Are we going for anyone?

by craig3410 on Jul 31, 2007 1:09 AM EDT Comment 20 comments

So, less than a day remains to the deadline of non-waiver trading, and the Cardinals have done nothing. Not even a "here's our 26-year-old A baller, let's trade for your 24-year-old A baller" trade. (The last transaction involving the Cards and another team was the Maroth deal a month ago.)

Now, in this suckfest of a division, the Cardinals still have a 3% chance of the playoffs. (Hell, a 5-game losing streak by the Cubs could give us a great chance.) They could go for broke and try to milk one last playoff run with Pujols/Edmonds/Rolen.

They could call this season done and trade off the old guys for prospects. Unfortunately, other than Reyes (whose trade value is 0), Izzy (who wants to stay a Cardinal), Juan Enc. (Crappy OFer! Getcha crappy OFer here!) or maybe Looper, we have nothing. We might get a fringe Top 100 prospect like Ubaldo Jimenez or Dellin Betances, if we're lucky.

What to do?

Poll

Like it says above, what to do?

Stand pat! We're fine!

7 votes

ALBERT PUJOLS, COLBY RASMUS, ANTHONY REYES AND CARP FOR FELIX HERNANDEZ, ADAM JONES, ICHIRO AND CLEMENT LOL

6 votes

Become buyers! This division sucks enough to go for it!

19 votes

Become sellers! Our team is a bunch of old fogeys; time to rebuild!

34 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 20 comments

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Comments

I've said it a million times,

but honestly a fringe 100 prospect for Enc or Looper would make me more than happy.

We can still win without those guys, and their contracts are not worth keeping.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Jul 31, 2007 1:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've disliked Juan as much as anyone

but we can't win 'now' without Juan Encarnacion.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 31, 2007 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

I doubt we miss his career OPS + of 97 too much.

And we do have that one guy leading the PCL in HRs in his second full year as a position player...

Win or Lose...Enc won't be the difference maker.

Pitch to swing and misses...not contact. I've never heard of a "seeing eye K"

by bobbyballgame1 on Jul 31, 2007 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since June 1st

Juan has driven in 35 RBIs in 46 games. He has posted an .882 OPS. The Cardinals went 25-21 in those games.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 31, 2007 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You think he'll keep that up?

I don't. He never has, and I don't think he will.

I feel that we can still win with Ludwick / Skip / So platooning right.

I'm not saying he hasn't been a help, but I don't think he'll be the difference between us making the playoffs or not in this final month.

To be honest, though, based on the way Juan has played, I have definitely started to like to see Looper gone instead. But if we trade both, I would have no problem with that.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Jul 31, 2007 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that we need Juan to win now

as Ludwick/Schumaker/taguchi probably represent a slight dropoff but let's not make correlation arguments like this:

He has posted an .882 OPS. The Cardinals went 25-21 in those games.

Those two items may have zero to do with each other. Arguing that Juan is needed to make a run at the playoffs is one thing; arguing (or implying) that his production is the cause of a 4 game win difference is misleading.

I know you probably understand this already but I'm going to call argumentation like this into question.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Jul 31, 2007 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I appreciate =

the stathead arguments about correlation. I was at Sunday's game, and while it was a fun game to watch, part of me was wishing they'd lose so they would stop this pipe-dream of getting back into contention.

I personally believe that, at this moment, JuanE is actually a tradeable commodity. Which means that his value is probably as high as it ever has been since he's worn the BoB. Trade the man!

by silent_bob on Jul 31, 2007 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy...

Gotta love the old 46 game sample.

Awesome, that Juan.

Pitch to swing and misses...not contact. I've never heard of a "seeing eye K"

by bobbyballgame1 on Aug 1, 2007 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Juan

is probably worth no more than 2 wins above our replacements between now and the end of the year. Granted, 1-2 wins might make a difference but so would his $6 M salary next year if we could allocate it more efficiently. If we can trade Juan now, we should, consequences for this year be damned.

by chuckb on Jul 31, 2007 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Enc yes/Looper no

Trade enc for anything, unloading the contract will be enough for me. Then make a deal for Wily Mo Pena or Jonny Gomes to play right field.

The thing with Looper is, if they are going to move him back to relief next year, then he becomes an overpriced middle reliever...however, if they decide they want him to keep starting he looks like a pretty darn good bargain.

by lopey986 on Jul 31, 2007 1:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's not though

He's old, the year is starting to take a toll on him, and he's becoming less and less reliable.

Of course he got off to a great start, but that was without months of starting under his belt. He's simply not conditioned to be a starter.

I'd rather us just keep Reyes in the rotation when Thompson gets back then keep spending money / time on Looper.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Jul 31, 2007 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Percival - Flores

I would add Percival to the list of vets who have some value although maybe not great value. There are several teams out there looking for setup men. We may have promised Springer he won't be traded due to the special situation with his kid but we certainly promised Percival nothing except a shot. If we could land a position prospect for a rental of Percival, we should jump all over it. With Springer / Franklin combo, do we really need 3 setup men?

Flores is another guy who really is not necessary and might fetch something in trade from a team searching for a loogy. Tyler Johnson is due to come off the DL shortly. Cate has shown himself serviceable (sans the one recent blowup). We have nice depth in the organization but not of the ML ready variety. Our prospects are farther off. We might be able to snag prospects for near-term holes in our depth charts by selling off a few parts that really won't make any difference this year or next.

by jjray on Jul 31, 2007 8:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Percival proabably wouldn't bring much,

but they could move him. To me it would make more sense to try an extended look at Cate...he's pitched fairly well, certainly well enough to warrant a longer look.......

by jillsinmo on Jul 31, 2007 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Percival would thrive on the challenge...

by jillsinmo on Jul 31, 2007 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guys

I was reading MLB trade rumors and it says Jonny Gomes and Elijah Dukes are available.
I`m wondering whats wrong with Jonny Gomes for them to want to get rid of him?.
I know he had surgery but he should recover he looks like a good young player if I was Walt I would look into getting him.
Also it says Jon Garland is available if so I hope Walt atleast looks into getting him. Williams will probally ask for rasmus though which would suck but atleast see what he wants for him.
There are some players out there we can get I think if Walt pulls the trigger.

by Calhoun on Jul 31, 2007 10:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Go after Quentin

I posted a diary on this about a week or so ago, but his name popped up again as avaiable:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/07/tim-browns-la-3.html
If Cliff Lee can possibly get him, why not Looper?

"Your mom likes Albert Pujols" - Happy Joe

by fatbellyjefferson on Jul 31, 2007 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade possibilities

I think one guy that could be decent trade bait, but hasn't been discussed much is Schumacher.

I know most are hoping for Encanarcion, and count me in that group, but Skip could prove attractive for a team looking for a 4th outfielder that can hit a little and play defense.

I'd hate to lost him, but the Cards have a bunch of 4th outfield types...Skip, Ludwick (I don't think there's much trade value for him), JRod (ditto), Juan E...move one or two of these guys if possible and you open up the outfield a bit for the guys who have potential to be regulars.

by AaronB4Mizzou on Jul 31, 2007 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reason to dump Enc

I think the desire to trade Enc is not based on receiving a great prospect for him, but more of just freeing up his contract. Not so much the case with Schumaker...

by duncansarmy on Jul 31, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs