It was on this day in 1985 that Jack Buck asked Cardinals fans to “Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!” in the wake of Ozzie Smith’s walkoff homer to win Game Five of the NLCS. The Wizard Of Oz wasn’t known for his power, of course, though the defensive legend’s only career postseason home run (and, remarkably, the switch-hitting Smith’s first career homer as a left-handed batter) could hardly have come at a better time. The victory gave the Cards a 3-2 lead in the series, and they clinched the National League pennant two days later at Dodger Stadium.
Here’s some modern-day buzz out of St. Louis…
- The official details of Adam Wainwright’s new contract with the Cardinals won’t be known until after the World Series, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. Wainwright will have to officially file for free agency before the deal is finalized, as league rules stipulate that a player currently on a team’s roster cannot re-sign for less than a 20% pay cut from their previous salary, and Wainwright’s new deal will obviously be far less than the $19.5MM he earned last year, in the final season of his five-year, $97.5MM contract. His new deal is just a one-year pact, as Wainwright tells Goold that “I’m going to treat every year from here like it’s my last and go year to year. I’m going to have a great time and maybe a year from now we’re having the same conversation or we’re having a retirement conversation.” After being greatly limited by injuries in three of the last four seasons, Wainwright was greatly encouraged by how his elbow felt in some late-season appearances, and now feels ready for whatever role the team wants him to fill in 2019. It’s clear that Wainwright is hoping to spend his entire baseball career in a Cardinals uniform, telling Goold “I wanted to do all I could to keep the door open with St. Louis. I was trying not to think about the possibility of going somewhere else. I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
- Stubby Clapp, manager of the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate in Memphis, has widely been mentioned as a possible candidate to be the next Blue Jays manager, though Clapp tells Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi, “I haven’t heard anything from Toronto. It’s been all rumors.” Before taking over in Memphis in the 2016-17 offseason, Clapp spent the previous four seasons as a hitting coach in the Jays’ minor league system, so he has some ties to the organization. The Windsor, Ontario native would also be the Jays’ first Canadian-born manager. Even Clapp’s current duties carry some Blue Jays connections, as star prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is playing on the team Clapp is managing in the Arizona Fall League. “If there’s an opportunity to get an interview or something like that, great, I’d be excited to do something like that,” Clapp said. “Right now, I’m a Cardinal, that’s my focus and that’s where my mind is, and on taking care of these guys in Arizona.”
- While the Cards have some uncertainty about their 2019 rotation, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch doesn’t consider starting pitching to be a top priority for the offseason. Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, and Carlos Martinez look to have rotation jobs locked up for next year, while Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Luke Weaver, Austin Gomber, Daniel Poncedeleon, and John Gant are all in the mix for the final two slots. While this group carries a lot of injury and experience questions, Frederickson figures there’s enough depth on hand that the Cardinals don’t need to add another arm unless a clear top-of-the-rotation pitcher like Patrick Corbin or Dallas Keuchel can be had at a reasonable price. The team’s more pressing needs are a left-handed bat for the lineup and more bullpen depth, the latter being particularly important given how successful teams around baseball are increasingly relying on strong bullpens to carry them into (and through) the postseason.
fasbal1
Stubby Clapp is gonna be a manager in the big leagues sooner than later, he has had an incredible run at Memphis with many believing he would take Mathenys job before Schieldt snuck in and took it, any team will be lucky to land him.
thesheriffisnear
Jimmy Dugan would suggest that they avoid the Clapp
fasbal1
It’s all who you hang out with
Cardinals17
It’s a shame it won’t be with the Cardinals!!!
Birdman1182
Schilt
Birdman1182
good lord I try and correct you and autoincorrect strikes. forget I said anything
CardsNation5
It’s Schildt
Birdman1182
Shildt
MetsYankeesRedSox
Schlitz
c1234
Why isn’t Reyes in the list of possible starters?
EndinStealth
Cards have said he will start the season in the pen.
c1234
Where was that said?
fasbal1
It’s been reported by multiple outlets in STL
3rdStrikeLooking
So the Cards released an official statement already, eh? You know, since multiple outlets already reported it.
Wow, that seems a bit pre-emptive, dont you think?? Already have an official press release, per your statement, he will start in the pen.
fasbal1
They dont have to be official when discussing that move, he will pitch out of bullpen if healthy
Bubbafatt
I’ve not read it anywhere is it seems like common sense that a guy has pitched 4 innings in two years, is gonna have a hard cap on his innings this year, and the easiest way to do that is put him in the pen. If you need a spot start here or there I’m sure you can do that, but with the organizational depth, they can afford to use him in the pen for a year, and if by some chance he stays healthy he can be in the rotation next year, where the ramp up in innings won’t be as drastic. I’d also say that if wacha is healthy, he has that fourth spot all but locked up.
fasbal1
It will be same process as they took with Matt Morris and Adam Wainwright
barkinghumans77
That hasn’t been said. Goold reported that Reyes may start in Memphis, could end up being in the BP but StL views Reyes as a starter long term.
3rdStrikeLooking
Sounds like to me Fastbal must have been taking opinion and calling it fact. Wow. Surprising.
…and yet another example of a Johnny General Manager.
stan lee the manly
Do you have a link to where this was announced? I have seen zero mention of this outside of speculation from the media
CardsNation5
No he’s starting the season at Memphis
fasbal1
At this point getting anything out of Reyes will be a bonus..hope he recovers but, who knows
stan lee the manly
Mozeliak announced Reyes will come back next year…as a starter. That’s why it’s probably a good idea to wait until the official announcement
Msvhs79
I read the article this morning in the paper about adding a starter and I’m sorry but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that we need a left handed bat and bullpen help before a starter! It would also be nice to see some of our players learn to not only do a better job running the base paths but shore up their defense! Hopefully with a new manager and approach some of those things will greatly improve! Although we as Cards fans have been spoiled for many years and have just been accustomed to being in the playoffs and on top of our division, it’s gonna be a dog fight to win the division now for several years! Milwaukee is for real and Pittsburgh is gonna get better to! Cincy is still a few years away it looks like! JMO
thesheriffisnear
Exclamation point!
stan lee the manly
If they sign a top-tier starter, that frees up more young starters to trade for the help they need. In a vacuum, yes that is their most pressing needs, but in general there are a whole lot more options via trade for the needs they have. If Keuchel of Corbin takes a deal to pitch in St. Louis, all that does is increase their spending power
Vedder80
In a normal offseason, yes. But this offseason, there is no reason to trade for a bat when you can just buy one with some of the money the team won’t be spending on pitching.
stan lee the manly
Except you have to convince them to come to St. Louis while all of the large market teams try to get them at the same time. This very well may not be a simple “Let’s pay the most” situation, neither of the big bats may want to play in St. Louis. They may have better luck with Arenado or Goldschmidt
Wainofan
This is a tired false narrative that cards haters love to say. There’s been one guy who didn’t want to come to St. Louis because he preferred a big city. One. Stanton is it. Heyward chose Chicago because the youth and he wanted to help them win first world series in 108 years. He saw Cubs and cardinals headed in different directions, had nothing to do with not wanting to play in St. Louis. I have no idea if cardinals will pursue machado or Harper. I tend to think they won’t. But there’s nothing to substantiate the idea that IF Cards go hard after either one and make the best offer that they’d turn them down for big markets
JFactor
Wait, so Wainwright’s 2019 salary has to be at least $15M?
JFactor
Never mind, I misread.
I would be shocked if he got that much.
Thus, that’s why they are waiting, so he can file first.
batty
Purely a guess on my part, but i’d bet it’s a $6 mil base with escalating incentives like starts/innings and time on the 25 man roster.
fasbal1
It is an incentive laden contract that includes incentives for both starts and relief appearances, so they may use him in either
Jrnomo100
Let him close move Fowler to the gaints for Crawford. Dejong to 3rd. Sign markagus on a one year deal to pkay rf and bat 5 th. Trade Gyrko and Martinez for bullpen help get a stud lefty .
rocknwell
I have a better idea. Let’s sign Machado, Harper, and Keuchel/Corbin, and trade for Altuve and Sale/Sherzer. All set.
(Sarcasm)
My point is as fans, we think we see all the holes and ways they can all be plugged. The fact is we probably won’t see anything major. Cards have a history of not spending and when they do, they are rarely, if ever, top tier free-agents.
Vedder80
How do they have a history of not spending? They are in the upper 1/3 of payroll every year despite being in one of the smaller markets.
rocknwell
Always making the “safer” bet.
batty
It’s not 2006 and Waino doesn’t have his 2006 stuff.
Why would San Fran want Fowler in that huge OF configuration?
DeJong is more than fine at SS.
Markakis is not an upgrade in any way.
J. Martinez is almost certain to be traded and Gyorko may well be too, but no team is giving up a “stud lefty” for a DH and/or a someone that can’t stay healthy.
Jrnomo100
You sign a stud lefty Dejong is not ok at ss and how can 99 rbis not be an upgtade think before you speak
JFactor
DeJong was +14 DRS at shortstop last year, 3rd best in all of baseball.
Me thinks you don’t know what you are talking about.
Nobody wants Fowler and he has value as a competent 4th outfielder that can backup our two young rookies who need time but will likely see some exposure by playing everyday. And Fowler could reclaim his value and play like 2017 again very easily and regain his opportunity.
There is no need for Markakis, at all.
We do need the stud lefty though.
JFactor
Also, RBI’s are a matter of opportunity, not a matter of skill.
Markakis had the most PA with runners in scoring position in the NL this year. He should have had a ton more.
JFactor
Markakis has been a league average hitter for the last 6 years (102 OPS+) and he’s turning 35. We already have Fowler, we don’t need another clogging up the outfield
batty
I can see you don’t even bother to think. Therefor, you shouldn’t speak at all.
greatd
I’m a bit curious on when they see their window of contention being.
They have a lot of young good arms coming up,
but their line up isn’t young considering that Molina is 36 / Carpenter is 33 / Martinez is 30.
They have guys like DeJong / Bader coming up, but the only guy they could build around Ozuna is only controlled for two more years.
It’s as is a tough division to be in where the Brewers and Cubs plan to stay competetive for years to come so,
back to my original question, but wonder how the front office wants to tackle things going forward.
CardsNation5
Ozuna is only controlled for 2019
greatd
My bad.
Thanks for the reminder.
fourth_dimension
One of the best moves the Cardinals can make this off season is to truly plan for its future and not just 2019. That starts with moving on/trading Matt Carpenter. He has two years left (including a team option). The contract is still valuable, 14.75m in 2019 and 18m option in 2020. He would be valuable to an AL team definitely.
Jose Martinez is a solid hitter and needs to be moved to the AL as well. There are plenty of cost-conscious teams that should jump at him considering 2019 for him is still a PRE-ARB year. He will come with four years of control still.
I also believe they need to trade Carlos Martinez. From a talent, experience, age, and contract perspective, Cmart is their most valuable asset. He can bring back a haul even with his injuries this past season. His is under contract for five years at a total 69.5m or 13.9m per (includes two option years). The Cardinals have the pieces to move to restock and move forward for the future as well as to keep the ability to contend.
batty
I was with you right up until you got to Carlos.
cards81
I agree fourth dimension…Martinez should definitely be shopped…but only for something that helps build for the future…I think if th Yankees sign Machado then Andujar will be available…but there are others ways also obviously to build for te future…but although I agree they should build for the future, I think they could easily still make the playoffs…With two years of Molina left it is a hard decision to not try your best to make the playoffs….you have one of the all time greatest players on the clock
JFactor
The Cardinals are stuck being in an ackward middle area, and have been for the last 3 seasons. They are too good to rebuild, and too bad to go all in.
The issue with rebuilding is that a lot of the veteran assets they would trade away don’t have a lot of value to other organizations.
Matt Carpenter has two years of control, but he’s older and his position is loaded with other good hitters. Even if he is better than most and can play third base. Maybe a top 100 prospect or two? That team option is valuable, but it’s also expensive.
Carlos has nice value in terms of his contract, but he is rather inconsistent, and difficult to trust. But he could get you some nice specs most likely.
Cards wouldn’t trade Yadier
Ozuna could maybe get a couple of specs back, but nothing special because of how bad 2018 was.
That’s not enough to be excited about in a rebuild.
And going for it, they have money they can spend, but their window is too short potentially to go crazy in free agency with long term commitments.
My choice is they gave Donaldson a short term, but very high AAV deal, and see if they can add two relievers with their remaining budget. See if anyone would help shed some salary relief with Gyorko if he holds value to them and it can improve the arms they’d add (Gyorko if they can add JD).
They have to keep going year by year until the play on the field shows them they are a 90+ win team every year, or a sub .500 team every year. Until one of those two things happen, they are stuck just reloading every where with what they have and hoping to see them play up to their abilities and potentials while hopefully new prospects come along.
Sucks to be stuck in the middle.
Wainofan
Cards window of contention is from 1996-?. Obviously they have not made playoffs all those years, but they’ve been in contention every year. In past ten years they’ve played grand total of 4 games of meaningless baseball for having been eliminated. No other team in either league can match that. They are already grooming waino, Yadi and carpenters replacements. They don’t operate on the all in/tank cycles that so many others do. They go for it every year and will continue to do so for foreseeable future. Cardinals window is perpetual…
Palmerpark
Corbin will not be cheap – Yankee lifetime fan and from area so unless Boston jumps in with crazy money Corbin will be a Yankee. Book it.
Gary R
Anybody listen to a guy named Kevin Slaten on the radio in St Louis? Your thoughts
pinkerton
Stubby Clapp and Rusty Kuntz oughta get together and become the best coaching duo in the history of baseball.
charlesk
Shapkins will want to hire their boy Eric Wedge. All this positive talk around Joe Girardi, Johnny Mac, Chris Woodward, Stubby Clapp or even DeMarlo Hale is just that… talk. Wedge will be recycled in Toronto, and the rebuild won’t really happen until Shapkins and Wedge all get fired after an Orioles-like 115 loss disaster. Or you could fire Shapkins now and hire one of the above candidates to help guide the rebuild.
Jrnomo100
Cards have spent money just not smart money HE lla d Cecil Gergerson Fowler money not well spent.
619bird
Pretty sure Reyes was rumored among other possibilities to end up being stretched out in AAA. That is just one possibility along with starting and being put in the pen for 2019. My bet is if they don’t get a closer he ends up being the closer at some point in 2019 and they end up starting him in 2020. Hicks doesn’t miss enough bats and throw strikes enough to be a closer at this point.
I’d say unless Wacha is traded the battle is for the 5th starter job with Waino, Hudson, Reyes, Gomber, Gant and PDL. Waino has a shot because all those guys while talented and having moments all struggle to get to the 5th inning. Waino can at least razzle dazzle and use smoke and mirrors to sniff the 6th inning every other time out.
I consider PDL and Gant bullpen arms than starters. Didn’t list Weaver because I hope he’s traded. Maybe Seattle needs another starter. lol
bucketbrew35
If I was a Cardinals fan I would probably prefer Waino out of the bullpen at this point. He is still a K/inning arm but his durability is pretty suspect moving forward. His value would be maximized pitching 60 to 70 innings coming out of the pen from innings 7 through 9 and other high leverage situations.
mrripley_says
If I was a Cardinal fan…I’d be pissed that sentimental Mo is gonna give Waino a roster spot at the expense of a younger, building block type P. No will also keep Yadi & Carp around past their prime…once again due to the fond memories of yester-year. Cards history is all they have nowadays & Dewitt can’t let go.
JFactor
They just won 88 games and were playing meaningful baseball the last week of the season and aren’t losing anyone to free agency….
But sure, all they have are the memories