we’re overflowing…people just don’t realize because we sign lots of international guys who are breeming with talent. Guys whos names we don’t recognize, but if you know baseball, you can see it in these guys. People are quick to get scared and say sell, sell, sell…but the truth is, AA has a great plan for the long term, and there is NO reason to sell when we’re dealing from a position of power. If you want to trade Escobar, I can understand, but let the Rasmus’ and the JPA’s continue to prove themselves as core players and leaders…we will need some more “seasoned” young veterans when this team is taking off…JPA brings a lot to the team in leadership, drive and the way he manages the rotation. When D’Arnaud and Gose press the big leagues (along with the plethora of other names and talents that most people don’t recognize are just going insane in the farm system), then we can decide what to do…whether to trade these guys for other impact players (if you have 30 amazing prospects, you can still only field 9). But the fact of the matter is, the Blue Jays are not in a bad situation and people need to stop worrying. They’re doing GREAT. And in 2012…they’re only 4.5 games out the wild card with serious injuries to their rotation. AA not only looks at talent, but he looks at the drive for his young players and their desire to win…he doesn’t negate the mental side of a prospect…we’re overflowing with talent, and we are NOT in trouble…