2:50pm: The Marlins are still interested in adding Gomez, reports Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). It’s not entirely clear whether the Fish are willing to swing a trade for Gomez or are hoping to pounce if he is ultimately released.
1:33pm: While the Cardinals initially kicked the tires on Carlos Gomez after he was designated for assignment by the Astros, ESPN’s Mark Saxon now reports that there’s “nothing doing on the Carlos Gomez front” for St. Louis (Twitter link). The injury to Matt Holliday prompted the Cards to check in on Gomez, but Randal Grichuk is 7-for-21 since being recalled to fill Holliday’s roster spot and, somewhat incredibly, all seven of those knocks have gone for extra bases (two homers, four doubles, one triple).
The Cardinals and Mets, two teams that were originally reported to be in on Gomez following his DFA, have now both stepped out of the mix for him — ESPN’s Adam Rubin reported on Monday that the Mets aren’t interested in trading for him — leaving the Marlins as the team to which Gomez has been most strongly connected. It’s not clear yet how serious the Marlins’ interest in Gomez is, but they were said to be considering him as recently as Sunday.
At this point, it’s now been eight days since Gomez was designated for assignment, so the Astros’ window to find a trade partner is dwindling. That closing window makes a release of Gomez considerably more likely, after which any club would be free to sign him for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum through season’s end. While Gomez comes with plenty of red flags following a reported hip issue last summer, a rib cage injury sustained earlier this season and, of course, a dismal .221/.277/.342 batting line since being acquired by the Astros in July 2015, it’s rare to be able to roll the dice on a player of his upside for what would amount to about $120-125K for the final few weeks of the season. If a release is the ultimate outcome, I’d think even the teams that passed on trading for him could circle back as a potential depth option at the very least.
Cleveland ought to take a chance since Brantley is done and Almonte will be ineligible for the playoffs.
I hate when the Cardinals change there mind because someone is on a hot streak and they think it will continue on. Randal’s average is a fairly good sample size and has been sent to the minors twice this year. Not saying Gomez was the answer but they screw themselves so many times by betting on a bounce back over a sure thing. It never fails they pass on players bc someone had a few good at bats and they miss out on the opportunity and once that opportunity is gone that player comes back down to earth and they are worse off
You might want to be grateful. You don’t know what the Astros are asking for to get Gomez. They paid the guy a lot and he produced very little so they might be trying to get to much of that value returned off the back of another team.
I’m not saying Gomez was who they need but every year it’s we are very interested in these guys and they never pull the trigger with free agents or substantial trades. Last offseason was a great example…all that talent and they settled with leake. I just have this feeling they won’t cut ties with Holliday after year bc they won’t want to hurt his feelings bc of his desire to retire a Cardinal.
was pujols feelings hurt? holliday’s won’t be either.
Cardinals are content with being a team in playoff contention, and they just keep their fingers crossed that they will get lucky if they get into the playoffs. With all the revenue they bring in, it sure would be nice to see a significant move(s) that would help us get passed the wild card game.
Agreed. The astros are asking for a “rated” prospect in return. For the Cardinals, that would be someone like Reyes or Weaver…HA!!! He becomes a FA in two more days i believe…then his cost becomes around $150k or what a team will pay him. THEN the cardinals will look again. If the marlins want to risk a rated prospect for him? Then have at him.
They don’t need to give up anything. No one has to claim him, then he rejects assignment and becomes a free agent
Last year was also a pretty significant sample size.
Last year was also last year, he’s struggled this year (grichuck) and if what he’s doing now will hold up then they have no need to get Gomez but if he keeps playing like he did prior to his hot streak then maybe taking a chance with Gomez wouldn’t hurt
Grichuk has been better than Gomez last year and this year. No matter how you want to slice a sample, Grichuk has been the better player since he’s been in the majors.
I don’t disagree with you, but when you take a look at what Gomez has done in the national league and in that same division, he could easily help the cardinals out. I agree 100% grichuk has been better.
I tend to agree with “hanks1hammer,” in regards to his point about the Astros possibly trying to recoup some value for Gomez..
The Cardinals very well might have just offered a fairly small package to the Astros though, thinking that Gomez is going to eventually get released, and the Cardinals are most likely hoping they can sign him then.
Idk though, Gomez might be a solid option to rebound with a new team, or he may continue to just underperform..I suppose that will just be the risk taken though, for whichever team that eventually signs him…
I mean, if I was the GM of the Cardinals, I would probably take the same course of action. I would wait it out and see if Gomez indeed becomes a free agent, and in the meantime I would take a good look at Grichuk and see how he’s doing since his demotion.
So far Grichuk is doing pretty well, but I haven’t watched him enough to know whether his newfound success is due to some minor adjustments made, or whether he has just taken advantage of some poor pitching, etc.
Either way though, you would have to think Grichuk is definitely in the Cardinals long term plans, so they may just view Gomez as a possible added luxury, if it’s decided they want to go down that road …
I know injuries have hit the Cardinals pretty hard this year, but every team has to deal with injuries to an extent..Honestly, it truly has just been a down year for the Cardinals…Regardless, however they finish out the year, I’m 110% positive they will address their needs through trades and free agency during the off-season…
They really need to find a way to shore up their porous defense, and just overall they need to play better fundamental, National League baseball…
It seems like waaaaay too often, the Cardinals are solely just relying on Home Runs. When the Cardinals have been at their best, they instead focus on having solid pitching, having a solid defensive infield, and yes they will hit their fair share of home runs, but they also do an excellent job of manufacturing runs here and there through good fundamentals, solid situational hitting and by making “good,” quality outs…
Like I said, it seems like this year they are sacrificing their defense to put in guys who will give them that occassional 3-run HR, and too many if their at-bats players are stepping into the box with an all of nothing approach…
I have actually been pretty disappointed in the Cardinals, and especially Mike Matheny..I figured his ball club would be much more disciplined and they most definitely would play much better fundamental baseball…
Then again, even with all of this being said, the crazy thing is the Cardinals are still in the hunt for a playoff spot…lol
The all or nothing hitting approach all too common today. The Cards are like many others.
Dude has almost a .900 OPS since coming back from the minors the first time July.
Grichuk between last year and this year is a great player.
If Gomez was free, then sure, but there are probably a lot of suitors and likely a decent commitment for him for 6 weeks, and a guy that has had his share of ‘flair-ups’
As with many trade rumors, media speculation and fan interest may have exceeded the STL FO’s real interest when Grichuk was struggling and/or Gomez was first designated only to subside when everyone sees that sticking with Grichuk may be favorable to a trade and STL may not have ever been terribly interested in Gomez to begin with.
The Cards are smart passing on Gomez who has been awful for a year. Grichuk is a far better option. He knows the Cardinal way.
Even if you don’t believe in Grichuk’s recent hot streak, his overall numbers are still much better than Gomez’s this year.
Typical Mozeliak so afraid to turn loose of any money except for nobody’s like Holliday and Wong.
The only way anything will ever change in STL is if the fans get sick of it and the seats are empty because with 40,000 plus every game they are making a killing so until the fans get into managements pockets it will stay the same.
Maybe not in Gomez because of his extreme fall off at the plate. BUT…… You are “right on” Matheney and Mo’s thinking line. Both need to go! Michael Guirsh I s current Asst GM. He would do a great job as General Manager!!! He knows baseball and has been in charge of the minor leagues over the past 4 years and has done a great job!! Also!!!! He has a great personality. A lot better than old “stone face!!”
Tigers
Grichuk has many of the same tools as Gomez, so why rob Peter to pay Paul. One is no more of a sure thing than the other at the plate. Gomez has good steal potential, but you have to get on base to utilize that. Personally, I could do without the added drama and occasional crazy eyes.
How could YOU do that, personally??
Should Gomez end up being released, would he be subject to the same post-season restriction as August trades when a new team signs him?
A player has to be on a team’s roster by I believe August 31st to be playoff eligible, if that’s what you mean. Or if in the organization by that time they can replace an injured player
Hold up! Grichuk is only 23 with tremendous upside. We seen what he could do last year but he got injured. What happened was that pitchers figured out that he couldn’t hit breaking and off speed pitches. So he went down and corrected it and now he’s having success. Gomez had a decent season with the Brewers but fell apart after he got traded. Not to mention that he’s a head case. On top of thinking that he’s better than he really is. I guarantee that’s why teams are staying away from him.
My bad. Grichuk is 25 years old