There may not be another significant move on the horizon for the Cardinals this offseason, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak suggested over the weekend (link via Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com). “We don’t feel like there’s that one player out there that if we could target we’d go after if we’re patient enough,” Mozeliak said. The team surely wouldn’t broadcast its intentions even if one specific target of interest remained on the market, but it’s nonetheless notable to hear the Cards’ top decision-maker plainly state that he doesn’t “see anything that makes us want to change direction” when looking at the market of available talent. As Langosch notes, the Cards can still add some veterans on minor league contracts in hopes that someone forces his way onto the active roster this spring, but Mozeliak spoke like an exec who has completed most of his offseason shopping.
More from St. Louis…
- If the Cardinals do make a move, writes Mark Saxon of The Athletic (subscription required), they’d likely be zeroed in on versatile position players and bullpen help. “Theorizing that relievers and guys who play multiple positions are what we’re looking at is probably not the worst theory in the world,” said general manager Mike Girsch late last week. If anything, though, it seems that the Cardinals will be more opportunistic rather than setting their sights on one specific player to pursue him at all costs. Saxon does run through some remaining free agents who could hold interest, noting that Oliver Perez could make some sense “if the Cardinals don’t want to pay the asking price in trade talks with the San Francisco Giants for Will Smith.”
- Girsch also spoke to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Ben Frederickson about the decision to hang onto Jose Martinez rather than trade him. “Other teams looked at it as a guy who was not a fit for us, and that maybe they could get him on the cheap,” said Girsch of the team’s exploration of the market for Martinez. The Cardinals, it seems, had little interest in weakening their 2019 roster by moving Martinez solely for prospects, knowing his bat holds significant value even in a more limited role. Martinez hit .305/.364/.457 in a career-high 590 plate appearances last year and is a career .309/.372/.478 hitter in 915 MLB plate appearances. Frederickson also offers up some quotes from skipper Mike Shildt about the manner in whcih Martinez will be used in 2019, with Shildt believing he’ll be more involved than a typical bench bat and specifically touting Martinez’s proficiency against left-handed pitching (.332/.408/.560). However, it’s clear that heading into the season, Dexter Fowler will be given a chance to reestablish himself as a viable option in right field.
- Righty Adam Wainwright spoke at this weekend’s Winter Warm-Up event about his decision to return for the 2019 season (link via Langosch). The three-time All-Star was candid in discussing the pain he’s pitched through in recent seasons and also in talking about the unexpected rebound his arm felt late in the season. “I stopped feeling like my arm was going to break every time I threw the ball,” said Wainwright, who also touched on the possibility of pitching in relief if he can’t secure a rotation spot in Spring Training. However, Langosch notes that the Cardinals’ plan is to give the 37-year-old a real chance to do so. If Wainwright is indeed on a “whole different level health-wise” than he’s been in recent years, as he says, then perhaps it’d be unwise to bet against him. Wainwright has a combined 4.77 ERA in 362 1/3 innings across the past three seasons but was, of course, one of the game’s premier arms for quite some time before that; he returned from Tommy John surgery in 2012 and tossed 695 innings of 2.99 ERA ball from 2012-15.
daved
Who told Girsch he could talk to the media? Did Gepetto remove the strings?
PDUB02000
Someone needs to explain to Mike that the reason everyone wanted Martinez on the cheap was because that is what he is worth. We seem to overvalue our players when it comes to discussing trades. It seems that we want to give more money to players that others don’t, but will not go after a consensus game changing free agent.
Will someone remind our front office that finishing in the middle of the pack is not what the fans of St Louis deserve!!!.
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
How would trading Martinez accomplish what you suggest?
PDUB02000
If we carry 13 pitchers this leaves 12 roster positions: 2 catchers leaves 10. Assuming that our starters will be ozuna, bader, fowler, carpenter, dejong, wong and goldschmidt. This leaves 3 spots who do we take O’Neill? Gyorko? Jose martinez? Yairo Munoz? Drew robinson? Do we want defense and more power from the bench? I think that Martinez has played well, offensively, but for what he does defensively he needs to be a hammer and he is not that!. We talk about getting a power bat off the bench, where is it. I think that you can trade him for prospects while he has the good short history that he has. We were told last off season how the defense was going to be fixed, NOT SO! With Goldschmidt playing first, martinez will not get playing time there and if goldy wants a day off, play yadi at first, this will help him down the road and get a back up catcher a little more playing time. If Fowler goes as he has recently, we will replace him with Martinez? or O’neil.l? For me it would be Oneil. We are stuck with many bad decisions, For once I would love for the front office to say Hey that was a bad decision and try to fix. Great move getting Goldschmidt for a year, but are we going to extend him for what he will get on the open market? We have tremendous dollars coming off next 2 years, this is the time to set this team for the next 5 years.
daved
Someone is getting traded. It could be either Gyorko or Martinez. Right now, they have 4 bench guys and all are RH. Gyorko, Martinez, Munoz and Pena. Robinson can’t hit. Something has to be done.
PDUB02000
In order to trade gyorko, I think we would have to lump him with a good prospect. I think that would be awesome because that would free a lot of money for this year. We could use that money to go get someone on a 1 yr contract that could better fit our need.. I just don’t think that he (alone) would be a play for other teams with that cost.
I completely agree with you, someone or two has to go and we can be more pointed in what we want.
daved
Package Gyorko and Wong in a trade for whatever prospects you can get. Then sign Moustakas to a 2 year deal to play 3B until Gorman is ready. Move Carpenter to 2B where his rag arm isn’t an issue like it is at 3B.
PDUB02000
Great idea, would free up great money . Will never happen exactly because we OverValue Wong. Could have had Moustakas last year for very little. Probably could this year as well. Playing Carpenter at 2nd will not hurt the defense as much as him at 3rd and you would have to agree he will get hurt playing 3rd this year.
Woody130n82
Too bad Cards wouldn’t move Martinez for prospects. Rays wanted him and had a loaded farm they needed to clear. Knowing the Rays prospects like the Cards do, I figured it would happen. Not now with A Carcia signed. I assume the Rays were the ones doing the lowballing. Less because they thought the Cards were desperate to move him and more because they could sign Garcia. In other words, they offered what he was worth in today’s market. Just like the Rays got virtually nothing for moving on from CJ Cron and his 30hrs and poor defense.
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
It doesn’t appear you’ve answered the question and what you really want is for Fowler to be jettisoned-which I get. What if he rebounds? Should the team announce to the world that Fowler is awful, completely sabotage any chance at a rebound or even someone trading for him? As much as you and others would like to hear that, it makes no sense.
PDUB02000
I guess it depends on what you expect your team to strive for: Putting the best players on the field that gives your team the best chance to win each game. When you have bad contracts, sometimes you can have addition by subtraction. If you couldn’t recognize the sideshow that fowler caused last year, you never will. As for Martinez, hey if you have the other players that can allow him to do what he does then so be it, but he isn’t an everyday player for a contender or a player that can play any position and that is why his value is not as high as we see it. When a player is in the middle of the road on what he provides, the roster spot he fills is as valuable as his play. Martinez hit 4 HR after June 30th last year. He has no place to play. Our defense goes from bad to worse when he is in the game.
PDUB02000
It makes as much sense as giving him 80 ml for 5 years with his history.
spudchukar
i hope it isn’t Gyroko, and I doubt it will be. He compliments Carpenter perfectly at third. Some starts against tough lefties, and a defensive replacement in late innings. If they could move Martinez for a decent left handed thumper in right I would be all for it, but if they cannot get something in return then I say no. Some have opined that the Cards will carry 13 pitchers. 12 might be OK, especially since guys like Hudson, Reyes, and Gant all can pitch multiple innings. “Hoping” Fowler will rebound is a concern. What if he doesn’t? O’Neill would be a great compliment to a lefty right fielder, and he can serve as a very good defensive replacement. Even if Fowler rebounds, a right handed compliment makes sense.
camdog23
I’m so glad you idiots aren’t in charge
dmarcus15
Jedd is expendable I feel but I’ve said that the last 2 seasons we should have traded him when he was hot.
Chirp, chirp Redbirds
I know we’re chatting about the bench power here, but why aren’t any Cards fans talking about two killer agents still out there: C. Kimbrel and C. Kluber? Bullpen could still use a super-arm, and Kluber would add an ace arm to the rotation.. They CAN afford at least one of them. Just tired of seeing B. Cecil and M. Bowman give away wins. Lets super charge our pen!
daved
Kluber is NOT a free agent. You would have to trade for him.
Chirp, chirp Redbirds
Oh yeah, my bad. So for crying out loud, trade for him!
EndinStealth
I’m assuming you’re a casual fan? Kluber is not a free agent.
daved
The Kluber is not a free agent was established 3 hours before you posted.
EndinStealth
So? You the only one allowed to talk troll?
StlSwifty
Jose Martinez for Joc Pederson. Who says no? I think it would be a decent idea.
jbigz12
The dodgers because they don’t want an outfielder who plays defense as poorly as Matt Kemp did
StlSwifty
Ya but they were reportedly talking trades with the cardinals that would send Jmart to The Dodgers.
Oxford Karma
A creative manager can get guys like this a lot of at bats with creative double switches, especially since SPs exit so early.
Samuel
Pinch hitting in a critical situation is underrated in this era of robotic baseball.
canocorn
Due to evolution of pitching roles, more P’s are needed on roster. Utility players thus go up in value/demand.
Reliable pinch hitters are a roster luxury these days, and too valuable to keep on the bench in reserve. Better to give a good hitter 4 or 5 at-bats per game than just 1 or 2.
Samuel
I noted the pitchers taking a extra places in comments below.
A pinch hitter can go and play in the field. He doesn’t need to be used just to hit for a Pitcher.
So a Jose Martinez should literally get into every game he doesn’t start to hit at a critical time. Stick him at a defensive position to keep him in the game if necessary. This is why teams want more starting players that can play multiple positions – the PH can take the position he’s acceptable at, the person he replaces on D is moved to the position that the man that was hit for was playing. You’re not burning a position player, rather you’re getting a strong bat in a position where he can impact the game (a player can hit in a position – say 3rd – yet never hit at an opportune time; he can PH for a guy hitting 7th with runners in scoring position).
The Dodgers are great at this. Even the Rays and Indians in the DH AL.
jbigz12
The Dodgers have zero defensively challenged players on their roster. They had Kemp and quickly jettisoned him out this offseason. Jose Martinez is Matt kemp defensively. Matt Kemp fell out of a favor.
Buschhog5
Marwin Gonzalez is out there as a guy who can play multiple positions but haven’t seen the cards linked to him at all
daved
Gonzalez costs money, that’s why Cards won’t sign him. Besides, they have Babe Wong.
NYMETSHEA
Utility players that provide similar offensive have rarely been valued this much, but changes in baseball seems to dictate irrational experiments. Defensive versatility provides only so much value.
Outside of his 2017 season, is there anything that attracts you to want your team to inherit 8 figure annual payroll obligation for this player? Teen HR power with adequate extra base potential. BA .260 and .OBP .310. Adequate handling of multiple positions, but not good enough to win the position from other players.
Buschhog5
The value is all about versatility and security, being able to give one position the day off at any time or if a player goes down you have someone that can step into the position long term. He is well above average when compared to other similar players even though there is a small sample of players who could play any position any day. This could also open up roster spots for extra bullpen pieces since he can cover so many positions
PDUB02000
All we (fans) were told during the last year is how Yairo Muñoz can play all 9 positions. Was it a lie, i watched and he can, just not at a major league level. GET REAL CARDINALS! If I wanted a inf. that could have played 3 positions, why did we not pick up tulo? Could have doubled the minimum and still no gamble., Drew Robinson?
Samuel
Due to having to carry 12-13 pitchers on a roster, all MLB teams now carry at least a few players that can play multiple positions. Yankees and Mets just signed 2 guys that can do just that.
The Cardinals have guys that play multiple positions.
The GM saying they’re looking at another guy that can play multiple positions is reasonable. They badly need a backup SS. Picking up an Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Iglesias, Alcides Escobar, Freddy Galvis, or Adeiny Hechavarria on a reasonable one year contract will give them a utility guy at all the infield positions.
johnrealtime
I feel confident that most teams were in on Tulo. Due to his salary being the same no matter where he signed, he chose the team that he wanted to play for. And Tulo has only ever played SS professionally (MLB or minors)
EndinStealth
Marwin has said repeatedly he wants to start. Plus he would cost way more than the value hed bring.
cards81
Buschhog it has been noted that St. Louis is not a good fit for him because of the lack of playing time he will receive…kinda like how hard it is to get a good back up catcher because believe it or not they want to play…but with Yadi behind the plate that won’t happen…Marwin would be in the same position
Buschhog5
I’d let him start at 2b everyday
StlCardsfan4life
Wong is staying at 2nd base and for good reason…yelich votto rizzo…hes the 2nd base shortstop for the awesome lefties in the division. I also belive he has a good year with the bat
echozulu88
He’s wants to be paid, has a bunch of suitors because of his versatility and would like to have a firm starting position after spending his time in Houston bouncing around according to everything I’ve seen about his market. He’d be nice to have though if his price drops.
moe 3
Don’t bet against Waino !!
daved
I already bet he will be on the DL at least once this year.
StlCardsfan4life
Of course! Just with the newer rules alone he’ll be there.
xabial
Are Cardinals, the Manny Machado “mystery team”?
Who says no
daved
NO
Hoostino
Could be & I hope not!
spudchukar
Definitely no. It would relagate DeJong to the bench or Carpenter and the Cards have no inclination to do either. Harper is a different story as they need a lefty corner outfielder with pop to balance their predominantly righty attack.
EndinStealth
No at chance.
mike 96
I heard they are the favorite. They are trying to free up cash to sign Manny. the deal is in place if they get rid of two contracts.
Chirp, chirp Redbirds
Yeah right. We now have two out of four great IFs, and the org. is supposed to get rid of two of them? No way!
Chirp, chirp Redbirds
HELL NO! If they do, I’m no longer a Cards fan. The dude is a POS with no respect for the game or other players
NYMETSHEA
Sorry, but Martinez has limited value – contact ability.
Documented defensive liability and lack of power are the things that horribly devalue the player. Though 30 doubles are adequate for offensive player, 17 hr was a career high achievement (though accounting for both one full season in majors and lengthy stay in minors). Essentially a DH type with limited power. Did not help that teams knew you were going to market him.
NYMETSHEA
Seriously do not know what the Cardinals’ GM was thinking about complaining about the offers.
You created the situation where you have two players for one position.
You know you have limited value with the incumbent player.
You gave away some leverage in negotiation and then complain that the other GM’s tried to take advantage of the situation. Did you expect the other GM’s to hold your hand, comfort you, and offer a solution to your problem?
its_happening
Plus the majority of teams are satisfied with their 1B situation. Limited number of teams looking for 1B. Dipoto is about to figure that out with Encarnacion.
NYMETSHEA
Though Encarnacion had a relative down year (his standards) and has limits to his game (16 doubles as a result of HR, speed, etc), he provide greater value than Martinez. Short term option, and deciding factor between the two players might be the cost in trade. Sounds like the cost might be higher from the Cardinals….
Next season, Cardinals might regret not moving Martinez. Will have to expose him to positions that might accentuate his defensive deficiencies, and any deviation in offensive production will further reduce any value gained from a transaction. May be a situation where attempting to extract full value and end up getting lower than previous offers.
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
I really don’t think they are overly concerned about the difference in trade values. It won’t be much and the cards don’t even consider him more than a bench bat now or in the future. They have some good outfield prospects in AAA. They’ll be fine.
its_happening
Metshea – I hear you on Edwin. But, with a $20-mil price tag along with a weak interest in 1B from contending teams I just don’t see him being moved. As a Jays fan I will appreciate the very underappreciated Edwin Encarnacion who was an absolute beast from 2012-2016.
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
He wasn’t complaining. He simply stated a fact. Jose is a fantastic bench bat and holds a known quantity of Mlb quality insurance with his bat if Dexter fails. Not to mention he’s very cheap. Why give him away when you don’t have to? What should Girsch do with him? Trade him for some mid level prospect? Do you trust Tyler O’Neill’s 40% k rate as an every day player if Dexter fails again? I think everyone whining about what he said is really upset about the Cards not getting Harper. Jose has no impact on that if they wanted to spend 350,000 a year on a ten year deal. I’m okay with them passing on it.
Swinging Friars
My fantasy team was hoping the Cards would give him away..
Seriously though, that’s a big bat to be stashing away on the bench. It’s too bad they can’t find an everyday role for him, he’s certainly earned it
cards81
First off what offer was he complaining about? Martinez is getting paid a minimum salary with tons of control left…plus they need insurance if Fowler doesn’t work out…he wasn’t complaining he just said the value of the return wasn’t worth getting rid of him considering his bat off the bench
Backatitagain
How about a deal with the Birds for Harrison Bader and Adam Wainwright for Johan Camargo and Kolby Allard. Johan Camargo is a highly versatile defender and 3.5WAR player. Allard, a controllable and affordable lefty has six years of control and great potential. Bader fills the outfield need for the Braves and Wainwright may fill the need for a #5 starter. Could substitute Culberson for Camargo and Martinez for Bader to make a similar deal.
antibelt
I believe you can’t trade a player you signed a major league contract until after June 5tg.
emo2002
Wainwright has been very vocal about his want to be a lifetime Cardinal. In the past he has been quoted saying he will retire before putting on another teams uniform. Even though Atlanta is where he is from, he makes it sounds as though he would veto any trade.
spudchukar
Cards aren’t trading Bader for almost anybody. His defense is as good as anybody’s. And with the Cards current corner outfield mix he is essential. Plus he has pop and terrific speed on the bases. A slight uptick offensively and he is All-star potential.
connorreed
They can’t trade Wainwright right now, and he has 10-and-5 rights and would likely veto that trade anyway, but, I doubt the Cardinals would do this.
Camargo and Bader were similar players, value-wise, last season. Bader posted a 3.8 WAR in 138 games while Carmargo posted a 3.7 WAR in 134 games. They’re the same age and have the same number of years of team control. However, I’d say Bader has the lower floor given his speed and elite defense while also having a higher ceiling given his loud tools.
I’d assume most teams would take a young lefty like Allard over Wainwright. But his stock has dropped big time in the past year. Even when he was doing well in the minors, scouts were never wowed with his stuff, and it’s only gotten worse since then as his velocity dropped. Best case scenario right now looks like a back of the rotation starter, and he doesn’t even have enough stuff to have a fallback option as a reliever, either.
I don’t think the Cardinals would be willing to give up Bader for that. And besides, the Braves have a pretty solid starting outfield right now with Acuna, Inciarte, and Duvall, while the Cardinals have a lot of infield depth but Ozuna is the only sure thing in the outfield apart from Bader.
allweatherfan
Josh Harrison?
JFactor
With Munoz and Gyorko still on the roster, probably not an ideal target
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I was hoping that Wainwright would be agreeable to a bullpen role if that’s what was available to him. It’s refreshing to see a guy who has been among the very best at his position during his career willing to put team first. I certainly understand that it also potentially lengthens his career, of course… but it fits in well with the longtime perception that he’s a team guy.
spudchukar
Martinez isn’t a terrible right fielder, especially compared to Fowler’s 2018 play. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t very good in right, but he does possess a strong arm which discourages runners. He is a terrible first baseman, and was plugged in there because Carpenter was almost equally as bad. The Cards’ defense improved dramatically with the Goldschmidt addition. Carpenter is adequate at third, and Gyroko can replace him late in games and against tough lefties and then the infield defense gets even better. Having Bader in center alleviates much of Martinez’s lack of range or Fowler’s for that matter. I never liked the idea of “hoping” Fowler will bounce back, and his poor outfield play coupled with his dimenished speed are concerns, beyond the putrid offensive numbers. What the Cards still lack is a lefty corner outfielder with thump. O’Neill provides the right-handed platoon option and defensive replacement skills, but that still leaves a hole if Fowler’s bat doesn’t come around. A guy like Marwin Gonzales makes sense, but he wants a starting commitment and the Cards can’t give him that.
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
Agree with all of this, although Martinez can hit lefties and righties well,so I don’t feel there’s a real urgency for a lefty bat. It’d be nice though!
cobbalicious
The cards should trade either Martinez or dexter or both and pick up Harper. That means an outfield consisting of ozuna, bader or O’Neil, and Harper.
themed
Glad they kept Martinez. The guy is very valuable and is great for the club house. He is certainly worth more than what he’s getting paid.
its_happening
Good luck finding a team willing to take Dexter and that contract.
spudchukar
Agree. If they gave him away they would have to pay more than half of his salary. I understand the position the Cards are in, and he will be given a chance, but a poor Spring and a slow start could see him moved or released.
birdsonbat
Well not moved unless dex says so. Full NTC.
bhambrave
As a Braves fan, I’m still bitter about the Adam Wainwright for Nancy Drew trade.
Payne Train
This is crap – can’t believe they stopped trying to improve the team after a bullpen piece and a rental player.
juicemane
So basically, the few moves he did make convinced the irrational fan-base that this team will make the playoffs.
Even though he and the entire front office knows that is gonna take everything in the tank (mid-season trades, firing the manager again, etc.) to even make it to .500.
If the cubs win 100 and the brewers win 90, please explain to me how the Cardinals win 90-95???
But really he can’t spend more. To go over the luxury tax limit without a playoff team or solid rotation. That’s just crazy. That’s why GM get fired.
paindonthurt
Why will the Cubs win 100 and the Brewers 90? That isn’t the projection for either team. This sure looks like a 3 team race and an overall good division. None of the teams mentioned are locks. It will be a fun year in the central.
spudchukar
Please tell me how the Cubs are ever going to win 100 games. As the rosters sit right now my bet is the Red Birds are every bit as likely to win the Central as the Cubs. Plus with the impoved Reds, a healthier Pirates, and a good Brewers squad,90 wins for any Central team will probably get it done.
juicemane
How many games did the Cubs win last year? Down years for multiple guys? Rotation in shambles half the year, they could win 105-110 in 2019,
StlCardsfan4life
Nope. Division gonna be tough for that many wins…prob more like 90
zpgreen
Why are you the way that you are?
Swinging Friars
He’s still bitter about Ozzie Smith
juicemane
Change your profile pic…I had it first….thank you.
themed
Hey OJ. Here’s a fact. The cubs won’t get close to 100 wins.
canocorn
But probably closer to 100 than 50 W’s.
So they have THAT to look forward to.
StlCardsfan4life
Juicemane loves to irritate Cardinals fans but hes wrong..Cardinals win division. Cubs will start the decline in 2019 but i dont think anyone in the division gets 100 wins!
moethacker
Cubs winning 100? That’s Aerosmith territory – “Dream On.” Been a Cub fan since 1966. I think this 2019 edition is a stretch to win 90. The two key starters, Lester and Hamels, are both a year older and both have shown cracks in the past couple of years. Bullpen is weak despite their ERA stats from last year, The closer goes on the DL because he hurt himself putting on his pants. Edwards is fine with a 5 run lead or a 5 run deficit – anything closer than that and he wets himself. No upgrades by the “broke” front office other than a slight bench with improvement with Descalso (very slight) instead of LaStella. The assumption is that the poor season guys will all bounce back and fix the broken offense (Theo’s words, not mine). In my view only Bryant is realistic in that regard. Contreras wore down and there’s no reason to think he won’t be used the same way this year. Zobrist is not likely to duplicate his offense from 2018 and I think Baez is a good candidate for a fall back, too. If Schwarber and Happ are used the same way they were last year, there’s no reason to think they will produce much differently. They should have sent Russell packing and let him have his second chance somewhere else. In short, I think the offense is going to look in 2019 a lot like it did in 2018, I think 90 is top end for this group of Cubs unless something really weird happens between now and opening day.
What I really like about the Cards, other than the addition of Goldschmidt, is that big group of young pitchers they moved up from Memphis last year. I think the Redbirds leapfrog both of the teams to their north in 2019.
spudchukar
What a rarity! A Cubs fan with an honest assessment. Could they win the division? Sure. But they would have to play quite a bit better than 2018. Nobody is going to win 100 games, the division is too tough. No way the Pirates and Reds don’t approach 80 wins, which makes the likelihood of the Cubs, Cards or Brewers nearing that mark.
paindonthurt
Do you expect the Cubs to be worse? I would say they have more candidates for better or bounce back seasons than regression. Lester and Hamels likely won’t be anywhere near their career highs but they are experienced solid pitchers. The Cub bullpen provides the most question marks. I don’t expect the offense to be the broken second half version. The Cards have some really nice young pitching. But young pitching is always a question mark. I love the gamble on Goldie. A healthy Miller is dominating. I see three good teams at the top and a much improved Reds team that steals some wins.
paindonthurt
By gamble on Goldie I mean can they sign him long term
redbird
Interesting that Mgmt is comfortable with roster as we have no proven LH starter and bullpen was “solved” by signing Miller who is coming off injury plagued season. Can’t believe they are really comfortable or cheap and hopeful it’s not the same ole routine of hoping for reclamation projects to produce.
StlCardsfan4life
No lefthanded starter is concerning. I guess its gomber if they want one but i truly believe we have the deepest staff top to bottom in central. All those young arms will pay off during the course of the season while cubs and brewers will be looking for answers later. I dont believe cubs arms will be good all season starters will wear bullpen isnt great and alot of extra innings last few years..cuz they were good..brewers bullpen arms will fall off this year too many innimgs last year…Cards win division!!
spudchukar
Except that with Hicks, Miller, Gant, Reyes, and Hudson all in line to finish games, the Cards’ bull pen isn’t what it was the first half of 2018.
Triteon
If Martinez was simply a free agent from another team, and the Cards needed a bench bat, the BFIB would go crazy to get a .300 hitter with a little pop for just $560k.
daved
If Martinez was a free agent, you wouldn’t get him for $560,000.
Woody130n82
There’s the question. What’s he worth if he was a FA? Little pop, no D, and everything else great.. I know the Rays would have made him an offer but they wouldn’t offer N Cruz more than 1yr 12mill. That’s why the Rays lowballed the Cards – they knew they could sign A Carcia for 3.5mill and keep their prospects.
daved
If I’m an NL team, Martinez is worth about $4M. If I’m an AL team, then I offer him maybe $6-7M to be a DH/OF.
Swinging Friars
Where does this notion of no pop come from? His HR totals were down last year but his periferal stats all suggest there is plenty of pop in his bat
dtstlou66
This is becoming the norm for management
Every year they pick up a player or two and then sit on their hands and wait to see if another peice shows up to fill a need. Greg Holland was the last example. Just for a change, overstock the team instead of having to recover from trades or late signings. You can then unload from a strong point. Don’t waste two great player moves this year.