To me, if the Cardinals were stocks then that would be the adage I would be all over.

We have 5 OF in the ML with one that would be easiest to send away. Barton could become a solid trade chip to someone who’s willing to deal with the Rule 5 for the last few months of the season. I can think of a few teams off hand that would like to have an OF of his caliber, but he’s not hurting us within his role IMO.

We have 3 OF in Memphis that have reasonable numbers to warrant a call up should that be an issue. Mather, when healthy, Stavinoha, and Razza. These three at worst have played well enough to play everyday in Memphis. Which is creating opportunity cost for Jay who’s lighting it up in Springfield.

3rd base is reasonable at the moment, but may have some issues. We have Freese who’s starting to find his feet in Memphis but would have to create a lot more thunder to not get overlapped by Wallace who will be coming on his heels the next couple of years. As far as the ML level we’re in a place where Glaus is set with us until the end of next season. So if we have Wallace going to 3rd when Glaus’ contract is done, then Freese could become expendable. At least that’s an ‘09 issue, keeping in mind that if Albert gets his elbow worked on and it proves to be ok, Albert could technically go back to third and Wallace could man 1st. That’s a worst case scenario.

We have 4 MI who’s hanging around 80-60 OPS+. Iz can leave after this year, he was cheap and worth while. Kennedy can be DFA’d unless someone will take him while we pay a large chunk of his contract. Keep Ryan and Miles on the roster. They’re great utility men than can play a range of positions in a pinch. Barden is starting to make some noise in Memphis and there’s Kozma and long range out is Niko.

Our Pen could be filled largely internally. One left hander would be the only thing we would have trouble instilling on our own. Our closer shouldn’t be an issue either.

We have a few starters prospecting, but adding a vet may be a good idea.

Our catcher situation next year will be fine if we’re under a 60/40 split.

but what if instead of looking for a left hander for a shutdown LOOGY-those guys are in short supply-we could find a right hander that is lights out on lefty hitter? Surely there’s a right hander somewhere with crazy reverse splits, no? Wouldn’t that up the Mo/LaRussa/Duncan-see aren’t we geniuses-quotient enough for them to entertain the idea? Maybe even start looking for that pitcher and find him before anyone else does….just wondering

I hear you on Brian Barton but once we are the far side of the All Star break, it would be silly to send him back to Cleveland. We have to hold until the rosters expand. I really like Barton as 4th / 5th outfielder. If the Cards finally admit the obvious and part ways with Chris Duncan, I think there is room for a Brian Barton on the Cards. He’s a solid pinch hitter whose speed for late innings is valuable off the bench.

It’s not true that Ank, Ludwick, and Skip are young. Ank is about to turn 29, Ludwick about to turn 30, and Skip already 28. These guys might not have long plateaus of peak performance before they decline. Barton, on the other hand, recently turned 26, which is a difference worth considering when imagining 2011 or so. You shouldn’t simply discard prospects, and the team cannot trade Barton.

The questions are (1) is Barton a real prospect? and (2) how seriously is his presence on the current roster hurting the Cards? I think the answers are yes (his future looks brighter than any of the Cards’ other OF prospects, Rasmus aside) and not much at all (as others have pointed out, he’s not a bad pinch-hitter).

And that one player is Jose Bautista. Yes, of the Pirates. He’s 27, plays third, second, and the outfield. He hits a little, has a little power, a little speed, and he improves a bit each year. I have no idea what Pittsburgh would want, but I know they are focusing on the future, and they woudn’t necessarily have to have a near MLB ready player, because they have needs throughout their system. Oh, and Ian Snell is being examined for “pain that won’t go away” in his right elbow tomorrow in Pittsburgh. He is their ONLY right handed starter. Maybe they will take the unwanted one off of your hands-heck, they have been working with Zach Duke just as long, and they still want to keep him. The Pirates have shown themselves not to be afraid of working with pitchers that have problems-they have a staff full of them. I don’t know if they like him, but if they did, they wouldn’t hesitate because of the past. Did I mention that Pittsburgh has a whole bunch of left handed pitchers. A whole bunch. More than they really should use…......I know there is this big taboo about dealing within the division, but does Pittsburgh count? They may be trading Nady at some point, so Barton could be a fit here as well. If they like him, they won’t care about rule 5-they’ve sail all of their moves are to build a better team for the future.