Yep. Giants announced that he gets a major-league deal, too. One-year deal.
The Cardinals' emphasis on pitching has fueled their ability to field a winning team for 13 years because pitching is the most volatile position. Look to the north side, and how much pitching has cost them -- in dollars (Darvish, Lester) and in talent (Quintana) -- and all while they have yet to debut and rely on a single homegrown pitcher. The Cardinals have built their house upon a foundation of pitching and pitching depth and they've made the most of their ability to develop pitching. They are well positioned for the modern need that you describe, but the goal of what they've done dates back to when growing and holding on to your own pitching was a cost-saving move because teams always need pitching, and the Cardinals either had depth to trade it for bats or utilize it themselves, and it's worked well for them, while other teams that haven't developed pitching have had less consistent results.
It's pretty simple: He's the best fit for them and he's one of the best at calling games, managing a pitching staff, eliminating a running game, and he still contributes depth to the lineup because he's a gifted contact hitter. I don't yet know what the ultimate cost will be for Molina, but as of right now you spend the money because you're getting the better player for the position that is open.
All of them. It increases the list of players for them, and how they see that player fitting with the existing outfielders. It eliminates the defensive part of the question and it widens the scope of players they could look at to include every position, even ones that they have settled at the moment. It adds in the DHs, like Cruz, for example. So it's all of it.
Entirely possible, if Molina signs elsewhere. This is the kind of move they'd make. If Molina signs elsewhere, the Cardinals will begin searching for a free-agent catcher to complement Knizner and even split the role with him, at least early. They do not intend to turn the full-time, everyday job over to Knizner right away.
Not really, sorry. If there are surprises out there, then it's going to be a surprise because someone hasn't reported or mentioned him. I'm not keeping back names to myself to unveil as some surprise down the rode. If I know, I'll tell you. If I have it solid, I'll write it. I'll put it in the chat with what I know, and I'll report on it for the paper. The goal is to make sure readers aren't surprised when the Cardinals make a move because it's been discussed here already.
Sorry that it got eaten up. I see it, but I'm not sure why it's not showing up. I mentioned that Rosario, Pederson are two of the three. I mentioned that trades are hard to discern and uncover, and that has been true when reporting this winter. Hard to pin down what ties directly to the Cardinals, and that maybe because in so many cases they haven't committed to one pursuit (maybe?) or more likely they do work quietly and they do lay the groundwork quietly and then try to move quickly, and I'm not looking in the right places to unearth that match. Gallo I get, but there's got to be a better fit out there. I would have said Frazier, but Yankees have told reporters he's a starter for them. So the search continues.
Yep. Free agents. Brad Miller could re-sign. Interest in him will expand if the DH comes to the NL. Another handful of teams would be looking for him.
It makes more sense to just try to trade for J.D. Martinez and see what that takes. Not sure why the Boston Red Sox would want to do the deal described.
Yes. That has been discussed as a possibility.
The Giants announced this. The team got the scoop. Huzzah! What a world.
The Cardinals did have a minor-league deal waiting for him if he did not find a major-league offer out there. The Cardinals made that clear to him.
Mostly because the Cardinals cannot impose salaries on them and compel them to take whatever offer the Cardinals make. Free agents have choices, and at least two of those might prefer to go elsewhere, and not one of them would take the first thing the Cardinals' offer. That's just not where we are in the market at the moment.
There is always math. I got in a heated math debate on MLB Network last week with a couple of national writers. It was a blast, let me tell you.
More than they're letting on.
Ownership has said that is not the approach they wish to take at this time. I get the idea behind your question -- and I bet they do, too. Take advantage while the market is ripe for this kind of move, and bank on the fans being there in the end. That's just not the route they're taking at the moment. That does seem to indicate that it's not a one year process to emerge from this -- that it will be several for the club, and fans should brace themselves. Fans should also think about where their stated interest or the trends on Twitter factor into decisions.
Mr. Goold: Why, in your opinion, do the Cardinals need Yadier Molina behind the plate? The Cardinals aren't going to do much of anything in 2021 with the players they have on the roster, and they can do that without Molina. So why spend the money? It's about time the Cardinals take Andrew Knizner out for a spin to see what the can do.