Cardinals chat with Derrick Goold
Bring your Cardinals questions and comments, and talk to Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold in a live chat from the Winter Warm-Up starting at 1 p.m.

3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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Greetings from the Winter Warm-Up, where there is a steady stream of interviews and they could happen at any time. Like now. Adam Wainwright is coming into the media room, so I need to complete his media session before plunging into the chat here. Thanks for the patience. I'll load a video to prove to you I'm working, OK?
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I remember the Cardinals only got an agreement in place merely to buy out all three of Lance Lynn's remaining years of control. Has the team since said anything to the press about developing new policy going forward to shy away from these type of multiple year type deals in the future, unless additional years of control are added (like Wong had tacked on last year)?
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Lynn was the rarity, what you describe was the preferred approach. That's what the Cardinals did with Garcia, Wainwright, Molina, Wong, Craig, Carpenter, and so on. Lynn and Jason Motte were the players who leap to mind that got deals that coverage arbitration and then didn't reach free agency. Lynn did not want an extension that covered any years of free agency. His representative made that clear. The team had to adjust its preference to make that deal possible.
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They want to let agents know, apparently, that they are serious when they set a deadline. They wanted to have a deal -- or get the agents to commit to a figure they could defend. The bet was that the figure (the ask) would come in lower that way. And both did. If agents believe a team will always agree at the midpoint, then they push the ask up to move the midpoint. Now the Cardinals are forcing that back down by saying they'll go to hearing. Even if they lose the hearing, they've probably already won some rebate on the cost.
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Traveling to Cuba with Major League Baseball's goodwill tour in Dec. 2015 was something I never thought I would get a chance to cover. That was a challenge, an experience, and a uneasy joy. That ranks just ahead of an All-Star Game in St. Louis, a World Series at Wrigley Field, a visit to the White House with the 2011 Cardinals, and yes the chance to interview a few presidents over the years, including a conversation in the dank tunnels of old Shea Stadium with former President Clinton. There are certainly others. I have been lucky to have the opportunities I've had in this career.
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I explained it here, in longform, but this question, I believe, deserves a detailed answer:
Goold: Hall of Fame support is building for Bonds, Clemens
stltoday.comFor the first time since PD's Cardinals beat writer earned a ballot, two greats tied to PEDs came close to receiving his vote. A deep discussion on why they didn't. -
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I read your article about the pursuit of a left hand hitting OF. There were a few interesting names on your list, but what about Michael Bourn? Left handed hitting, great defensively and some speed. Yes he is 34ish and has an injury history, but I think he would be a great insurance policy especially for Grichuk or an injury and I don't think he would break the bank.
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I have a question about Shohei Otani's theoretical usage as a two way player in the MLB. In Japan, he starts and plays DH on his off days, though he has also demonstrated capability to play outfield. Do you think there is a possible scenario in which he could sustain his unique two way game in the MLB, and would that only be possible on an AL team? Also, how would his possible two way usage change if he became more of a Andrew Miller reliever/DH? The guy just presents a fascinating thought experiment, I mean, imagine if Aroldis Chapman could also bat over .300 and hit 20 homers?
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There's a lot to unpack here, and to be honest these are the questions that front offices are trying to figure out. I've seen and heard comments from GMs about how they could approach a two-way player, and what that would mean for his availability in those roles. Matheny was one of the officials who mused that he wouldn't mind having a starter one day, a pinch-hitter the next, an outfielder the third and fourth day, and then a starter after a day off. A Miller-like reliever? That seems a bit of a reach at this point. I don't think interest in him or his versatility would be limited to American League teams. Now, his interest might gear toward AL teams because of the DH possibility. Teams are looking for the same answers as you.
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In my mind Jim Edmonds is a Hall of Famer. You jumped on the Ted Simmons band wagon without hesitation so what about Edmonds? Please give a yes or no answer and remind us that you voted for him is not an answer as you've already said that was just to keep him on the ballot.
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Goodness, man. I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't think he was deserving. Why I put him on the ballot ahead of other Hall of Fame-caliber players I also considered for that year was to keep him on the ballot. But the vote itself -- look, it's not a participation ribbon. I vote for the players who I think are deserving of being Cooperstown. That is the very first hurdle a player has to clear for my vote.
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Derrick, do you have any details on what an extension for Yadi would look like? I saw the report (report, yes? Not a rumor) that the Cards would like to extend him. Just wondering if you have any details on that. Would love to see Yadi play his whole career as a Cardinal. Thanks!
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This is more complicated than just an extension. Hate to do this twice in the chat, but I've spent time over the past two days reporting and exploring this very question. It's an important part of the coming season for the Cardinals, and I'm going to explore that in tomorrow's Post-Dispatch. We'll have a host of Cardinals coverage in the paper tomorrow. I've given you a sense of two of the articles.
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Happy 2017 DG. How is Red Schoendienst doing? Is he heading to camp again this year? As I recall he went last year...and it was somewhat of a surprise at the time due to some health concerns. He's what? 94 or 95? (And he's still the best Albert to play for the Cardinals.)
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He attended the writers' dinner last night and accepted an award on behalf of Whitey Herzog. He participated in the '67 reunion, and at last check is expected to spend some time in spring training. He's moving around well, and was great in the discussions with his title team.
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It does sound more open. That was certainly Mozeliak's message on Sunday at the Warm-Up. I would list the favorites in this order: Jhonny Peralta, Jedd Gyorko, Matt Carpenter (if Adams hammers way into first base), and then Greg Garcia. But let's put it to a vote.
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Derrick - love the chats and your responses. A bit off the beaten path - as far as memorabilia: who owns player-issued items such as uniforms, gloves, etc? Once issued, do the players have rights to all their equipment or does the team? I see a lot of these items on the second-hand market (with authentification), but not sure how they make it there. And of course, there are tons of items in the game-used team store. Just wondering what ownership rights the players have for the stuff they use. Thanks for your insight!
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Fascinating question because there is definitely a gray area, and that's clear when MLB has an authenticator slapping holograms on baseballs and everything during games. Teams own jerseys and the like. Teams purchase the baseballs. But there are certain moments and things that are understood to belong to the player. I.e., no team is going to rip a milestone homer away from a player or say he can't go home with the jersey he just threw a no-hitter in. They will be authenticated but then it comes the possession of the player, almost like a de facto gift. Now, some gear is owned by the player because it's provided by manufacturers and sponsors. Gloves and bats are like that. Shoes. Batting gloves. So, on. Other equipment is owned by the team if it's purchased by the team. There is no simple, legal answer that I know of for your question, but there are accepted norms about the difference between game-used (team) and milestone (player).
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Derrick
Thanks for taking my question. What will it take for DeWitt to drop the Leash and Go increase the payroll? Even my Daughter and my White Male American son has expressed Dissident in regards to ownership’s seemingly Indifference toward the Cubs assent in the central division. My mother, an Elderly Woman Behind A Counter In A Small Town, lived to see the Cubs win a World Series and I find this unacceptable. The current Cards have sacrificed Blood, sweat and tears, yet seemingly are Rats compared to the Cubs. Until DeWitt is willing to flex that payroll muscle and sign a real Animal, like Joey Bats, for example, the Cards will be in the Rearviewmirror of the Cubs.
Your pal,
Glorified G. -
This is a wonderfully creative question, laced as it is with Vedderisms. I find it interesting that signing Jose Bautista is the show of financial force mentioned here. I'm not sure I share that opinion. Edwin Encarnacion would be a different matter -- in part because it would have taken that year of uncomfortable spending when he's really a DH in an NL dugout. (Let's not ignore the fact that Encarnacion was also interested in an AL team because being a DH could improve his earning potential; just saying.) The payroll is up at this point from last year. The Cardinals still have room to spend. They are going to have need to spend, too. Fowler, Carpenter ... that's the start of a new core. Leake has the contract to be part of that too. But more is needed. A pitcher could be on the horizon with the departure of Lynn. A core position player would be welcome, and those are costly, costly. Signing Bautista wouldn't have been a show of financial force, it would have been a surrender to a need. (Not that that's a bad thing, or that it wouldn't improve the Cardinals.) No, a show of financial force is what the Cardinals did with Fowler, wanted to do with David Price, and, yes, need to do to maintain their stance as a contending club beyond 2017.
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Here is a detailed look at the Cardinals' current payroll and the riches ahead with a new TV deal:
Goold: With TV riches ahead, will Cardinals hike payroll in 2017?
stltoday.comEncarnacion's deal with Cleveland has stirred the hornet's nest again about Cardinals spending. Math reveals the spending ahead, from Fowler to Martinez. -