but he’s not going to want to come to StL, is he?

I pretty much agree with your sentiments. Since we do have YP and Motte, does that mean that we might take on a greater injury risk with a closer? I am assuming that the risk reduces the price?

On a complete tangent… You brought up Strauss reporting potential names. I’ve always had mixed feelings about leaking of names and agreements before they are near final. On the one hand, I appreciate the PD and other folks who try to give timely info to us fans. On the other, I think leaking info might hurt Mo in his negotiations. I guess, I wish that they would just hold off before the deal is near done. I guess I don’t quite value the concept of being the “first to break the news”.

We are in much better shape already than we were in March last year. We could put a team on the field (pending Carp’s injury rehab and Ank’s? injury rehab) that is way more comforting than our rotating door MI and shotty relief (and starting, at times) pitching. There is some stability and flexibility in the lineup that we didn’t have. Greene should give the lineup more flexibility, particularly in the 6 through 9 hole area.

I’m not sure what needs to be done next. It seems as if it is growing more unlikely that Kennedy’s trade request will be accommodated. I don’t know where the Lopez offer stands, but with a supposedly solid defensively shortstop secure, I wouldn’t mind manning second with Lopez and trying to get something, ANYthing out of our own Mr. Kennedy. It does seem that he has a pretty good attitude about it though (although I don’t know that), and, at our present rate, he will get more of the playing time that he desires.

Out of all the scenarios that were listed in the post, I would agree that possibly the best option to pursue would be a Kerry Wood. IMO, a lefty reliever shouldn’t be such a huge priority, since we’re already in better shape in that department than last year, and potentially have 3 guys (Flores, Manning, Johnson?) that can fight for the 2nd LOOGY (Flores’ spot last year) position. Also, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Looper-type starting pitcher signed just so we’re not “cutting it so close”, but it seemed that waiting until nearly spring training worked out pretty well for us last year.

There are times that I would love MO’s job, but it would be nasty business to try and please everyone wouldn’t it?? I think he’s going about this off-season the right way. Sorry for the length of this.

reconsider moving Kennedy, even if it means eating part of his contract. His defense while excellent, seems like an aberration, and his babip actually outperformed his xbabip, albeit slightly. So it seems as though he will regress on two areas of his game. Frankly, that would make him not good.

One way to save a few bucks would be to non-tender miles, who also exceeded his BABIP over his xbabip by nearly 11%. I have nothing against grit, but he’s about 5 runs below average at second, around 11 at short and his value at the plate is related almost entirely to his batting average, which will probably take a nice hit this next season. So you’re looking at a defensive negative who should post somewhere around a .280/320/338 type line. Can you find an available player who is better for less money?

one note, you haven’t removed worrell from your roster matrix.

Worrell ain’t in Memphis anymore. Need to fix the bottom right hand corner for the next RHP out of Memphis on the depth chart

What would Cardinals be able to get by trying to move Duncan? His upswing has declined significantly over the last few seasons. He’s a liablity in the field, obviously, so any potential suitor would primarily be the American League where they could use him as a DH. Pitching help would be ideal, but I honestly don’t know what we could haul in for him…

we seem to be paying a lot of people (not named Albert) what they are worth? Ludwick and Molina seem to be the only real bargains.

it just hit me, Eddie Guardado. The guy has 187 career saves, he throws left handed, and still was an above average pitcher at 108 tRA+. Plus, who would ever charge the mound on Eddie Guardado.

What’s the advantage of adding guys like Matthew Scherer to the 40-man roster now? Also guys like Garcia (who’s out for the year with injury, right?) and Hawksworth, whom, if I’m not mistaken, we haven’t seen in a Cards uni. I just don’t know how this works. Couldn’t we clear those sort of guys off and fill the 40 man just before S.T?

a very good defender. UZR loves him. Also, some of that money you guys are including is deferred.

but stuff like this makes it easier especially if he closes out a game that put those wee little bears out of the playoff hunt.

since it’s clear the only reason YP or Apple Sauce aren’t the closers is because TLR & Dunk want a vet or whoever else, anyone else, with one or two healthy arms but those two closing. i’d rather them sign IZZY to an incentive laden one yr deal. (our choices might be IZZY or Wood? i think i just threw up i my mouth a little. no,,wait,,,,yes,,yes i did.)

I’d advocate Kerry Wood

click here for pleasant memories.

It’s not an add for Viagra

would be like driving a car on two spare tires….you’re not going to go very far.

It just drives me crazy thinking both of these guys could be Cardinals in 2009.
At some point if this team wants to compete again they need to get rid of the old worn out clothes and get fitted for a new suit (and not the most expensive one mind you). As of today we are still wearing 4th place clothes and are only going to sew patches on the holes hoping that they don’t rip any more. I know times are tough but must we keep shopping at Goodwill when we could at least move up to Sears????

why dont we just go all in and signthis guy as well. I know we already played injured starting pitcher roulette with abysmal success last year, but how great would it be to have both of those guys helping us to leapfrog the cubs.

it’s pretty obvious that Carpenter is the weight that is sinking this ship. That my friends was Walt’s worst move as our GM. He has a full year before he had to talk about a contract with him…but he couldn’t wait. Oh well. Every team goes through one of these sunk deals I guess…but this one will hurt us for a few more years I’m afraid. I just hope Carp can give us a few good games over the next year or two so we feel some of that money went to something.

does this mean that kennedy is probably staying put and will play the last year of his contract here? if so, will he be “the starter” or just another 3 million bench player? seems like a waste doesn’t it? maybe if he plays well for a couple of months, Mo can trade him before the july 31st deadline…

Isn’t Perez just as good or almost as good for MUCH less money? Better yet, isn’t Perez AND Randy Johnson better than Putz and Mitch Boggs? It’s about the same money.

I agree completely.

for closers

Toronto-B.J Ryan
Boston-Papelbon
New York A-Rivera
Baltimore-Chris Ray
Tampa Bay-Percival

Minnesota-Joe Nathan
Chicago-jenks
Detroit-open
Cleveland- open
Kansas city-Soria

Texas-Fransisco
Seattle-Putz
LAA- Arrendeno
Oakland-devine/zeigler

Mets-open
Philly-Lidge
Atlanta-Gonzolez
Florida-Lindstrom

Milwaukee-open
Chicago-Gregg
Cincinnati-Cordero
Houston-Valverde
Pittsburgh-Capps

San Fransisco-Wilson
Dodgers-Broxton
San Diego-open
arizona-Qualls

So it’s Cleveland, Detroit, NY Mets, Milwaukee, and the Padres.

The padres with their constraints, will look within rather than spend money on a free agent acquisition. So it leaves around four teams, five if you include St louis.

Rodriguez, Fuentes, Wood and Hoffman are the front line choices. Lyon, Izzy, Cordero, Akinori Otsuka are more of the flier guys at this point.

Since It only needs to be a short term type of investment, My money says there will be a legitimate closer without a job when spring training comes, we keep looking for that Lohse type contract within the starting pitchers ranks, I’ll bet that pitcher will be a closer

Why Pettitte but not Johnson? Johnson is, was, and always will be better. I think a Waino, Wellemeyer, Johnson, Lohse, Pinata sounds respectable, and it sounds even better if Pinata was out of there and Carp was in. At worst, that’s one very good, one pretty good, two very respectable pitchers in the rotation. Anyway, it’s better than crossing their fingers on Carp AGAIN.

Here is a list of players with deferred money for 09

Pujols – $3 M till 2020
Carpenter – $2 M till 2020

I highly doubt deferred money will count against 09’s payroll under normal accounting practices.

So that frees up another $5 M for the Club. So that many the Club has closer to $15 to $20 M to spend still.

looking at this matrix, it makes me even more upset how much we’re paying Lohse and Pineiro right now.

Looks like the Chicago Tribune is about to go bankrupt. I wonder what kind of effect this will have on the Cubs spending.

Cub’s Broke

You didn’t misread the headline, and it didn’t say “Cubs Broke”, but rather “Cubs Choke”? Because, honestly, that could be from, damn, anytime between 1908 and now…

but decided to let the Cubs have him. That’s really nice of Mo. Maybe he can buy breakfast for Hendry while they’re in Vegas as well. It’s always good to do favors for the teams above us. At least we didn’t trade Rasmus.

From Joe Strauss:
General manager John Mozeliak and much of the Cardinals’ front office arrived at baseball’s winter meetings Sunday evening with the two-time defending NL Central champion Cubs the apparent favorite to add Peavy to an already imposing rotation.

Rather than attempt to hijack the potential Padres-Cubs deal by making available top prospect Colby Rasmus, Mozeliak plans to devote much of the next 48 hours to chatting up agents.

Braves interested in Rick Ankiel among others.
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/braves_eyeing_outfielders.html