The Cardinals’ search for starting pitching has taken them inside their division, as MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link) reports that St. Louis is one of the many clubs interested in Reds righty Tyler Mahle. With the Cards looking at all options for rotation help, it only makes sense that they’d be at least checking in on Mahle’s services.
The Phillies, Twins, and Mets are among the clubs linked to Mahle since the start of the season, while the Rangers also reportedly had interest during the offseason. With Luis Castillo already off the board, it’s fair to guess that most pitching-needy teams have spoken to the Reds about Mahle, and on paper the Cardinals have the kind of young talent that the Reds would surely demand. However, it is possible Cincinnati might want a higher price for moving Mahle to a division rival — as Morosi notes, the Reds and Cardinals haven’t completed a player-for-player trade since 1997, so it would count as a surprise on some level if Mahle ended up in St. Louis.
More notes from around the NL Central…
- Just because Castillo has been traded doesn’t mean the Reds are necessarily likelier to hang onto Mahle, since CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson hears that Mahle and Brandon Drury are expected to both be on new teams after the deadline. Drury is a free agent after the season and thus an obvious trade chip, though Mahle is still under team control through 2023. But, it now seems like Cincinnati is going to dive into something close to a full rebuild, a process that really started over the winter when they moved several other veteran talents.
- The Blue Jays are in the mix for Pirates starter Jose Quintana, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, along with such previously-reported suitors as the Yankees and White Sox. The veteran left-hander is having a bounce-back season after struggling in 2019-21, and Quintana could help bolster an inconsistent Toronto rotation. Pirates GM Ben Cherington previously worked in the Jays’ front office, so this familiarity with the AL East side’s prospects could help the Blue Jays in the bidding, though the two sides haven’t completed a player-for-player trade in the two-plus years since Cherington went to Pittsburgh.
- The Yankees were one of the other teams interested in Edmundo Sosa before the Cardinals dealt Sosa to the Phillies, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. Sosa would’ve been an interesting depth add to the Yankees’ infield, and it is even possible that Sosa could have worked his way into a timeshare with Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop.
cardsfanboy
Alou/Burelson for Mahle
Do it now!
bighiggy
Alou? You mean moises gomez? If it was Moises alou I’d keep him lol
cardsfanboy
Yep
Larry Brown's crank
how stupid do you feel, fanboy? I mean….thats gotta be a little embarrassing, right?
cardsfanboy
Not really… I’m eating Costco Pizza
Dumpster Divin Theo
Add a hot dog and churro for 3 bucks!
Pedro 4 Delino
Sam’s club pizza > Costco pizza
JimmyForum
The pizza at Whole Foods is terrible.
thecoffinnail
The pizza at Costco isn’t.
joeshmoe11
Costco pizza is worth the price of membership
rct
$10 for that huge pizza is a great deal. Love Costco. Fun fact, one of the former CEOs wanted to raise the price of the hot dog, and one of the co-founders told him, ‘If you raise (the price of the) effing hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out.’
Joe says...
No one out pizzas the hut.
The Natural
Not even Little Greasers?
DarkSide830
Pizza Hut is underrated TBH
Astros2017&22Champs
What kind of new yorker eats pizza hut? Times have surely changed
Joe says...
I don’t live in NY. I’m NC outer banks.
ChiSoxCity
Pizza Hut? LOL!
Lanidrac
Papa John’s does. Better ingredients (once they swapped out that excessively sour sauce), better pizza, after all, and they now do stuffed crust as well.
rct
Papa John’s blows.
Dumpster Divin Theo
NY pizza blows
Poster formerly known as . . .
“That’s just not the facts.” – Sully, “Homicide”
earmbrister
Joe, it was a funny quip, but I hope you don’t rely on Pizza Hut for anything other than passable pizza. It’s one step above the basement Dominoes.
Joe says...
As I mentioned earlier, I live on the North Carolina Outer Banks. It’s a bit of a drive for real pizza. And Dominoes may actually be below the basement.
Lanidrac
They’re both better than Little Caeser’s, though. You can buy “hot and ready” pizzas from them for $6.50 for a reason, after all.
earmbrister
Thumbs up for knowing the difference. You’re about 7-9 hours SW of a quality pie.
Good crabs though?
Joe says...
Absolutely!!! Great crab legs and oysters!!
thickiedon
7-9 hours?!? Chicago is much further than that
Holy Cow!
If you’re in Chicago:
Thin crust– Vito and Nick’s, Home Run Inn
Deep dish– Lou Malnati’s
Stuffed– Bacino’s, Nancy’s, Tedino’s
Holy Cow!
Scratch out Tedino’s. They have closed.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Pequods, Chicago Pizza and Grinder too
bwmiller
My Pi and Salerno’s are good spots, always liked Salerno’s – West Town spots.
User 3663041837
Lou Malnati’s is the only deep dish I can eat. Wonderful stuff.
Dumpster Divin Theo
My Pi, great call. Way under the radar with only the small Wicker Park storefront. The unlimited deal at their old Lincoln Park place was really special. Not a buffet but made to order slices. Quite the concept
martyvan90
Deep dish? That’s a casserole.
TennVol
Oh FFS Jays, do NOT get Quintana! Sigh…
junior25
I was thinking the same!
Can do much better
Lanidrac
Not if you want just a rental starter, in which case Quintana is arguably the best option available.
The only issue the Blue Jays might have in going after Quintana is that they may not want a ground ball pitcher, since they still play their home games on AstroTurf.
Shoguneye
Some people will argue about anything. Quintana is not the best option available. Jays need to push those chips onto the table.
Still in talks
I’d rather to Rondon who is a rental as well since he will decline his option.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Hector Rondon?
Altuves Buzzer
It’s relative….if it costs nothing but a plus top 30 prospect and Roger’s cash then do it yesterday.
gomer33
That means Strip back to the bullpen, they are not going to trust Kikuchi coming out of the pen walking everyone. If that’s where they are shooting for starters just concentrate on the bullpen.
Dustyslambchops23
Lol zero chance they will move strip to the pen because they don’t trust kikuchi there. Makes no sense.
smuzqwpdmx
If they don’t trust Kikuchi, he’ll be “injured” again pitching “rehab” in AAA… not taking Stripling’s spot in the rotation.
Of course, a 6 man rotation for at least part of the time wouldn’t be a surprise either.
Joeypower
Try Rona Pizza!
Inside Out
The Yankees could not have been that interested if they couldn’t offer more than Jo jo Romero.
Dexxter
Don’t know why the Jays would be after Quintana.
Jays likely won’t catch the Yankees but should lock into a wildcard spot with the roster as is. Not sure how a back end rental starter who likely won’t pitch in the postseason adds much value to this.
Get some high leverage relievers to lean on in the playoffs. Or an impact starter who would be in your playoff rotation and with control next year. Even at a lower cost Quintana seems like a waste of resources.
DogDays2
Why wouldn’t Quintana pitch in the playoffs?
gomer33
With the off days in the playoffs they have better options to the point where he may not pitch, as a starter anyway.
Lanidrac
Do they really already have 4 starters better than Quintana. He’s a mid-rotation starter, not a back-end guy, for most teams.
Dexxter
Gausman, Manoah and Stripling are all pitching better than Quintana. Berrios hasn’t been great but he’s got a proven track record and just signed a 7 year extension. Quintana wouldn’t bump any of these guys from the playoff rotation.
Dexxter
Right.
And if he’s likely going to pitch in the playoffs as a reliever…. Than just get a reliever.
YourDreamGM
Q has been better than his stats if you haven’t watched him. Pirates will put a guy in the outfield who has never played there before at any level. 1b is Yoshi, Chavis, and VanMeter. Lots of errors that are ruled hits.
bigdaddyt
Depth, lot of ball left to play and injuries happen
MuleorAstroMule
Exactly. Quintana is better than starting Thomas Hatch or Anthony Banda.
gomer33
Hey Mule, come back to JITH.
Dustyslambchops23
Unless the acquisition cost is pretty low, I agree with you. At this point the jays should be looking for top end talent that helps them in a playoff series.
charlesk
You’d think if they were going to make a trade with the Tigers for relief arms would have done it before Detroit left town today? Whatever metrics Ross and his analytics guys are looking at for bullpen arms aren’t working. They should have traded for Joe Jiménez and Michael Fulmer. Huge mistake.
Shoguneye
Why they gonna hold em hostage? Lol
Dumpster Divin Theo
Quintana is worth at least a Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez imho
AllinTX
Perez and Moore of the Rangers makes sense for the Blue Jays and NYY and few others.
Rsox
Seeing what the Reds got for Castillo i wonder what the ask is on Mahle and would the Cardinals really be willing to send three prospects to Cincinnati to get him?
I also wonder who has a higher asking price; the Reds for Mahle or the A’s for Montas?
Lanidrac
As long as all 3 aren’t high-ranked prospects and Jordan Walker and Matthew Liberatore aren’t among them, I think the Cardinals might find that acceptable.
JimmyForum
More lies from Derrick Goold. He also tried to convince everyone Sosa was going to either the A’s or Angels in a package for pitching. Dude is just listing every team on a dart board
Cincyfan85
I hope Mahle doesn’t go to the Cardinals. The return would have to be far better than other teams are offering.
YourDreamGM
So you want weaker prospects just so he won’t go to Cardinals. Interesting.
earmbrister
And I’m right there with CF85.
The Cardinals (Satan’s team as per Bill Murray), NYY, and LAD pay a premium. On the last two, largely because their prospects are overrated.
Lanidrac
Why does it matter? It’s not like the Reds are going to be competitive next year to where having Mahle in the same division really matters to them.
Eskimo6804
^^^^ This right here.
Cincyfan85
I understand the points being made and I still don’t care lol. F the rivals. Haha
DocBB
Winn and Burleson for Mahle
cr4
Winn is untouchable unless it’s for Soto
Lanidrac
You’re confusing Winn with Walker.
Ol’ Uncle Charlie
They’re both pretty much a no go, unless it’s for Soto or MAYBE Montas.
SupremeZeus
Mo and the Redbirds really really want you to know they are really really interested in various players. The effort is just top shelf, they really really want you to know that…
L Francis Reves
“But those other teams were just asking too much. It would have really weakened our farm system.”
Bigpoppapuff_34
Hopefully the Reds don’t trade Mahle for any of the Phillies or Cards weak ass prospects.. We dodged a bullet staying away from the Yankees overhyped kids, stick to the same game plan Nick Krall.. Rangers, Blue Jays, Padres are who you need to deal with
Talleywhacker
Cards weak ass prospects? Maybe a little Google search next time before posting? Might keep you from looking ignorant. Doubtful, but maybe…
Bigpoppapuff_34
Form your own opinion of prospects instead of reading Bleacher Report little fanboy.. Or just continue to hang out in the basement waiting for Mom to fix you a grilled cheese, rubbing one off to what Keith Law said about another one of your clowns who can’t cut it at the big league level.
Jerry Cantrell
Can’t cut it at the big league level? You mean like Gorman, Donovan and Yepez have done this year? Or do you mean like our rookie starting pitcher who threw 8 shutout innings today? Oh maybe you mean like our All Star closer who regularly throws 103 MPH and has an ERA hovering around 0.60. So you mean THOSE weak ass prospects?
How’s it possible to be this stupid?
Talleywhacker
What’s wrong with grilled cheese?
gomer33
I can’t decide which one of you sounds like a bigger douchebag.
DogDays2
It’s Bigpoppa….by a wide margin.
Bigpoppapuff_34
Your All Star closer? Oh yeah, the one who’s 28 experiencing success for the first time in his career after putting up Era’s of 4.5-5.25 in previous years? That one? Yeah no thanks.. The clock will strike midnight and he’ll turn back into a pumpkin soon.. Donovan? Sorry that doesn’t impress me either.. Gorman def has some warts, but don’t care for him either.. I bet 3yrs ago your user ID was “#!HarrisonBader!” And in 3 more years your ID will be some other chump in your system who will flame out.. Go get Montas with your trash
Bigpoppapuff_34
Will do… You make sure you put those exclamation points around the next Cards “stud” when you change your ID in the future so that I know it’s you lol
Devlsh
When healthy, the Cardinals have home-grown starters at five of the eight position player slots, and the other three (Arenado, O’Neill and Goldschmidt), were acquired with seven or eight other home-grown prospects. You might recall five of the eight netted gold gloves last year too.
Virtually no one outside of Bigpoppapuff land denigrates the Cardinals development system, and they have several prospects in the top 100 no matter whose ratings you check. The reason they’re being touted as a contender for some of the top trade targets is because they have young MLB ready talent other teams want. Whether management is willing to pay the price…historically they’ve preferred to hold onto the talent they develop…is the $64,000 question. It’s a weak market for quality starting pitching, and what’s rare is valuable. If the Reds can net a couple actual everyday starters (Gorman and Burleson, for example, though I suspect there would be a third player in the deal too) for the next five plus years for the always coveted yet fragile starting pitcher, they ought jump at it.
dano62
Toronto already has their Quintana in Kikuchi; no short streak can hide his declining peripherals… cardinals should go for montas or go home
frontdeskmike
Dimitri Young for Jeff Brantley?
L Francis Reves
Now THAT was a bad Cards deal!
Sideline Redwine
Curious how Sosa could work into a timeshare w IKF. A gold glover who is actually hitting well, a guy who has completely changed the NYY defense and I would argue, thusly, the entire team. Sosa is no IKF. The yanks knew what they were doing when they traded for him.
FrontOfficeStan
It’s Goold. He doesn’t know his ahole from a hole in the wall.
PlayedAAA
Why would anyone want to play for St. Louis?
Lanidrac
Why don’t you ask the numerous players who have signed extensions after being traded to the Cardinals, or how Arenado decided not to use his first opt-out and likely won’t use his second one?
Poster formerly known as . . .
Maybe because they have the second-most championships in MLB history, have passionate and knowledgeable fans, and rank near the top in attendance every year.
sportsarerigged
Was that first bullet point necessary? Did anyone think the reds would keep Mahle now?
PlayedAAA
I’d be shocked if a single fan had an IQ north of 100. As for the players, even baseball players have their price.
Samuel
I do. Maybe 2 dozen others that post here. That’s about it.
A few of the writers are very good as well – when they venture off the spreadsheets.
PlayedAAA
Sorry. I meant cardinal fans.
Devlsh
Then you were wrong again.
DonOsbourne
Does anyone else think that maybe all the chatter about potential Cardinal trades is a smokescreen leaked by the front office? Like maybe they don’t want people asking too many hard questions about Flaherty, Bader, and Yadi? If there is a potential 2024 Presidential candidate that isn’t considering adding Mo to their campaign team, they are missing a gem. He’s a born politician with genius for empty phrasing, vague goals, and cover ups.
PlayedAAA
The guy above just proved my point, although 100 may be a bit on the high side.
charlesk
Could it be Carlos Rodon the Blue Jays add? That would push one of Stripling or Kikuchi to a bullpen roll. Less than 34 hours until the 6pm ET deadline tomorrow, Aug 2nd. C’mon Ross!
Clinton 2
Not worried about all these signings as a Jays fan…
They are going to pull off a blockbuster.
This time , tomorrow night, trade deadline over all the talk will be about the Jays trade.,..