FanPost

Offseason for the Ages

Yes this is the first of a bunch of "my perfect offseasons" we will probably see this fall/winter. But hey I need an outlet to talk Cardinal baseball so here I am. And Spoiler its both $$ and asset expensive and incredibly unrealistic. Also I am incredibly bad at predicting and quantifying MLB contracts and trade values so if something its off its cus i don't know fair value.

Step 1: Open the Wallet for Harper

Franchise player? Check.

Left hand power bat? Check.

Realisitcally serviceable for length of contract? Check.

Brings certain amount of Swagger? Check.

A 10 year deal is probably what Harper will receive from around the league. That puts him at 36, and while he'll surely be overpaid, i highly doubt it will be as bad as what we're seeing from Pujols and what'll happen to Cano ...etc...

I don't think he'll get the long ago rumored 10/400 or anything but I'd stomach it (of course cus its not my money) something like 10/340.

Step 2: Acqurie a front line, clear cut Ace for the rotation.

Enter who you want here but Im looking at deGrom and Thor from NYM. Greinke (who IDK if you can consider a clear #1 but still) is available. If WAS loses Harper they may re-tool/rebuild and be open to trading Scherzer (although his contract jumps way up soon). A struggling Giants may look to blow things up and make MadBum available. Not a number 1 (this past season) but a cheap gamble like Sonny Gray could pay divedends as he was once a clear cut #1 before going to the Yanks, and hes available.

We have pieces like Weaver, Ponce, Hudson, Kelly, etc. to make a blockbuster trade happen.

Imagine having a deGrom to go with your Carlos Martinez, Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Gomber/Gant, Wacha, and eventually Reyes (although I'd argue he should get a year in the pen to prove healthy).

Step 3: Sure fire bullpen weapon. Arguing for one, but looking at a few guys here. Ideally, we trade some our abundance fo starting pitching players for the Reds Raisiel Iglesias. The Reds aren't really the punch line team they used to be, but just suffer from really bad starting pitching. Trading within the division probably isn't appealing to them though, so another major target would be Craig Kimbrel. His contract would be absolutely bonker for a reliever, but you know what you are getting from him, and he is an elite arm. Someone i'd like us to take a gamble with (for the right price) is Andrew Miller. However, that doesn't solve the closer spot so perhaps coupling him with another year of Bud Norris would shore things up? And while im on the bullpen topic (and while I expect him to receive a starting gig in some capacity) I'd love to bring back Tyson Ross as a long reliever. But Can you imagine a fireball unit of:

Reyes - Hicks - Miller with some finesse pitchers in Norris and [Insert leftover pitcher here]? Good stuff.

Those are a few things i'd like us to look at. Most of all i'd like us to be active in FA and the trade market. Tired of Mo going bargain hunting every offseason. Time to open the wallet. We have the talent to capitalize now and build for a bright future, or we could just run it back and narrowly miss/make the playoffs next year.