Mulder...to the bullpen?

by MilCardFan on May 4, 2008 10:22 AM EDT

I read in the PD this AM that Mo will be heading to Memphis to watch Mulder's next rehab start on Monday (tomorow). He's about halfway through his 30 day rehab stint, and according to the article, they have to, at the end of 30 days:

activate Mulder from the disabled list when his rehab assignment expires, shut him down or reassign him to extended spring.

First of all, when they say shut down, is that back on the DL for 15/30 days, or shut him down for the year, and how long can a guy go back to extended spring training? Either way, let's say they activate him. The current starters have done nothing to warrant getting booted from the rotation, so why not put Mulder in the bullpen, and let him get his "sea legs" under him? Granted, that would mean sending down someone who doesn't deserve it, either Villone, Flores, or one of the starters, but it gives the Cardinals the chance to see if Mulder can still pitch without having to re-adjust the rotation.

I know that there's ego and big money involved, and that has to be part of the equation when taking something like this into consideration, but what would it hurt for Mulder to be a long reliever out of the bullpen for a couple of weeks if the Cardinals think he's ready?

Is this completely insane?

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no

but I was thinking what could u get for him? A team can not trade a player on the DL. So why not activate him and trade him?

by nybirdfan on May 4, 2008 11:44 AM EDT 0 recs

At this point

I highly doubt there are any teams willing to trade for him.

by Phizzle on May 4, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mulder would not go for much...

After two surgeries, teams would want to see some sort of improvement in his pitching. If his rehab starts continue as they have been, nobody will want to even go near him. If he miraculously pulls things together and does spectacular in the rest of his starts in Memphis, then maybe we could get a mediocre prospect at best. I think if he performs really badly, our best bet is to put him on the DL for the year and let his contract expire at the end of the year. He has an ‘09 option, but I don’t really think it’s in the club’s best interest to pick it up.

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it."- Rogers Hornsby

by redbirds8233 on May 4, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

well,

It is not a matter of what we would get for him. it is matter of getting rid of him…maybe jocketty would want him.

by nybirdfan on May 4, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think Jockety is smart enough

Not to repeat the worst move of his Career.

by Evilfrog on May 4, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

i was kidding about jock

by nybirdfan on May 4, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't think a trade is an option

I mean, put yourself in the position of a GM on one of the 29 other clubs. What on earth would you want Mulder for? He’s expensive, coming off of two major shoulder surgeries, and you don’t know how effective he’ll be.

Granted, if he pitches effectively, his value will go up, but not significantly, especially with the injury history, age, and salary combination.

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 4, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well,

My thinking is over on the post titled “more trade talk about A. Reyes” when i suggested the following:

...to trade Reyes with a player to be named later? Just for illustration purposes lets say we trade Reyes and a PNL for Brandon Wood. Once Reyes clears the 25 man roster (Wood would be assigned to AAA) Mulder gets activated and he is the PNL and gets moved to the Angels. Is that Possible? Not the trade exactly but the tactic?

by nybirdfan on May 4, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

PNL

I’m no Tony LaRussa-style baseball genius, but I think a player to be named later would have to be mutually agreed upon. I’m pretty sure you can’t just backdoor someone into taking on a gazillion dollar salary as a tack-on in a AAA deal. Except in MLB The Show on playstation.

But please let’s keep the wacky trade talks goin’ folks. They’re the life blood of the message board. Who can we package Mulder, Reyes, and Duncan for?

What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs. ~Harry Caray

by Tupelo on May 6, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

well of course

it would have to be agreed upon. The reason Mulder would be the PNL is because he is not active, and you can’t trade a player on the DL. once Reyes is gone he clears the 25 man roster so Mulder can be activated. Then Mark gets moved.

I really take offense to you calling a Reyes and Mulder package for a prospects a wacky trade. Mulder is making 6.5 Mil hardly a gazillion. If Mulder tore up the line up in his last two starts I bet we could find a taker of the 6.5 million, but now that he has flamed out it is a totally differant story.

by nybirdfan on May 6, 2008 11:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

If he's effective, then he will likely have value at the trade deadline

"You say the world has lost it's love. I say embrace what it's made of" - Dar Williams

by Valatan on May 4, 2008 7:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

you are wrong my friend

the Reds traded Chris Denorfia to the Oakland Athletics last season, and Denorfia was on the D.L. recovering from Tommy John Surgery. It is perfectly legal to trade a player on the D.L., and the other team can’t claim damaged goods for obvious reasons.

The Dusty Path to the World Series!*

*Note this is not an endorsment of Dusty Baker.

by justin007000 on May 7, 2008 1:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

ok

I stand corrected. Then there would be no need to make Mulder a PNL. If course anyone would want him. I was hoping he would do well enough to push Welley to the pen. Then I was hoping he would do well enough to at least spark interest. Now I fear he is toast.

by nybirdfan on May 7, 2008 9:16 AM EDT up 0 recs

I like the guy, but...

Scully’s throat is getting parched and sore from crying out, “where’s Mulder?”
I realize the issue is NOT short relief duty for Mulder… he just isn’t built for that. And long relief creates problems: mostly I hate considering it because it usually means we are DOWN 8-0 rather than up with a big lead; it’s a role practically anybody can fill and therefore why not use it as an experience gaining one for a young pitcher (or as a last chance gasp for Anthony R., whose short relief performance has been mixed); and, as has been pointed out, it means someone worthy of a spot of the pitching staff has to be sent down.

Just like the X-files… it was good when it was good, but the show has run its course and needs to be cancelled.

by the Tewk on May 4, 2008 1:55 PM EDT 0 recs

But it hasn't run it's course...

At least until you know whether or not Mulder can pitch in the big leagues again. I’m with you on the typical long relief scenario, but I’d rather have Mulder come in after it’s 8-0 a couple of times to see if he can still pitch as opposed to throwing him out on the mound and being the guy that gives up the 8, which is what his recent history indicates he’ll do.

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 4, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

So far he hasn't shown he can pitch at AAA

Lets not get ahead of ourself.

by DriverZn on May 4, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

good point, good sense

and I hope the guy CAN pitch again… because I LIKE him.
I was making an arbitrary and perhaps rash “call.” Namely, I should have said that the Mulder saga has run its course WITH US. But you definitely have me reconsidering that.
My biggest problem remains that I just don’t want to think about us being behind in a game that often to give your plan a chance.

by the Tewk on May 4, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm with you on that

Being behind 8-0 is no fun. But I will say those will be much fewer and far between this year than they were last year.

And that’s a good thing.

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 5, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Moolder, it's Me....

Sorry, needed an X-Files reference….
;=8)

It’s not looking too promising for Mulder so far in the minors….

"We're against society, authority, and anything else that ends in y"
- Johnny Rotten

by The MooCow on May 6, 2008 12:17 PM EDT 0 recs

That was udderly

impressive. :)

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 6, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Very interesting comments from Moz

in today’s PD about Mulder. Sounds disappointed, and more or less called MM out for slacking.

by MdRedbirdFreak on May 6, 2008 4:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah, I agree

I wonder what’s going to happen when his rehab assignment time is up, because Mulder makes it sound like he’s ready to go, and the Cardinals sound like they’re not seriously contemplating activating him. And fortunately, they don’t need him.

It’s definitely going to be interesting.

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 6, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

is he calling him out for slacking?

I think Mulder is just genuinely not better. Do we (and does Mo) really think that Mark is slacking?

Maybe mo’s point was more that (1) Mulder’s return to the rotation is not assured and (2) he needs to stop telling fairy tales to the press about how he’s feeling and take a more realistic tack. I think (1) may have been addressed as much to the fans as to Mulder.

The good sign w/ that is that maybe it’s a sign that the 2008 Cards management is going to stop bullsh*ing us about players’ conditions. Clearly Mulder did not believe that everything was okay and he’s just having a “bad spring training.” While they have remained almost totally silent about T. Johnson, Kinney, and Clement, I’d rather have them not say anything than tell us that everybody is doing well and will be here soon when they’re not and they won’t.

by tom s. on May 6, 2008 7:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well, looks like he's getting his shoulder examined

in St Louis tomorrow, per Derrick Gould on the FSN pregame show. Apparently Mulder has shoulder fatigue, and according to Goold, he can’t finish off hitters or innings.

I wonder if this is the first step in putting him back on the DL, and the beginning of the end of Mulder in St Louis. I hope not; I’d like to see him come back and contribute. I like the guy.

"Is this Heaven?"
"No, it;s Iowa."
"I could've sworn it was Heaven."

by MilCardFan on May 6, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

he never came off the DL

when a player is called off of a rehab assignment there has to be 30 days before he is given another rehab assignment unless granted special permission by the comissioner’s office.

The Dusty Path to the World Series!*

*Note this is not an endorsment of Dusty Baker.

by justin007000 on May 7, 2008 1:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

"Shoulder Fatigue"

That sounds like the kind of BS injury you would come up with to avoid getting a guy that’s nowhere near ready anywhere near the Major Leagues. They should just say he has whiplash from turning his head to watch his pitches sail past him in AAA. Does anyone have any insight on how this “Extended Spring Training” works? I thought I had read or heard you can’t just be assigned there unless they come up with some new injury. Hence the shoulder fatigue. They can put him anywhere but for the love of God please don’t put him in the bullpen unless he shows some signs of life!

What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs. ~Harry Caray

by Tupelo on May 6, 2008 10:44 PM EDT 0 recs