Salutations. Sorry for starting a little later than planned. Had to complete an interview with Bill DeWitt Jr. for a story in tomorrow's Post-Dispatch and do some additional reporting. That's a good reminder for me because it's going to be that way throughout the afternoon here. I'll pop into the chat and out and pop in and pop out based on the reporting and interviews I have to do here from Winter Warm-Up. I'll do my best to provide the multimedia coverage I can and answer all the questions I can. Let's spin plates together:
There is not, not until he's signed. And I've talked to folks in baseball with very different views of this. One side argues that the driving factors behind his salary request hasn't changed. He's a dynamic player. He plays premium positions. And he's young, young, young for a free agent. Those didn't change with his performance in the World Series or his "hustle" comments. The other side, including one team owner, sees that as a factor in committing that kind of money and years to a "franchise player" who had an October like that. He expressed concern. But he also had little interest in playing in the Machado marketplace to begin with and was watching, like us, from a ringside seat.
You tell me how productive Dexter Fowler is and how healthy Marcell Ozuna is and I'll tell you how much Jose Martinez. Seems like he could be pretty good insurance in left field at this point.
Ted Simmons appears the most likely at this point. Momentum will build for it the next time he's eligible with the veterans' committee.
Then what would be chat about??!!
They insist there isn't. What there is -- there's an unknown. And that has the team uncertain. To me, uncertain might be a synonym for frustration. They wanted him to keep his rehab closer to Jupiter. He didn't. Now they want him to report to spring training a few weeks early so that he can get work with some trainers. We'll see if he does. On the plus side: He did recently shoot an ad for Pepsi.
They don't plan to be, no. But there is the likelihood they'll make a move like this in spring training once they can get some relief in the 40-man roster, like moving a player to the 60-day DL.
Nolan Arenado will draw the Cardinals attention. Not sure how many times I have to say that. They have been intrigued by him for years, wondered if the Rockies would ever trade him, and if they go through this season and have the payroll space to consider that move or the need that forces them toward that move then -- well, he's a free agent.
All questions go into a hopper. I am able to a see a few of the questions at a time, and I choose from those questions what questions are answered. I do my best. Today has the added wrinkle of also being Winter Warm-Up so my assignments and my need to report are such that I cannot only be here in the chat for hours like usual.
Same as it ever was: This heavy emphasis on 2019 is uncharacteristic for the Cardinals, who usually talk about "sustained success" and "contending each year" and so on. They're putting a lot of gravity on this season -- and they have done so in comments to fans and to the media and in actions with their roster.
They would have loved to make an offer for Yelich. The Cardinals entered the conversations with the Marlins last year preferring to end up with Yelich. They thought he was the best fit for the team -- lefthanded bat, friendly contract, all of it -- and that didn't matter one iota to the Marlins. As covered here many times: Miami controlled when and how they moved the outfielders. Not the Cardinals. The Marlins controlled when and how they offered the outfielders, and they said they were going to move Stanton first and then see what happened. He went to the Yankees. He turned down the chance to move to the Cardinals. The Marlins called the Cardinals to let them know and Mozeliak's reply: "We would like to talk about Yelich or Ozuna, whoever is next." Ozuna was next. The Marlins said they did not intend to trade Yelich. As covered many many many times before -- and confirmed by both teams -- that put the Cardinals in a spot where they had to make a bid for Ozuna or risk being frozen out of the Marlins OF market and leaving the winter without the hitter they desired. They couldn't take that risk. They edged San Francisco for Ozuna. Milwaukee could take that risk. The Brewers could come out of the winter with the outfielder they wanted (Yelich) or not and wait another year to compete. QED.
Who is up for the Brewers?
I think this act is tiresome.
Trades will be discussed in spring training based on the performance elsewhere. The Cardinals need to see an alternative for the infield emerge before making that move -- and they'll have to decide if they need something for the bench or can just take prospects in return.
Genesis Cabrera, Dakota Hudson, and Ryan Helsley are the young pitchers that will be bolts for the bullpen this season. They'll contribute. At least one will have a significant role.
Because that's 12 months from now. Rosters change. Injuries happen. Games are played. Standings tell them how good they are. So on. So on.
The Cardinals stance -- as long as I've been covering them -- is that they would prefer to use the five best starters they have and not try to meet some handedness quota. Now, a lefty would be a tiebreaker. Matheny, Duncan, and La Russa have all said something similar in that regard, and Shildt echoed this thought just this weekend. Austin Gomber could leave spring training as one of the five best options for the rotation. That's possible. But because he's lefthanded he's not reserved a spot in the rotation ahead of someone who pitches better than him and his righthanded. Teams don't operate that way, from my experience.
I asked this question of ownership today. I felt it was important to get an answer for the newspaper and explore it in a story that I'm working on for tomorrow's Post-Dispatch.
That is why I asked that question and why I used the quote. Gives you a sense of the team's view.
That would be absurd and wrongheaded.
