The Cardinals are one of the teams interested in free agent closer Wade Davis, Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan reports (Twitter link). With St. Louis focusing on bullpen additions this winter, it only makes sense that they would check in on top-of-the-market names like Davis who could immediately step into the vacant closer role. In fact, Passan said the Cards are “prioritizing late-inning help” to go along with their other notable relief signing of Luke Gregerson. The Cardinals have been heavy players in the offseason rumor mill, connected to several big names on both the free agent and trade fronts, and GM Michael Girsch is “optimistic” (per MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch) that the team is close to swinging a deal after progress was reportedly made in trade talks.
More from the NL Central…
- The Cardinals’ Winter Meetings activities have also included talks with the Blue Jays about a Josh Donaldson deal, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). St. Louis has been rumored to be interested in Donaldson for some time, though there is still no indication that the Jays are considering moving the former AL MVP.
- Domingo Santana’s name has been mentioned in trade talks, with Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting that the Brewers are actively shopping the outfielder rather than just listening to offers. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick hears from one executive that the Brewers are trying to “sell high” on Santana, and that the market for his services isn’t as active as the Crew had hoped. Crasnick has heard “mixed reviews” on Santana’s potential, as while he enjoyed a good 2017 season, teams aren’t enamored with his strikeouts, defense, and his soon-to-be growing price tag in arbitration. (Both links to Twitter)
- Brewers GM David Stearns told reporters (including Haudricourt and MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that the team is waiting to hear on offers it has extended to multiple free agents. Pitching is Milwaukee’s focus this winter, so Haudricourt assumes that the Brewers have made offers to at least a few arms. Stearns also added that the Brew Crew are willing to explore both signings and trades, and talks continue on the latter front.
- In two more tweets from Haudricourt, he mentions that the Brewers and Pirates were in talks today. With Milwaukee looking for pitching and second base help, Haudricourt speculates that Gerrit Cole or Josh Harrison could have been topics of discussion between the two division rivals.
- The Orioles are another team that has expressed in interest in Cole, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. It still isn’t clear whether the Pirates are actually seriously considering moving Cole, though ESPN’s Buster Olney hears from industry evaluators that the Bucs are prepared to move Cole for the right offer. Teams like the Yankees, Rangers, and Twins have all checked in to gauge Pittsburgh’s intentions. Cole would be a sorely-needed upgrade to Baltimore’s struggling rotation, though the O’s don’t have a particularly deep minor league system from which to deal.
- The Giants made a “semi” strong trade offer to the Reds for Billy Hamilton, a source tells MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, though it doesn’t look like anything is close to being completed.
Semi strong kinda life, baby
I want something else
Semi charmed kinda comment.
Glad to see some “actual” evidence that Stearns is working down there. Not that I thought he was just sitting at the beach, but the Brewers have yet to make a signing (besides resigning Sogard and Jeffress). It would be pretty incredible to get Cole/Harrison from the Bucs but that seems like a long shot at first glance.
My sister calls the Brewers the “Blue Pirates” (out of love, of course) because more and more are going there.
You mean former pirates? I’m trying to think… Walker obviously, Jared Hughes, Broxton… who am I missing?
That crappy closer who shall not be named but we got rid of pretty quickly.
Initials: N F
Rob Scahill too
Aguilar was a Pirate
Yeah, former. Feliz has been through, too. Scahill. Not sure who else off the top of my head, but it seems like they’re getting more in to going that route.
*Indian.
They are in Orlando. The only beach I know of there is Discovery Cove. He’s done a great job to this point so I give him the that. I’m liking this owner/ gym much more than the previous owner and GM.
That would be a great move for the Brewers.
News Flash!! Is there anyone that the Cards have not been supposedly interested in this offseason?
Matt Adams?
Thank god
another winter meetings with the ftont office blowing more smoke up fans asses, just so they can say they tried.
The cards are also interested in Chris Correa for Scouting Director.
I think their GM put a check-mark of interest next to anyone involved in MLB over the past 5 years, and accidentally checked the Correa box.
The good news is he’s available and the interest is mutual.
Shoeless Joe Jackson, but he’s been deceased for a while.
Take Davis and continue the trend of STL picking up Chicago’s sloppy seconds.
you mean heyward lackey and iay weren’t sloppy seconds from the Cardinals?
Do not, I repeat, do not talk facts with a Cubs fan.
Exactly, the cubs do it and its a “smart move by theo and jedd” but the cardinals do it and its that.
I’d just be happy to get the Cardinals troll off of the Brewers website. Honestly, we’ve been the laughing stock of MLB almost every year since 82. All you need to tell a Cubs fan is “Bartman” and they shut up.
That 82 team was one of the most unique i’ve ever seen. Especially if you froth over the mouth about RBI’s, which people did back then. (5 guys 100+?)
If anyone is younger, check out that lineup on bref. Then contrast the 82 brewers hitting to their pitching, which was good. Just no strikeout starters like you think of today. I think their top 3 starters had 300 K’s combined. I’m not sure the cards that beat them that year had a single starter even with 100K’s.
Later in the 80’s, it was all about big 2nd halfs from the brewers that were supposedly good momentum to carry over into the next season, that never happened.
Not a brewer fan, just something notable.
Lol I think it’s the other way around, guy. Jon Jay, Jason Motte, Heyward, Lackey, Jim Edmonds just to name a few off the top of my head in recent years.
still can’t touch the lou brock steal of a deal
So Fowler was sloppy seconds?? Fowler was instrumental in their 2016 world championship. I understand why the Cubs did not want to go 5 years with him due to other options but I do not know any Cub fan that does not miss him
I wish the Brewers would re-sign Hughes. I get the somewhat redundancy with Jeffress, but they’re different enough and it can’t be all bad to have more than one worm burner.
Cards are involved in a lot of talks, let’s hope they get something done!hopefully 2-3 quality additions
Ozuna is as good a cardinal as anything…report is they are giving up two awesome pitching prospects and Grichuk for a replacement
I hope that Huntingdon is just playing coy on Cole until Darvish and Arrieta sign to get a better return.
There is no reason to not trade Cole now while his value is at it’s highest with the largest number of suitors possible.
Agreed, there’s zero chance they sign him long term, they just can’t afford it with Nutting at the helm, so they absolutely should trade him. It’s a shame but it has to be this way.
Agreed, there’s zero chance they sign him long term, they just can’t afford it with Nutting at the helm, so they absolutely should trade him. It’s a shame but it has to be this way.
Watching a Pirate off season is like watching paint dry, with the chance the paint will blow up in your face. Either they do absolutely nothing, and then say they want to compete, or they make some bad move, like Walker for Niese, and say they still want to compete. Being a Pirate fan is hard.
If the Jays were smart, they’d be like the Orioles and solicting offers for the 3rd baseman. Donaldson needs to be traded now or at the deadline. Since the Jays don’t have the horses to compete over the long season in the ALeast, why not leverage time and trade him now?