Some items from the Cardinals’ season-end press conference, as per MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch (link one, link two)…
- The Cards will be looking for a middle-of-the-lineup slugger this winter to boost the lineup. “For us, we have a talented team, but when you look at our club, no one stood out as an All-Star, that threat,” president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. Seven Cards regulars were above-average run-creators in 2017 as per the wRC+ metric, though injuries and a lack of regular playing time impacted that group. Josh Donaldson has been rumored to be one of the Cardinals’ offseason targets, and would certainly fit the bill as a big lineup upgrade if St. Louis is able to pry him away from the Blue Jays.
- With Trevor Rosenthal sidelined by Tommy John surgery, the Cards will look into adding ninth-inning help, even if they’re wary of shopping at the high end of the free agent closer market. “Ideally, you don’t pay retail for closers if you can avoid it, and we’ve been lucky for the last long period of not having to dip into that end of the market. But we don’t have an heir apparent at the moment, so we will have to evaluate what our options are,” GM Michael Girsch said.
- Flexibility seems to be the key word for this Cardinals’ offseason, as with so many multi-positional players on the roster, the club has several options in deciding who could potentially stay or go. (And who could be added, in regards to acquiring that big bat.) Mozeliak said that catcher Yadier Molina is the only position player who has his spot on the field firmly established for 2018. This means that Dexter Fowler could potentially move out of center field, which Mozeliak said will likely be discussed in the coming weeks. 2016 was the only season of Fowler’s career that saw him post positive numbers in the Defensive Runs Saved and UZR/150 categories, as he struggled to minus-18 DRS and -9.9 UZR/150 last year over 933 1/3 IP in center field.
- The Cardinals have yet to decide whether or not to issue a qualifying offer to free agent starter Lance Lynn. If Lynn rejected the QO, the Cards would be in line for compensation (an extra draft pick just prior to the third round) if he signed elsewhere. If he accepted, then he’d return to St. Louis on a one-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $18.1MM. After missing all of 2016 due to Tommy John surgery, Lynn returned to post very solid numbers this season and pitched 186 1/3 innings, which could quiet concerns about his post-surgery durability. Even with such a major recent injury on his record, Lynn is likely to find a good multi-year deal on the open market, so one would think he’d reject a QO.
It’s two years late on searching for a middle of the order power hitter. But finally
I hope they do so! because last time I heard they were looking for a good starting pitcher they got Masterson.
You can have Pujols back. At 10 million a year.
Sold! I would take him back in a heartbeat. He is one player that Cardinals nation would not care how poorly he performed…. Cards HOFer and near legend
Ok the question is, what would the Cards send in return? If the Angels eat 80 million of the remainder of his contract, they will expect something good in return.
You only said 10 Mil a year haha. They would actually be eating over 70 Mil with 4 years left on his contract.
I realized I made a mistake. He is owed 30 million per over 4 years. So actually it would be 80.
Pujols also has a 10 million dollar personal services contract tacked onto the end of the contract. And, remember, the NL doesn’t have a DH. Oh, and there’s also the little fact that Albert Pujols was last – dead last – in the AL in 2017 in WAR. Last place.
Actually the NL is going to voting on going to the DH this winter. Majority of the owners and GM’s want to go the DH. Because they are worried about the 30+ million dollar pitchers missing time. If they get hit in the head with a pitch. Or get injured running the base paths.
If I’m not mistaken the owners cannot adopt the designated hitter rule in the NL on their own due to the collective bargaining agreement. I do believe that they could recommend the changes to the MLB player’s Union however and then after they agree it could be implemented.
Anyone else want to weigh in on that? I know I may have be wrong.
No they’re not…where did you come up with that? Manfred said no the last time he was on Mike and Mike. That needs to be voted on in the collective bargain agreement.
W
war sucks
@angelsfan4life. Umm no they are not. Don’t make things up to fit your position.
Dude you are high as hell wanting Pujols broken ass back!!! He cannot play the field any longer and last time I checked, the NL doesn’t have a DH.
Near legend? He is no doubt a legend. Pull your head out.
I would care. It’s about the team, not any one player.
Nope. Apparently one can be greedy and an Angel
I would love to see Lynn re-signed but I don’t see it happening with the amount he can probably get elsewhere. Regardless, the QO is a no-brainer
Cards don’t have an ace in the rotation either. Why did they hang on to Lynn? No team was willing to give up 2 or 3 prospects? Instead they will get one compensation pick….maybe. Look what the Yankees did the last couple of years at the deadline. Cardinals love those compensation picks.
Bc there was a chance at the playoffs. You can’t base your decisions on hindsight.
Not really, especially at the deadline. It was an average team with average talent. Some years you need to lose the battle to win the war. With The draft penalty that was handed down they need prospects to build a depleted farm system.
you are correct they should have sold sold sold… anyone who knows baseball knew they were doomed before the season even began
Haha
the front office did not add to the roster either at the deadline. I don’t think they thought they were a playoff team.
So you’re arguing against yourself?
I think Lynn would fit well with the Bluejays to help tighten up that rotation.
Just wondering, what reasons would they not offer Lynn a QO? If he signs, they get a solid 2 or 3 starter. If he doesn’t sign with The Cards, they’ll get a compensation pick.
Yeah, it does seem that he would be fairly valued at 18 million for one season; seems to be a no-brainer to offer it, although I think he’ll turn it down.
He wasn’t very happy that the Cards didn’t even talk to his agent about an extension. He got downright sarcastic in the late-season interviews, when they asked him about his future with the Cards.
If they had reached out, and sent a message of good-will……he might accept the QO. But he sure seemed to be pissed about how he was treated……….I doubt he accepts. Watch those interviews…….am I off base here?
The compensation pick is much later than before. And I could be wrong, but I think his peripherals are trensing downwards
But you gotta remember he just came off TJ surgery, so maybe that’s why his peripherals are a bit down this year.
I would guess it’s just normal aging and a higher offensive environment. Lynn hasn’t ever been a great pitcher, just a solid and dependable one. That has value; that’s what the Giants thought they were getting with Samardzija, for example, and he made quite a bit of money.
Ideally Alex Reyes is going to be a starter. But man he’d be a lockdown closer. Unlikely but coming off TJ I’m sure they don’t want him to throw that many innings next year.
If I was the GM, Lynn would be getting a QO at the very least. Maybe try for a shorter term contract that allows him to cash in again down the road?
Pitcher one season removed from TJ and coming off a great statistical year. He’ll be cashing in now.
Hmmmm……..Let’s see
Lynn coming off TJ surgery, and turns 31 a month into next season. Looking for a 5-6 year contract for over $100 million…………………
“Cash In NOW” looks to be the correct answer there…….LOL
Lynn’s peripherals have often been poor. He is a flyball pitcher, that takes the ball every 5th day. Any team who chooses to pay him will have a solid #3 or #4. I doubt he regresses for awhile since he throws almost all fastballs in the 93 MPH range, and that isn’t likely to change. He is just a dude who is hard to quantify.
Cards could use a bat in the middle of the order? Of course. But who? And he needs to be left-handed. That narrows their choices. The infield is mostly set. With Carpenter/Gyroko at third, with Wisdom lurking. And perhaps even a Diaz option as a platoon with Carp. SS is no longer an issue. DeJong is the dude, as is Wong at second although a platoon option, perhaps Diaz, is probable.
First will probably be held down by a Carpenter/Martinez/Voit troika. Catcher is certainly set. So that leaves only the OF for a free agent acquisition. But with Pham/Fowler/Grichuk/Piscotty all competing, It is hard to see who is the odd man out. Maybe Grichuk is moved, but only for a reasonable return. Plus they have Garcia/Sierra/O”Neill all pounding the Major League door. Maybe they work a deal involving the plethora of OF options. That seems to be the best bet, along with one of their many great arms.
If they go to the FA market, a closer and perhaps another starter, if Lynn leaves seems more reasonable. I just don’t know who or how a FA bat can fit. At least one that would make a significant improvement.
There’s not one single shred of doubt the Cardinals give Lynn a qualifying offer. I’ll hope he accepts but he won’t he’s smarter than that.