Buerhrle talk brings situation to forefront

by thinktank on Apr 21, 2006 12:17 AM EDT

At least the Buerhrle talk brings up the discussion of the developing concern for the situation we are in...

First of all - with so many of our pitchers in FA situations at the end of the year we can't afford to package Reyes and/or Wainwright for outfield or 2B help. We really don't have any more Baric or Haren-types to offer up either.

Of the top obvious SP choices (besides locked-up Carp) we seem to have for next year (Mulder, Marquis, Suppan, Ponson, Reyes, Wainwright, and now Buerhrle) only Mulder is a lefty. I think he will be re-signed for that reason alone. Trying to keep the most cost-effective method in mind I see Carp, Mulder, Buerhrle, Reyes, and Wainwright in and Marquis and Suppan left exposed to get their just rewards somewhere else.

Tying all this in together...teams looking to trade impact veteran (pricey) players once they are out of the chase will want younger talent in return. Marquis might be the only one young enough to entice such teams (packaged with at least 1 younger prospect).

I believe the best shot we might have is an American league contender in July that is heavy in OF talent but needing SP help and maybe a reserve INF (the loser in the Spivey, Miles, Luna battle). I suggest we look at trading Marquis and/or Suppan by June...replacing them with Wainwright and/or Reyes...and get something in return instead of just losing them at season's end...even if we only got a young OF who may not be a lot of help until next year and beyond.

Poll

Who is LEAST likely to wear Cardinal red next year?

Mulder

4 votes

Marquis

5 votes

Suppan

12 votes

Ponson

5 votes

Wainwright

0 votes

Reyes

1 votes

Buerhrle

22 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

ChiSox have a option on Beuhrle for '07

I'd be real surprised if it wasn't picked up. I also don't think an extension is out of the question.

by azruavatar on Apr 21, 2006 1:16 AM EDT reply actions

if we keep supp and marquis

and lose them to free agency what type of picks do we get in the draft as compensation

by johnstjc @ Viva El Birdos on Apr 21, 2006 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

If they have seasons like last year

and they get offered arbitration, then I'd assume that they would easily be worth 1st round picks...

by Valatan on Apr 21, 2006 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Supp's getting up there

and is a control pitcher with less than stelalr career numbers...not sure he rates first round. Marquis does in my opinion but I'm not sure about Suppan

by azruavatar on Apr 21, 2006 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

here's last years list:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-11-01-player-rankings.htm

All 5 of our starting pitchers were "A" list, but suppan and marquis just made the cut.

From the article, the draft rules seem to be:

If a team that finished in the top 15 in 2005 signs another team's "A" player, it must surrender its first-round pick in the 2006 amateur draft to the losing team.
If the signing team was in the bottom 15, it must give up its second-round pick.
Teams that lose an "A" player also get a "sandwich" pick, which comes between the first and second rounds.

by SleepyCA on Apr 21, 2006 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Left hander

I don't think it's that important to have a left hander in the rotation just for the sake of having one. I like Mulder, but there are going to be better options available for the money. A lot of good pitchers are set to be free agents next year. They might sign him - but he isn't going to live up to lboros 2 million for a win requirement. he's going to be getting like 3 million for a win share from someone. Just my opinion.

by Toddius396 on Apr 21, 2006 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

Mark

BUEHRLE is left-handed...but I don't think we should consider him a real option until 2008.

Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together...it's Arrested Development.

by Bowen on Apr 21, 2006 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

i thought

the compensation was related to service time in some way too...i could be totally wrong though...i thought we got a first rounder for abe nunez last year

by johnstjc @ Viva El Birdos on Apr 21, 2006 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

I'm sorry

Could someone explain the Buehrle talk? I always hear that he wants to play for the Cards, but I've never seen it in any tangible way

by Fitz on Apr 21, 2006 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

I just included him because

he is the one top pitching FA outside the organization that has openly expressed his desire to pitch for STL. I wanted to include someone like him in the poll for reference. Here's the recent entry in espn insider:

"South Side or St. Louis?
Apr 19 - Although White Sox GM Kenny Williams considers Mark Buehrle a "core player,'' talks about a long-term contract have yet to begin, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Either Williams doesn't feel the time is right or doesn't feel Buehrle is a realistic investment possibility because of the pitcher's St. Louis ties.
The southpaw has expressed a desire to pitch for his hometown Cardinals in the future. "[Buehrle] mentioned it once at that annual [St. Louis] dinner -- OK, that's funny,'' Williams told the newspaper. "He mentioned it twice the next year. ... You mention it three times like he did, and you have to start thinking he's serious."

The Sox have a $9.5 million option for next season, but Buehrle is all for getting something longer done. "The whole Cardinals thing, I don't really know if I could sign with them, to be honest with you,'' he said. "If the Cardinals and White Sox came in and said, 'Here, five years for the same amount of money' or slightly apart, I don't know if I could sign with the Cardinals."

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

by thinktank on Apr 21, 2006 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions