The Cardinals have discussed closer Alex Colome in trade talks with the Rays, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network (via Twitter). St. Louis has an opening at the back of its bullpen, among other needs, after releasing Trevor Rosenthal following Tommy John surgery.
Colome is one of many names I raised recently as theoretical possibilities in addressing the Cards’ closer opening. He’s only projected to earn $5.5MM and can be retained for two additional seasons through the arbitration process. And there’s no question he can handle the pressures of the ninth inning, having secured 84 saves over the past two seasons.
Of course, as the above link shows, there are quite a few other options as well. And Colome’s record is not spotless. While he led the American League in saves last year, he also failed to match his output from the prior campaign. After carrying a 1.91 ERA with 11.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 2016, Colome sported a 3.24 ERA in 2017 with only 7.8 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9 in 2017.
It’s also not yet clear just how the Rays will proceed. There have been calls for some kind of rebuild, which the organization is evidently at least willing to consider. Should the team decide it is willing to part with Colome or other veteran assets, though, it seems likely that it’ll demand quality young talent at or near the majors in return.
Generally, the Cardinals have quite a few routes they could still go. The team is looking, especially, to improve the back of the pen and bolster its offense. With numerous controllable position players to dangle in trades, as well as some payroll capacity to work with, the Cards will be looking to craft a path to addressing all of their desires as efficiently as possible.
In seeking a major bat, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the team “has no interest” in pursuing free agent J.D. Martinez. Beyond their well-known interest in some Marlins targets, the Cards are also chatting internally about the possibility of going after free agent Carlos Gonzalez, who will surely be available for less (in terms of contract amount assumed and prospect capital) than would the others.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis organization is considering some tinkering with existing players. President of baseball ops John Mozeliak says he has informed Dexter Fowler that he could be shifted to left field in favor of Tommy Pham. And Matt Carpenter may be asked to move around in a utility role, though the expectation would be that he’d get near-everyday time.
Similarly, the Cardinals are also weighing how best to handle their pitching staff, as Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. Righty Alex Reyes, who will be returning from Tommy John surgery, could be slowed down to open the season and work from the bullpen, Mozeliak suggested. The club might also boost its relief corps by utilizing Sandy Alcantara there, though he’ll likely stretch out in camp. These hurlers will surely factor into the construction of the bullpen, though their presence obviously does not obviate the need for new arms — especially in the ninth inning.
Alex Graboyes
Smart decision to get him but they can’t screw him like Rosenthal. He was great then he wasn’t. The cardinals and long term closers don’t work well. He be better suited with the rockies if they don’t get back holland.
EndinStealth
How did they screw Rosenthal?
steelerbravenation
You think Carson Kelly in a straight up 1 for 1 would be an overpay for the Cards ?
Also I would blow the Rays up by trading Archer, Longoria, Ordorizzi, Ramos & Colome. They could really get a lot of talent to build with to get back
kiermaier
Why would the Rays want Kelly when they have Ramos and Sucre? And the Rays don’t have to rebuild either they have a top 5 minor league system.
greiunfioewfm
Carson Kelly is a great target for the Rays. Ramos is a free agent after next season and Sucre is a career backup. There is no “catcher of the future” in this system unless you really believe in Ciuffo (I don’t). We hit the jackpot with Ramos because of his injury, and after he leaves in free agency it’s right back to dumpster diving for free agent catchers. Kelly would be a great add
timyanks
lufkin? texas?
biasisrelitive
they already have a top 8 system tho if they graduate some guys with that core they can contend
fljay73
The Rays are not like the Tigers with a below avg farm. They have have a very good rated farm system that is starting to have players coming up now & within the next few years. If the Rays can get players that are a year or so away & the players perk the Ray’s interest enough they will surely make deals. The talent at AAA & AA is very good for the Rays now
kehoet83
I would say the Tigers farm system is currently in the 10 to 15 range. Their system is on the rise since recent draft picks and the prospects they acquired from last years trades.
therealryan
I think Kelly will be the target, but the Rays will expect more back. Last trade deadline, 1 1/2 seasons of Justin Wilson headlined a trade that returned Candelario (MLB ready 55 FV prospect) and Paredes (a high ceiling 45 FV). I would think the Rays would be expecting to beat that package. I would say something like Kelly (MLB ready 55 FV), Hudson (50 FV) and a lower level 45 FV like Machado or Oviedo.
Birdwatcher
What. Cards GM Mo would get fired on the spot if he did your deal. Holy smokes man. Kelly is the best catcher in the minors. Hudson is real close to MLB with best slider in Cards farm. For a closer with 2 yrs of arb left. Uh. Not going to happen.
therealryan
I’m not sure if you are undervaluing the cost of a proven high leverage relief pitcher with 3 years of team control or overvaluing the value of the Cardinals’ prospects. Probably some of both.
As to the cost, look at the recent trades for successful back of the BP relievers with cheap control. We all know about the huge returns the Yankees got for Miller and Chapman and how much Houston paid for Giles, but here are other recent RP trades.
-1.5 years of Justin Wilson-mlb ready 55 FV 3B & 45 FV SS prospects.
-3 years of Thornburg-5 years of 2+ WAR MLB 3B. 50 FV MIF, 45 FV RHP.
-2 years of McGee-4 years of 2+WAR MLB LF.
-3 years of Will Smith-MLB ready 50/55 FV C and 50 FV RHP. .
-0.5 season of Melancon-5.5 seasons of back end MLB RP & 45 FV LHP
Colome has 3 years of team control remaining and since transitioning to the BP full time in 2015 is 19th in ERA-2.63, 17th in FIP-2.80 and 13th in saves-84, among all MLB RP. Once you combine his success, team control and youth along with what other similar pitchers returned in their trades you will see that a package, like the one I outlined above, of a 55 FV, 50 FV and 45 FV prospect is not outlandish at all.
therealryan
I like Kelly as a prospect and think it would be great for the Rays to get a catching prospect on his level, especially one whose team control window will match up with their other top prospects. However, he is not the top catching prospect in baseball. That is Mejia for Cleveland who is a 60 FV. Kelly is a solid 55 FV and is in the next tier down along with guys like Sisco, Alfaro and Keibert Ruiz. The problem for St Louis is they have Yadi under contract for 3 more seasons. You’ll be wasting some of Kelly’s most valuable seasons in a back up roll. This is a team built to win now and getting a relatively young, high end reliever for the next 3 years to fit in that win now window is a big deal.
Hudson might have a plus slider/cutter, but he still has some red flags and relatively big questions surrounding him. He struggled mighty in AAA and ERA indicators weren’t great in AA. He gave up a hit per inning, had a 1.28 WHIP and struck out less than 6 K/9 last year. Big program college arms are expected to dominate low level minor leagues and the first big test is AA. His ERA was good, but his H/9, K/9 and WHIP were all substandard. I’m not sure why the Cards moved him up to AAA, but they did and he was predictably bad. There are also reports who question his mechanics and think he could end up a BP guy. He’s good, but no where near elite at this point.
brucewayne
Yes! Kelly would be an overpay for Colome! Decent starting catchers with 6 years control is worth more !
Stevil
Has everyone forgotten what the value of a good closer is? There’s a reason Chapman, Jansen, and Melancon just got paid handsomely, and why Holland just rejected the QO.
Easy to see Kelly as a fit for Tampa, but in a straight forward swap? Zero chance. There would have to be more. Tampa isn’t so desperate that they have to bring in an unproven catcher and next offseason will feature Grandal, Flowers, probably McCann, and other decent options, such as Weiters and Suzuki.
Birdwatcher
Read Kane’s reply below…. The Rays folks on this deal musta got in the hooch a little too much yesterday….
Kane U.
Carson Kelly is a huge overpay.
STLCards33
If the cardinals traded Kelly for a relief pitcher I’d play in traffic. What an awful idea
Charkip
As a Rays fan, I’m really excited about the Cardinals outfield trade candidates. If we can land someone like Piscotty from the Cards, I’d be satisfied
itslonelyatthetrop
That be a steal for us.
STLShadows
If the Cardinals land Colome then they should sign Nicasio back. A bullpen of Lyons, Brebbia, Bowman, Cecil, Nicasio, and Colome plus add a Reyes or Alcantara to that then the Cards have one of the best bullpens in baseball.
cards667
Tuivailala will be in there or traded. He’s out off options. Brebbia needs to be back in AAA as depth. Send Bowman to TB in the package.
Get Odorizzi and Colome.
Martinez, Wacha, Odorizzi, Weaver, Wainwright.
Reyes, Tuivailala, Cecil, ???, Lyons, ???, Colome.
Fill the ??? with Morrow, Nicasio, or trades for somebody. Reyes can move to the rotation when injury happens or Wainwright can’t hack it. Brebbia or Gant or somebody can fill that long role.
Dotnet22
Brebbia was one of the best guys in the pen last season. Why would you put him in AAA?!?
Benklasner
Brebbia was an abberation last year in a small sample size. He looked shakey the whole time he was up and doesnt really have plus stuff.
cards667
Because Brebbia was very lucky. He’s very underwhelming. He’s another Socolovich. He has options, depth will be needed. Have him there to call upon instead of the Mayers and such. Build the MLB pen to be dominant. Somebody will be off or injured and having a guy like Brebbia for that situation is the difference in having a good pen and having a season fall apart because you aren’t able to get outs.
CompanyAssassin
I’d like to see him fail before we determine he has.
teufelshunde4
Reyes will be handled with care. Being in the pen will allow that without a huge workload. I’d also expect them to option him to get a year of control back as well.
Birdwatcher
Brebbia to AAA?? Huh? He ended up being the 8th inn guy the last month getting outs. Bowman’ arm is going to fall off. He can go. Brebbia. There is a spot for him in Cards pen.
cardsfan23 2
I am hoping they get Addison Reed and Nicasio or some other reliever.
cygnus2112
Now this potential transaction is legitimately plausible from both TB & STL’s perspective!
Also, if there was an outside first baseman acquired, Dickerson would make sense in the OF as part of a package.
But this is conventional thinking and that doesn’t transpire in the world of the 3-headed monster that is Mike Girzaliak that’s led by Emperor Palpatine AKA Bill DeWitt but I digress…
balloonknots
The problem with farm hands and Rays is that they barely have room on 40 man roster and always loose quality prospects to the rule 5 draft. So think 19-21 year olds with maybe 1 upper minors player! They just lost a good triple arm but they could hold on to him due arm problems and a casualty of the 40 man roster.
So I say one of the almost ready outfielders with two 19 year olds will likely get the deal done for a low cost controllable closer!
Other teams will be on Colome too for sure
steelerbravenation
No way they get 3 for 1 for him. I was thinking the catcher of the future was an overpay on a 1 for 1 deal.
May as well make it a bigger package maybe Pisciotty, Kelly & Wong for Colome, Jennings & Ordorizzi
braves25
The issue is Colome is a proven viable closer with 3 years of control…Kelly is still unproven at the MLB level…it will take more to get Colome then Carson Kelly
As for your 2nd offer…Ordorizzi will take a good haul too! The Rays could get way more then that trading them separately.
STLCards33
If that’s true then it would be absolutely idiotic for the cardinals to pursue him. Kelly is an overpay. I’d rather throw money at a high end closer then trade multiple top ten prospects for one
kaido24
I’ll be disappointed if they sign Car Go as the 3 hole hitter. That’s far underwhelming to me.
Benklasner
I think Cargo could easily play the Carlos Beltran role from a few years back. Give him a two year deal, stick him in a corner and let him mash. He is gonna provide surplus value on his contract wherever he signs.
kaido24
His career avg at home is .323 in 2,226 AB and his career avg away is .252 in 2,199 AB, 720 hits at home, 555 away, 462 RBI home, 249 away. His OPS at home is .977 and his OPS away is .735.
Away from Coors field he isn’t nearly as good. I don’t think he’ll be anywhere near as productive as Beltran was for us.
EndinStealth
You’re kidding right?
Benklasner
Screw the home/road splits! I think I just have always wanted him to be a card. I do think he will give value back on a short contract. Not saying he should be the only offensive add this offseason. Just a decent back up plan.
STLCards33
His home/road offensive splits are egregious. You can’t ignore them. Going after him as a centerpiece would be a huge mistake
cboyer
CarGo would be a great add BUT can’t be the big move this offseason.
Cardinals17
Alcantara hasn’t fared well in the outings I’ve seen him with the MLB team.
STLShadows
Because he is only 21 and isn’t ready yet. Wouldn’t be shocked if he is a dominant reliever by the end of the season
calikid13
As much as I agree with you about Alcantara becoming a dominant reliever… I would prefer to see him stay as a starter where he can become what the Cardinals wanted Reyes/Martinez to be — a dominant starter.
micro_maniac8
Alcantara needs to learn how to throw strikes. I don’t care if you throw 102, you have to throw strikes. He is a two pitch pitcher at this point. He has gotten guys out who are not patient. He is best suited in the bullpen where he can succeed as a two pitch pitcher. His time will come to start.
timyanks
did lance lynn go to the bullpen last year after tj surgery? no, and neither should reyes. plug him in as a starter. st louis doesn’t need chris archer. carlos martinez is enough of a head case. no need to get another one.
barkinghumans77
Probably more to do with innings limit than anything else. Also, hopefully we’re contending and need Reyes for the stretch run.
STLCards33
Lance was an established vet in a walk year. You’re high on crack if you think both those players should be treated the same. Try to avoid saying dumb stuff
timyanks
no need for comments like that. reading some of your other comments though, you have a bad habit of derogatory comments toward others. have a nice day.
baileydogg
So who says NO
Cardinals get Josh Donaldson and Roberto Osuna.
Jays get Alex Reyes, Tommy Pham, Carson Kelly and Jack Flaherty.
cboyer
No. Why go after rentals and give up the farm
baileydogg
JD is the big middle of the line up bat with one yr of control. Osuna has 3 yrs of control and is a proven closer with 95 saves over the past 3 yrs. I’d say Osuna is close to Kimbrel and better than Giles if we look at those trades as templates.
CardsNation5
No thanks
jordantm2021
So tell me what would you’re everday lineup and rotation look like.
jordantm2021
The more I look at this I wouldn’t trade that package for Stanton.
STLCards33
Are you delusional??? Jesus Christ I hope you’re a Jays fan cuz that trade is a total joke
Stromalama 2
The Cardinals do. They won’t pay that much since Donaldson would just be a rental.
Birdwatcher
Oh boy. Hit the Molson again.
You can look at trade templates all you want. Look at trade partners will serve you better. Just cause somebody paid X doesn’t mean Cards have to. Also, the only way and I mean only way Kelly gets traded is for a monster deal. They’ve already said too much invested teaching him and MO likes him a lot.
cboyer
I’d try to snag Herrera from KC, sign Nicasio and bring Rosie back on 2 year deal similar to what we did with carpenter back in the day. BP good. Rotation sign Cobb and maybe someone on a make good deal to battle with Weaver. Lineup sign Carlos Gonzalez (1 or two year stop gap type deal) trade for Abreu(i doubt we get Stanton)and Profar (still think he has huge potential and we can swap an OF for him). Lineup LF Fowler, SS Profar, CF Pham, 1B Abreu, RF Gonzalez, 3B Dejong, C Molina, 2B Wong. In my world that would leave Carp, Gyrko, and the OFs to trade.
cboyer
If they move carp I could see Boston as a fit and I have Diaz going in deal to KC for Herrera.
bearcat6
Please, no Car-go. 15 home runs in Colorado equals about 8 in Busch. That’s not the middle of the lineup bat the Cards need.