Leadoff Options

but not morgan. If we’re going to trade Luddy, I’d rather see a bat with some pop out in RF (since LF and CF are spoken for for the foreseeable future). Unfortunately, I don’t see the Royals wasting one of their valuable trade chips on a win-now-type player like Luddy (aging, up-for-free agency after next year).

no thanks, we already have Motte. I get the feeling that teams would try to rip us off for Ludwick because of his shaky history (2008 his only truly amazing year, past injuries, and injured this season). I think we would be best served to keep him.

I still like Lopez leading off, I think he can up his OBP in the second half, unless he’s not the player of recent years. I’m not sure how to alleviate this, but I’d sure like to have a good second baseman. I just don’t really see many good options for this season.

if they’re trading dejesus, they clearly know they aren’t close to contending

Theriot (.288 wOBA and .631 OPS) or Renteria (.325 wOBA and .711 OPS). They’ve been (somewhat) lucky to get what they’ve gotten to this point (a .315 and .350 BABIP, respectively). ZiPS doesn’t predict anything good going forward for the two either.
Peralta is ok, featuring a .312 wOBA and .709 OPS based on a .293 BABIP – I don’t want him because I don’t want more parallels drawn to the ‘06 season (adding his DP mate, Belliard, worked! hey everyone!). We’re far better than that team, damn it!
Stephen Drew is having a slightly lucky season too (.326 BABIP) and what he has to show for it is a .764 OPS. He’s shown decent OBP (.346) this season, and it’s the best over a full ML season in his young career. But if we’re looking for leadoff help, though Drew is quick, I don’t think he’s the right guy for us.

I fear any move we make will be for a “personality” type guy, a la Suppan or Miles. Or (God forbid) Eckstein (see above comment about ’06).

but I think Lopez should stay at lead-off. Not for our sake, but for HIS. Among the issues I have with floppy is I don’t think he is an ‘intelligent’ hitter (fewer and fewer MLB players are these days) but he is definitely a stick. And, given Colby’s maturing, and Luddy coming back soon, I would sacrifice Lopez’ middle of the order RBI potential for the sake of encouraging him to dial in (mentally). Thus, keep him at lead-off, where the pressure to guard the dish and swing at good pitches only will be highest.
As for trading Luddy: no. He’s like the proverbial 1994 pick-up truck, that is, more valuable to keep than what we could get for him.

absolutely not. I think he’s in mop-up duty now. Avoid him at all costs.

I’m not a fan of dealing Ludwick, as a I think he’s a very good player, but if you’re dealing him, why not just go out and get the best SS/2B/SP that he can bring back and then put Jon Jay in RF and let him lead off? He’s got good speed, he’s good defensively, and he’s shown the ability to take a walk in the minors.

Another low cost option would Jamey Carroll, who’s a better option than Mike Aviles or any of the guys you listed and can play anywhere on the infield. He’s a +7 run second baseman for his career and has a .391 OBP this season. Basically a guy that the Dodgers can’t use right now who’s having a decent year. Wouldn’t cost much to get at all, in fact, if they don’t find a suitor for him they might just DFA him and we could get him for free.

Christian Guzman would be interesting, since we could just pay the rest of his deal and not give up any prospects. He’s certainly better than what we have right now, and would surely waive his NTC to come to the Cardinals — but he’s not going to lead off. For sure.