I wish I could use GIFs in the chat.
Depends on the return. I imagine there's a trade out there that Mozeliak would include Flaherty if the return was right. It would have to be epic.
It likely would take one of those prospects to make the deal. Arenado is hurt? Huh. He's got a few months to get better. But your overall message seems on point. I guess. The Cardinals would sure benefit from having another known quantity, impact player and even a star in the lineup, and it's no wonder that fans crave someone like that. They're fans.
Because of the motorcycle? That's a Bumgarner thing. But there's no apparent injury here, and there's no indication that Martinez was hurt.
Sure. Any of these candidates are worth the Cardinals having conversation. It is their job, and there will be options out there. He is definitely one.
Not yet. But there must be, right? Right?
No. That is not certain. Leadoff is wide open, and it's an area of interest for the front office as they consider the options out there in the market. Keep that in mind. It could be a "position" that the team looks to fill just as any in the outfield or elsewhere. They will scan the market for a leadoff hitter, if one is appealing at a position that could be open.
It's COVID-19, pal. Fungus ain't cool. Shower shoes aren't permitted. And the press won't see them at all because the press isn't in the clubhouse.
Still with the team. Arbitration eligible for the first time this winter. And going through a steady, mostly normal offseason preparing for spring training 2021, and expected to be ready when the team is, given his time away to prepare. He would have been able to throw in competition at some point late in the season, if he hadn't scaled back the throwing program by opting out for his pre-existing conditions and to focus on being ready for 2021.
Probably not. Broadcast deals are quite different for MLB than NHL.
I wouldn't assume they will be virtual, honestly.
This is the thought gaining currency around the team.
I think somewhere in the middle is most likely, even a given. Cardinals cannot stand pat. They now that. They aren't going to be big players for the other candidates you mention, and a couple of them may not move at all. If you expect the Cardinals to be at these two extremes, you will be disappointed, for sure.
Cost. Expenses. Major League Baseball's goal to gain more control of the minors, reduce the cost to the teams, and start to normalize the facilities and the travel. But it all has to do with cost. They are going to raise salaries for the minor-leaguers. One way to do that while not adding additional cost is to reduce the number of minor-leaguers out there. That's the goal here. For the majors to have more control, to reduce costs, to do away with far-flung or poor-facility affiliates, and get closer to the One Baseball goal imagined by the commissioner's office.
Unless it was in the past few days -- I took a few days away from the keyboard for a break, honestly -- then both sides said they did not. Wong has told me he was surprised they didn't make that offer before turning down his option.
That is an excellent way to go about it. The Cardinals of the GM got his start by emailing teams with his research, his proposals, and the thoughts he had for player valuations. There are many stories like that in baseball.
Kolten Wong told me the Cardinals never came to him before the end of the season to discuss a multi-year deal or reworking his contract. He was hopeful that they would, and he said he brought that up to Mozeliak in a phone conversation on the day the option was declined. When I last checked, the Cardinals had not presented any specific offer to Wong. It would be a multi-year deal if they got to that point, but the club has, thus far, been letting the market play out for their former infielder.I would urge you to ask the person who tweeted it, because I don't know and won't guess their sourcing on it. But you have my sourcing and the best information my reporting can provide above.