The Giants aren’t dead set against signing a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer, general manager Bobby Evans said this week (via Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, on Twitter). Ideally, Evans would rather not sign a player attached to draft pick compensation, though he “all but said” that the Giants are “talking to” center fielder and QO recipient Lorenzo Cain, Schulman reports. In adding Cain, who’s likely to ink one of this winter’s biggest contracts, the Giants would lose two 2018 draft picks (their second- and fifth-highest selections) and $1MM of international bonus pool space.
More from the National League…
- The four-player return the Pirates got from the Astros for right-hander Gerrit Cole is “brutal,” one evaluator told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The evaluator believes that righties Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz have value as relievers, but he regards third baseman Colin Moran and outfielder Jason Martin as “throw-in types.” Meanwhile, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke to an evaluator who sees Musgrove as a potential No. 4 starter. (Twitter link.) However, the evaluator wonders if the 25-year-old is better suited to come out of the bullpen – something he did with great success in 2017. Musgrove, for his part, expects to start in Pittsburgh. Speaking with Mark Berman of Fox 26 about Saturday’s trade, Musgrove said: “Over the past 12 hours I’ve become more clear-minded about what’s happening here. I think it’s a good move for me. It’s a chance to go to an organization and get back in the rotation and try to help them build something special. Anytime I’m traded for a guy like Gerrit Cole, they’ve got big plans for me, and I plan on filling those big shoes” (Twitter links here).
- Cardinals president John Mozeliak informed the Associated Press and other media this weekend that they’re continuing to “explore” ways to improve, though he’s confident in their current roster. Mozeliak is “hesitant” to surrender prospects for players who are low on team control, the AP writes. The Cards did make that type of trade last month, though, acquiring outfielder Marcell Ozuna’s two years of control from Miami in exchange for four prospects. Ozuna discussed his reaction to the deal this weekend, telling Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com and other reporters: “The first thing I heard [was] they were going to trade me to the Oakland A’s. I said, ’God, please, leave me over here.’ Then I heard they traded me to the Cardinals, and I said, ’OK, thanks.'”
I hope Ozuna gets a nice welcome present from Oakland fans
Me too
Oakland is perennially mediocre. Ozuna is absolutely within his rights to say he did not want to go there.
I wouldn’t say the A’s are perennially mediocre. We had just back-to-back-to-back playoff appearances only 3 years ago, and a string of playoff appearances from 2000 to 2004.
The back-to-back-to-back last place seasons suck, but we paid a price for trying to operate like a large market team and trading away our farm system to try and go all the way in 2014.
The issue I think is Oakland not as reliable in being a playoff team and when his time comes to free agent can they afford to resign him? I think he see it as St. Louis is much closer being back in the playoffs than the A’s and doesn’t see a huge difference in Oakland’s team or the Marlins.
Ozuna is plain stupid for making a comment like that. Did he think insulting a entire fan base and the ball players was good? SMH I am Glad the A’s didn’t pick him up with that attitude he is to good to play in Oakland.
That’s a bit far, I’d say. Oakland had been to the playoffs many times in the last decade after very successful seasons, only to be bounced in round 1 every time but one, at which point they were stomped by the Tigers. The A’s decided to go for it in a big way, and I think it should be admired for it. Flags fly forever.
He’s not going o play any games in Oakland, an AL team, anyway— so what does he care!
He didn’t want to go to Oakland, and he was relieved to find out he wasn’t. At least he’s being honest, rather than patronising fans.
Interleague?
Well, he may have an interest in staying in one place long term and Oakland doesn’t have the best track record or capability to do that. He could play in STL for the next 7-8 years. Not a knock on the A’s organization just a fact.
He may not play any games in Oakland this year, but he’s under control through 2020, so he most likely will at some point during his tenure with the Cardinals.
Oakland is not on the schedule and I can’t recall the last time it was. If they pop up on the schedule in a year or two, fans’ feelings will have simmered.
Not he smartest thing for him to say, but look at it from his perspective. What’s the largest contract Oakland has ever signed? (Hint: Eric Chavez – 6 years, $66MM. Signed 3-18-04). If he went there, he’d likely play one year there for a sub-.500 team, before being on the trade block again. No thank you.
Having to play at the O.co Coliseum for a few games would be punishment enough…
Yeah if I were a player it would probably be my second to last choice after Tampa, it seems like a couple of times a year at least raw sewage leaks into the dugout
It’s only happened a few times, and didn’t happen at all last year. It isn’t the rampant issue a lot of people seem to make it.
And it’s worth noting that one of the times it happened it had just rained heavily. The Coliseum is built into the ground, as is the VIP lot that sits on top of the sewer pipes.
no excuse for sewage leaks
No excuse for the sewage leak from Ozuna’s mouth either.
Why? He doesn’t owe Oakland anything.
Stanton made it clear that he didn’t want to play for the Cardinals and you do see Cardinals fans crying bout that. You guys got a great piece in Piscotty.
Why? Because it isn’t as nice as newer ballparks? The Coliseum is old, we get it, and it doesn’t have the same modern amenities as newer ballparks, but the weather is fantastic, the playing field itself is always in pristine shape and the atmosphere is as good as any other ballpark in baseball.
Yes, you nailed it.
I think he meant it from a rebuild team perspective. If he was to go to another team that is rebuilding, he’d rather just stay in Miami. No different than Stanton,
Until they decide to build a decent stadium I would expect players to not want to play there. That building is a joke.
Lmmfao
*might be getting traded to Oakland* “God, please leave me here.” *gets traded to St. Louis* “Okay, thanks.” I shouldn’t be laughing this hard. It also sounds like something Yu Darvish would put on his Twitter.
The only people who like Oakland are from Oakland.
True, A’s players dont live in Oakland. They live in the nice surrounding bay area places. Id rather live there than St louis. But team wise he has a point.
Plenty of players live in Oakland and Oakland is nice. Unfortunately the part anyone every sees is the eastern bit where the stadium is. I don’t blame Ozuna for not wanting to play for a bad team, but if I’m choosing between St. Louis and Oakland — 10 out of 10 times is Oakland.
Except the A’s are getting better and the Cardinals are sliding downhill.
Do you know anything about baseball let alone the cardinals system? As aren’t a terrible team this year but to say the cardinals are going downhill is just flat out ignorance or arrogance on your part..
Lol how are the cardinals going downhill? And how are the As better? Lol get a clue
Say what????
This is from someone who isn’t a fan of either team:
The A’s were in dead last in 2017. They’re the worst team in the division and will be next year and for years to come. They perpetually trade their biggest assets before they come close to free agency. They have the second worst stadium in the majors and zero prospects for a new one, They have the sixth richest owner in the sport and don’t spend a dime on keeping a nucleus together. They have a loyal but very small fanbase who always play the Jan Brady to the Giants’ Marsha.
The Cardinals have consistently been the class of their division, a winning culture, a great farm system that constantly brings up great players, a very supportive fan base, and have actually won some pennants and World Series this millennium.
SMH The A’s were going through a complete rebuild last year and finally brought up their big name prospects. This year they should finish around .500. 2019 they should contend for a playoff spot. Last year they were a good team the second half. last year there was 8 teams with a worse record and 2 teams with the same record so they had about the 11th worse record in baseball. So your statement that they will be terrible for years to come shows your lack of baseball knowledge. Fact is the A’s did not go after Ozuna because he doesn’t fit their window of opportunity. They waited for Cards to get him to get Piscotty instead.
With the current management, by the time their “window of opportunity” is open, Osuna will be on Social Security.
Wanna bet?
Most people favor a coast over the mid-west. But to each their own.
Oakland isn’t bad but o.co sucks
The Colli has some charm in a dive bar sort of way. But at the end of the day it’s old and does is a hold up for some offensive players.
“and I plan on filling those big shoes”
The problem is that you can put horse manure in shoes and it will fill them, but it usually smells worse than the previous pair or feet.
On paper, Pittsburgh did not receive good value for Gerrit Cole. However, in the past, some trades that have looked bad on paper ended up being very good. Time will tell.
So maybe if he puts on deodorant, he’ll be better fit to fill Cole’s shoes.
Um, what? Seriously, look up the word metaphor. Knowing that definition could help you immensely in life.
Wow
Glad we didn’t go after Ozuna then. Tired of thinking a trade might be okay, and then the guy turns out to be a jerk.
There are a lot of misconceptions about Oakland.
boo hoo
If you have to rate who is a jerk/not a jerk based off of who wants to play for Oakland As than a lot of mlb players are jerks.
The team is about abusing/using the 6 years of service time they get from players and letting them go or trading them when they can’t afford them or they are out of contention. They are hardly big FA spenders. It’s a model that makes sense economically as a team, but who’d want to play(work) for a team that uses players like that?
John Mozeliak if you believe this team is currently going to be a central division champion or wild card even, you are crazy and doing what you really do best. Feed us fans bull. Overall how can you say this team is greatly improved from last year with 3 moves?
Ozuna yes was a great and adds but stop thinking he going to be everything. You picked up ONE starter who is pretty unknown on what he will do in the MLB level after Japan. After letting Lynn walk and late last season traded away Leake. So two starters have left and you sign one. You act like Wainright isn’t a question mark, News flash, Wainright hasn’t been Waino we all knew since 2015. He got hurt and since coming back was shown a decline and again got hurt coming off another surgery and plus he 36 going on 37. How much you expect from him? He not going to be the 200 innings guy we need.
Now you tell us the reliever we just signed this off season will likely be the closer? Great. We may as well stuck with Oh. Oh yeah we lost 3 bullpin guys and you sign one guy. Not even a closer but you want to make him one. This team been linked to 20 players this off season and done nothing to bring any of them in outside of Ozuna. Stanton gets a pass but why didn’t we package a deal with the Rays for any of the players we where linked too? Archer? Colome? Evan? Nope. we drag the feet on them and at the end reports say Colome wasn’t as deep of a talk. WHY NOT? Archer is easily the best deal to be made that can make the rotation good enough to make the playoffs but go deeper in it and the best part is you save money compared to signing someone like Arrietta. And with that money saved you can easily sign a free agent. Position player to improve it. May not be this year class but next year. You can IMPROVE at 3rd base or first base. Face it, Matt Carpenter is good for one thing. Lead off hitter but once on it goes south, He doesn’t have the skill level to be a first or 3rd basemen everyday and damn sure not a second basemen over Wong.
I don’t think Mo reads this. Maybe send him a letter?
Cardinal fans act like the world revolves around him , take it from someone who use to live in STL
It will be funny when its over 100 everyday in St Louis for 2 weeks but in Oakland in the 70s for those 2 weeks where would you rather live? There is a reason why house prices are very cheap in St Louis compared to Oakland it has to do with the weather.
Yep. Whenever I consider relocating, I always look for wherever the hosing costs are the highest, because that means it HAS to be a great place to live.
Swoosh that went over your head nashville. The weather sucks during the summer in St Louis. While the weather is great most of the time in Oakland.
You know there isn’t a “Force Trades” setting for real life, right?
girsch is a figurehead gm
Please quit referring to Leake being a significant loss. He did little while a Cardinal. We unloaded a bad contract and received a pretty good prospect in return.
Leake wasn’t as bad as most fans think. Moving him was a salary dump. They didn’t get anything close to a good prospect in return.
Leake was a salary dump and cleared space for young guys this year. Lynn clears space for younger guys, that’s the cardinals norm mode of operations, very hesitant to trade prospects, much more willing to dump older guys to give them a chance. We’ll see what happens. Weaver, Flaherty, Gant, Reyes, Hicks, Helsley, Gomber are all expected to be given a chance this year in rotation and pen. Then there’s Dakota Hudson and few others a little further back. They won’t all pan out, but if a couple do, cards have cost controlled pitchers for long time. What if cubs had traded Bryant, Russell, schwarber, Contreras, etc. right before they got their chance in big leagues? Would they have gotten enough for Bryant who at the time was a potential MVP as opposed to an actual MVP under team control? Cards are always looking for next big thing , but more on pitching side.
There’s a reason St Louis fans haven’t had to sit thru a rebuild of tanking in the last 15 years or so.. this team a constructed right now is prob an 88-90 win team if everything goes right.. hard to get upset by that.. and you’re forgetting guys like Reyes, Hudson, Flaherty, and Gomber who could be a huge part of the pen or the rotation. Weaver, wacha and tsunami if healthy could and should improve on past performances.. the sky is not falling redbirds little
Key words: “if everything goes right”
That goes for all 30 teams bra.. baseball is probably the biggest crap shoot in sports. The best team on paper doesn’t always work out. The team with the best record doesn’t always win the ws.. the cardinals are a model of consistency. The cards rotation is better than the cubs and prob better than the Yankees too. This is a good team let’s get into camp and let things shake out before we throw hissy fits shall we? If they had a manager who knew how to use splits and deploy a bullpen we wouldn’t be having this conversation anyways because they would have made the wildcard the two years without a dimwit as a manager
Password is right…I think everyone has forgotten about Jose Martinez…He will probably start at first base…he hit over .300 and had 14 homeruns when he finally got consistent playing time in the second half…he carried the cardinals in the second half…so a full year has him hitting .300 and over 25 home runs…the man can hit…the cardinals have tons of young arms waiting and Hicks who throws 100 mph is probably the future closer…why should the cardinals pay for Hosmer when Martinez is just as good if not better
Take a breath
So much reading
TLDR;
I think you may be surprised with how the Cardinals perform this year. Fans seem to forget the high ceiling talent the Cardinals *actually* have on the 40 man roster. Die hards are too quick to judge sometimes and it leaves a foul taste in the mouths of other fans.
You gotta remember, the Cardinals were only a few blown saves away from the playoffs in 2017.
Thanks to Oakland for being the farm system for the Yankees. 1989 I think… stop whining about your park.. and win.
Oakland has the worst stadium in baseball and a GM who has 1 ALCS appearance in 20 years to his credit. I don’t blame him one bit.
Unless the Pirates trade Ivan Nova, I’d rather see them use Musgrove out of the bullpen. He and Brault could give them a pair of right and left handed multi inning relievers.
Taillon is the opening day starter and both Kuhl and Williams have earned their spots in the rotation. They have to give Tyler Glasnow another chance, his stuff and track record are too good to give up on him yet.
Agreed. I get that there are a lot of reasons to question this trade, but it seems like the unnamed talent evaluator was bad-mouthing the trade in part because the Bucs possibly didn’t get a starting pitcher in return (if they use Musgrove out of the pen). That’s a little silly. Like you said, the Bucs do still have rotation possibilities, with others like Kingham, Keller etc., down the road. They maybe could and should have gotten better value in return for Cole, but it wasn’t absolutely necessary to get a SP.
The Cole trade to me seems very much like the GM/FO of the Pirates were in love with one or more of the Astros players. Obviously they were not the only suitor, so that seems like it would be the only explanation for such an awful return.
The Bucs have been a team that have been a trend setter in advancing the way the view the game and I’d guess they believe that the bullpen trend is going to be something that’s not just deployed during the playoffs… that starters are going to be asked to cover 5 innnjngs Max. So if everyone’s projecting thees guys only end up as decent pen arms then maybe that’s what the front office guys are thinking all along?
If they see value in the 2 relievers who I think are controllable, they could be moved for 2 seperate prospect packages next offseason if they turn in a good season. Relievers have been fetching huge hauls. If Betances or Chapman have a down year again, and Musgrove becomes the closer and is lights out, you’re looking at Clint Frazier + just for him in all likelihood.
So the Cardinals announced they are looking to improve. Hilarious. Thanks for the announcement Mo
Exactly
The season hasn’t started yet. There is still time to add a significant piece to improve the Cardinals!
“Hey Jeff, Neal Huntington here. Say, are you still interested in Cole? You are. Great. Magic beans, huh? Well I was thinking about holding on to Cole until the deadline…What, did you just say you’d pony up FOUR magic beans??? You did! Deal! Hey, you wouldn’t know anyone who would be interested in an outfielder would you?”
I come to the coliseum cause it’s dirt cheap. But every time I come, I pray I don’t get mugged. It’s definitely tough for fans of the away teams as well, they receive a lot of flack for not liking the A’s. Experience BS all the time considering I’m a Halos fan.
Try being a visitor to an LA team
I’m a Red Sox fan who went to a Sox-Angels game last year, and the Red Sox fans cheered louder and there were more of them.
The last time i attended a game there, my car was broken into. Had several broken windows and had to drive home at night without headlights.
Ozuna’s comments were to a StLouis reporter during a visit to St. Louis where he was signing autographs for Cards fans who were obviously elated to meet him. It had much more to do with his excitement to play in St. Louis than his disdain for Oakland. I find it humorous that people on here found no problem with Stanton and his dislike for cardinals and giants but as soon as someone says he likes being a St. Louis Cardinal, then he’s roasted. Get over it, a lot of people like St. Louis and their organization. Can anyone here, with a straight face, honestly say that the A’s track record of say last 15-20 years is even comparable to cards? Is there any team In MLB who Has better track record? Yankees and giants have a claim. Anyone else? Can anyone say A’s are set up to compete this year as well as Cards are? Not everyone loves the coast and hates St. Louis.
Giants would be making a huge mistake in signing Lorenzo Cain, and it seems like they know it. They be better off getting a much less expensive stop gap type like John Jay or Jarrod Dyson for a year or two and keep the draft picks.
I assume in Spring Training, they’ll have Glasnow, Brault, Musgrove, and maybe even Feliz and Kingham compete for that 5th rotation spot, unless they bring in someone who is guaranteed a rotation spot.
Mozeliak is a moron
10 years as GM- 0 losing seasons, 6 playoff berths, 2 pennants, 1 world title. How many other GMs have better results than that? Prior to that he was head of cardinals drafting and responsible for drafting pujols and Yadi, amongst others. But yes he’s a moron.
What language was this?