Ponce de Leon is in this equation, too. I would like to see Reyes have a chance at that last spot although with Martinez routinely pitching into the sixth inning in his team's winter-league playoffs, he figures to be fast out of the blocks this spring. He might have one more shot at this, yet.
All good points you raise. I do hope Carpenter gets a chance to show if his new off-season regimen will bear fruit, but the DH role--if there is one--would be his only shot at semi-regular time.
If he's reading, I'm sure Mo is smiling. He probably isn't. Reading, that is.
Thank you also. When there is an unprecedented amount of money changing hands and when a contract is being adjusted, relative to no-trade, opt-outs, deferred payments and extensions, both MLB and the players' association will want to weigh in. This especially is true when the MLBPA wants to make sure the contract isn't being devalued.
That seems fair enough. But is this a blood oath?
He'd better be able to go nine innings.
Not yet. Maybe another day or so. Gomber likely to be in the group, though, and minor leaguer Torres. Whatever happens, the ones leaving here won't be among the top prospects.
That deal was independent of this one. If there would be a pivot, it would be if the Arenado deal hadn't worked out and the shift had been to Pederson.
The hope is that Carp gets some kind of chance but second base is not really his position anymore.
Molina isn't likely to sign until Caribbean Series is over next weekend. I don't think Wong will be back under any circumstance. The Cardinals have shown little interest so far but he'll get a job somewhere.
With the Voit and Arozarena mistakes, you never really know. But this seems to be quite the good trade by Mo.
Yes, the Cardinals could use some veteran middle infield help. They really have only Sosa so far. If that hitter is lefthanded, all the better, although Miller certainly is not the defender they would have in mind for those positions.
The outfielders you see are the ones you're going to get, I believe, with perhaps an addition later this winter. The starters, as I see them, are Carlson, Bader and Fowler, left to right. Subject to change, of course, although Carlson will be starting somewhere.
I see this is a combo of Arenado wanting out and the Rockies, who got clobbered financially, as did most other teams last year, seeing this as the best way to get some financial relief. So, he wanted out, and they finally thought this was a good idea. I don't know if Arenado really would have walked after this season, making the kind of money he already was making and the uncertainty of the industry, still. We may never know that now.
They'll get major grief, for sure, but this deal has gone too far for the two teams to stop it. Only MLB and the players' association are still to be heard from.
It's only Feb. 1, so there is every likelihood that the Cardinals would add somebody else after Molina. Again, there is little chance that Wong would be that player. It more likely would be a bench player or pitching depth.
I have not heard of the market for Wong although I would thlnk the Texas Rangers would be a good fit. He does not fit into the Cardinals' plans financially. At least not now. i
Because the finances and potential contract adjustments for Arenado haven't been signed off on yet by MLB and the players' association. .
Fair concerns but the Cardinals would even settle for two years of Arenado. However, he might find two years from now, and into his 30s, that he wouldn't make that kind of money anywhere else. Plus he might actually like it here a lot.
I would hit Carlson second or, perhaps first, and he will be an everyday player. O'Neill will be a platoon player until he shows he can make more contact.
Ponce de Leon is in this equation, too. I would like to see Reyes have a chance at that last spot although with Martinez routinely pitching into the sixth inning in his team's winter-league playoffs, he figures to be fast out of the blocks this spring. He might have one more shot at this, yet.