Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Cardinals offseason

C

cycfan

Active Member
Nov 8, 2006
418
66
28
What do the Cards do in the offseason? Obviously, they need to upgrade SS. Furcal is not the answer and Wong is not ready. What do they do with Beltran? I would like to see him re-signed. Craig can play the outfield and Adams at first base. Craig can play first vs. lefties. Craig seems a little injury prone, so it would be nice to have Beltran back to mix and match with Craig and Adams, but the price would have to be right. If they lose Beltran, probably need another power guy. Otherwise, it looks like everything else is in great shape - got to get Freese back to hitting better.

Pitching wise, I don't see any additions needed. With all the young guys, maybe a pitcher can be traded. Garcia will be back sometime next year and he could be traded, but it is hard to give up the lefty. Could trade Motte since Rosenthal has taken over the closer role. Gotta be stoked about the pitching for next year.

GO CYCLONES!!!
 
Pretty much agree with everything said. If we are going to upgrade pitching I would star with Lynn. He's good when he's on but he has been pretty inconsistent.

With the high level of play from the young guys anything short of a Division championship is a failure next year IMO. I could easily see another NLCS or World Series run again.
 
Last edited:
1. Bring back Beltran for 1 year deal, team option for #2. I think he wants a ring, so he may come back cheap.
2. Bring up Teveras (sp?) the outfielder who is supposed to be one of the top prospects in baseball. Then rotate him with Jon Jay, Beltran (who can use rest) and Holiday. Maybe giving the kid 3-4 starts a week. And keeps everyone else fresh.
3. Starting pitching, this gets interesting. Obviously Waino and Wacha are #1/2. Shelby is a solid #3. Then you have Kelly as the #4. And Lynn or Garcia can come back to have a lefty in the rotation #5.
4. Bullpen has Rosenthal as the CP, then Muija and Martinez as the set up guys and Siegrest as the lefty future set up guy. Then you have (Garcia or Lynn in the bullpen).
5. Be nice to find an upgrade at SS, but not sure whats out there.
6. Also have Craig play a little outfield so you can platoon Adams in a few days / week. But with Craig's health, nice to have Adams - plus you make the bench that much better and he is cheap for a few more years.
7. Wong, Carpenter and Freese can share the 2nd/3rd base duties.


The cards are set for awhile. Nice if they can develop a SS, that is the only glaring whole.
 
My only real complaint is that the offense seemed pretty feast-or-famine, and disappeared entirely at key moments (the 5 game series in Pittsburgh, the World Series). Obviously opponent pitching has a lot to do with that, and I know that the Cards had pretty good offensive numbers all year. I guess I'm still frustrated that the bats went completely silent in Games 4-6.
 
Taveras had a throw-away season this year. He needs to play everyday next year, either in StL or Memphis.

They are going to think about Rosenthal, Siegrist, and CMart as starters to see if they can spin Joe Kelly or Lynn for a bat.

I also hope they can bring back Beltran but he wants to pay 3 years and everyone knows he's better off as a DH. Hope it works out, but I'm doubtful. Maybe another blockbuster Wigginton-type move is in the offing.
 
tejasclone said:
My only real complaint is that the offense seemed pretty feast-or-famine, and disappeared entirely at key moments (the 5 game series in Pittsburgh, the World Series). Obviously opponent pitching has a lot to do with that, and I know that the Cards had pretty good offensive numbers all year. I guess I'm still frustrated that the bats went completely silent in Games 4-6.
Click to expand...
The abject failure against lefties is mind-blowing.
 
I was kind of surprised you guys let go of Jake Westbrook...always thought he was a good 4th or 5th man. But, by doing so, it appears you guys will be going after some top pitching FA's if you ask me.
 
ISUCubswin said:
I was kind of surprised you guys let go of Jake Westbrook...always thought he was a good 4th or 5th man. But, by doing so, it appears you guys will be going after some top pitching FA's if you ask me.
Click to expand...

I would be surprised if the Cards go after any pitching FA's. At this point they have Waino, Wacha, Kelly, Lynn, Miller and Garcia going after 5 spots. They have also said they would give Rosenthal and Martinez the chance to possibly be starters. Pitching depth is not the Cardinal problems. They need upgrades at SS and CF and Freese at 3B hasn't exactly been stellar.
 
johnstoncy said:
I would be surprised if the Cards go after any pitching FA's. At this point they have Waino, Wacha, Kelly, Lynn, Miller and Garcia going after 5 spots. They have also said they would give Rosenthal and Martinez the chance to possibly be starters. Pitching depth is not the Cardinal problems. They need upgrades at SS and CF and Freese at 3B hasn't exactly been stellar.
Click to expand...

If pitching depth isn't a problem and you need a shortstop, we'll give ya Castro for Wacha :smile:
 
No starting pitching needed, isn't Chris Carpenter scheduled to go next year too. Tavares will start is my guess in CF and more than likely move Jay to RF. Biggest need is an everyday SS, perhaps Stephen Drew?
 
johnstoncy said:
I would be surprised if the Cards go after any pitching FA's. At this point they have Waino, Wacha, Kelly, Lynn, Miller and Garcia going after 5 spots. They have also said they would give Rosenthal and Martinez the chance to possibly be starters. Pitching depth is not the Cardinal problems. They need upgrades at SS and CF and Freese at 3B hasn't exactly been stellar.
Click to expand...



This. Pitching is not an issue. In actuality, I think Garcia might be the weakest link of the potential starters. He seems to be lights out for the first quarter of the season and then gets worse as the year wears on. He is still pretty young though, so maybe he'll develop the consistency to go the whole season. Plus, he is the only lefty in the mix.

Offensively, Freese needs to take a page out of Yadi's book and improve his hitting. He swings at way too many terrible pitches and strikes out too much. If Yadi can make a dramatic improvement, hopefully Freese can too. Have to get at least some production out of the ss spot. Jay is normally a pretty good hitter, but he was awful in the post season.

GO CYCLONES!!!
 
Cy Hard said:
No starting pitching needed, isn't Chris Carpenter scheduled to go next year too. Tavares will start is my guess in CF and more than likely move Jay to RF. Biggest need is an everyday SS, perhaps Stephen Drew?
Click to expand...



I would be very surprised if Chris Carpenter pitches again. He was losing his stuff prior to the injury and with all the great young arms the Cards have, I don't see a roster spot for him.

GO CYCLONES!!!
 
Read today that Wainright, Wacha and Garcia are obviously starters. Kelly, Lynn, Miller, Rosie, Martinez and Lyons will compete for other starting spots. With Seigrist in that mix potentially. I would imagine it will look alot like this year. Innings plan for some guys through the year. Mozeliak surprised everyone, except those in the organization, with the handling and promotion of Wacha. Albeit, he likely performed better than they even knew he would.

All I've ever seen is that Tavarez is ready and would have contributed in the bigs but for his ankle. He's likely the starting right fielder. Craig plays first. Adams a bench guy unless Craig takes some time in right. Ryan Jackson is also said to be ready to play short. Kozma likely a bench player. Wong plays second and Carpenter goes to third. Freese is gone. Descalso is a bench player. They might look for a shortstop in free agency but I doubt it. Stephen Drew is a taller Kozma. Crazy scenario in my head is they package some arms for Tulo.

Jay is going to have to compete for his job. Big time. He's average in the field and too streaky at the plate. There may be something there in free agency. The qualifying offer to Beltran is going to yield a nice draft pick so I really doubt that happens given his age wanting more than a year.

Keep in mind this is a World Series team that led the National League in runs. Might not look much different in the end. That's my take.
 
kberyldial said:
Read today that Wainright, Wacha and Garcia are obviously starters. Kelly, Lynn, Miller, Rosie, Martinez and Lyons will compete for other starting spots. With Seigrist in that mix potentially. I would imagine it will look alot like this year. Innings plan for some guys through the year. Mozeliak surprised everyone, except those in the organization, with the handling and promotion of Wacha. Albeit, he likely performed better than they even knew he would.

All I've ever seen is that Tavarez is ready and would have contributed in the bigs but for his ankle. He's likely the starting right fielder. Craig plays first. Adams a bench guy unless Craig takes some time in right. Ryan Jackson is also said to be ready to play short. Kozma likely a bench player. Wong plays second and Carpenter goes to third. Freese is gone. Descalso is a bench player. They might look for a shortstop in free agency but I doubt it. Stephen Drew is a taller Kozma. Crazy scenario in my head is they package some arms for Tulo.

Jay is going to have to compete for his job. Big time. He's average in the field and too streaky at the plate. There may be something there in free agency. The qualifying offer to Beltran is going to yield a nice draft pick so I really doubt that happens given his age wanting more than a year.

Keep in mind this is a World Series team that led the National League in runs. Might not look much different in the end. That's my take.
Click to expand...



The only real disagreements I have would be Wong at 2nd and moving Carpenter to 3rd. I don't think Wong is ready yet for the big leagues - at least not at the beginning of the year. And I don't think you move Carpenter again after just 1 year at 2nd. I also think Jay is a better fielder than you give credit for. Otherwise you are right on.

GO CYCLONES!!!
 
cycfan said:
The only real disagreements I have would be Wong at 2nd and moving Carpenter to 3rd. I don't think Wong is ready yet for the big leagues - at least not at the beginning of the year. And I don't think you move Carpenter again after just 1 year at 2nd. I also think Jay is a better fielder than you give credit for. Otherwise you are right on.

GO CYCLONES!!!
Click to expand...

Don't disagree. Except Carpenter is a third baseman by trade. They may ease Wong in. Definite issues to find answers. But it looks good going forward!!
 
I will be surprised if Ryan Jackson is on the roster and shocked if he's getting significant playing time. Greg Garcia is a more likely candidate than Jackson. I like Carpenter at 2nd, but Freese was worthless and they can't go another season with another auto-out in the lineup at 3B. There doesn't appear to be much available for 3B around the league either, maybe Piscotty?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom