Cardinals news and notes: Cain, Carson, and Cardinals (in the Arizona Fall League)

This year’s World Series is going to be contested between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pretty exciting, right? Each team has a former Cardinal on it: the Astros have Carlos Beltran, even if he doesn’t play every day, and the Dodgers have Rich Hill, who was a Memphis Redbird in his 30s and now is in the starting rotation of an extremely wealthy team in the World Series. What a time to be alive.

Anyway, my friend Ben Province (he’s on Twitter at @BenProvince) does this thing that honestly I’m too lazy to do because I’m not sure how it can be done via Baseball Reference Play Index where he creates all-time teams among players who have played for the Cardinals and another franchise. I’ve shared some of his lists before on here and I’m doing it again. With his permission, of course.

Cardinals/Astros

C: Tony Pena

1B: Lance Berkman

2B: Jose Vizcaino

3B: Ken Oberkfell

SS: Julio Lugo

LF: Jose Cruz

CF: Cesar Cedeno

RF: Carlos Beltran

SP: Larry Dierker

RP: Octavio Dotel

Cardinals/Dodgers

C: Todd Zeile

1B: Reggie Smith

2B: Mark Grudzielanek

3B: Ken Boyer

SS: Rafael Furcal

LF: Pedro Guerrero

CF: J.D. Drew

RF: Brian Jordan

SP: Fernando Valenzuela

RP: Todd Worrell

Anyway, it is almost November, which means it is almost time for substantive things to happen. Until then, here’s some stuff regarding what could happen and what is happening at lower levels in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

• Ben Markham looked at Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, an impending free agent who he suspects the Cardinals could get at a relative bargain on the free agent market.
• The red baron considered the future role of catcher Carson Kelly, stuck in an awkward position of backing up Yadier Molina but also potentially having less value if lower level prospect Andrew Knizner continues to progress throughout the Cardinals organization.
• Josey Curtis checked in once again on the Arizona Fall League and the Cardinals prospects who are making splashes this year in the off-season league.