Join Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold for his live chat at 11 a.m. Friday
Bring your Cards questions and comments to Friday's 11 a.m. live chat.
-
Greetings. Thanks for finding the chat here -- on a rare Friday chat. Jeff Gordon has been kind enough to let me pinch-hit here. Back from Los Angeles and the 92nd All-Star, braced for your questions and the sprint for the trade deadline. Rick Hummel has the coverage all weekend in Cincinnati. That allows me to get to Toronto for the chat on Monday. I'm sure there will be plenty of questions to populate both ...Away we go. -
-
They really hope to. And what we'll see in the coming week is how far they're going to spread their search for one. A couple of the available starters that appeal to other teams do not for the Cardinals because, of course, it would be an in-division trade, and word is they want to avoid those. (That is their trend, after all.) Outlined a few other options -- one on a contender that could tumble, another under the radar that they should explore -- in this morning's paper. The internal sense is that they need to aim higher this season than what they did at the trade deadline a year ago. But they have not pulled off a trade deadline headliner in many years.
-
DG, the Cardinals would be insane not to try and get Soto. Forget the extension. They'd have him for THREE pennant races (and all but guarantee three division titles) and could even flip him at the deadline in 2024 if things went south. They could absolutely extend him if they want, with Goldy coming off the books and Arenado's contract extremely manageable the last two years. And they've been lacking a LH power hitter forever. As long as they could keep Jordan Walker, why wouldn't they trade multiple top prospects and a young player or two off the current roster for a generational talent?
-
All good arguments. That's for sure. It is rare that a talent like his comes available like Juan Soto is -- and that brings us to the key point here: Why? What will be the Nationals motivation for making this move. Are they1) Out to shed guaranteed money, Laurie-style before selling the team?2) Looking to reboot a farm system and fast with an infusion of talent?Either way, those are conversations the Cardinals are in position have. How long they stay on the line is the biggest question. I do find it interesting that if the Nationals want to get a haul of prospects for one player, then they are limited because the team that has made recent deals like that is ... the Nationals. They have to find a team that wants to do what they've done. Could be tricky.Yes, Soto would be with the team for three pennant runs. I don't see the appeal of planning to flip a player like him at another trade deadline. That would mean something else has gone terribly wrong with the Cardinals and they would be plunging into a rebuild. And, please keep in mind that we don't know what Soto will command as a free agent.We know his agent wants that contract to set all sorts of records. We know that Soto will be one of the youngest to reach free agency ever. We do not know if he has a Triple Crown, MVP, or some other bonkers season in the near future to further inflate what he can command. No guarantee the Cardinals can/will make a deal that we don't know how it will look. Wouldn't bank on that.Two and a half seasons of one of the finest young hitters in the game is what you're trading for if your the team interested, and that is still quite a lot of talent to get at the trade deadline.
-
-
There shouldn't be. Winning championships is the brand, the Yankees of the NL is the slogan, and the Dodgers are on their heels. Winning pennants is the expectation and hasn't been done around here since 2013. Sure seems like the manager wants to make sure they live up to that.
-
-
Not the Padres, no. Only speculation there. And there is so much speculation out there -- that, goodness, I really do empathize with readers who are trying to parse the difference between a tweet that speculates on a potential trade and one that reports actual trade discussions. With that mind, Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber fits many of the criteria the Cardinals are looking for in a starter, and I have heard his name mentioned by a source as a potential fit, one with upside/past form, but not one that is clearly available for trade if Cleveland is a buyer at deadline.
-
-
Andre Pallante is a relief pitcher who interest the Cardinals at the moment. The idea is to add a starter so that it strengthens the bullpen by putting Pallante out there -- and doesn't ask the right-hander to absorb such a spike in innings from one year to the next. As far as outside options: Michael Fulmer, RHP, Detroit. He's one I'm asking around about.
-
-
Maybe this is an error on my part: I don't see the disconnect. I understand what you're saying. Mozeliak talks about reaching the playoffs and then anything can happen. And Marmol talks about winning the championships, and anything less than that is not enough. Those two stances can coexist. One is focused on the ends. The other is focused on the means. It shouldn't shock everyone that the manager is setting the destination and the front office is mapping the route.I get it. No one wants to hear this. But I'll say it again: This isn't uncommon.I've had executives from Atlanta to Boston, Los Angeles to Milwaukee to Chicago all sing a similar tune as Mozeliak: The goal is to get in because the postseason is too random. Atlanta had a worse record than the Cardinals in 2021, and who won the championship? Now, a team can spend/deal/acquire to lessen the randomness of the postseason, and we've watched the Dodgers do that year in and year out, and they have all those division titles and that -- checks notes -- one World Series trophy in the past years to show for it.I continue to suggest that if you think the Cardinals can target the precise level of spending to sneak into the playoffs by one win, then you are giving them too much credit, and ignoring the fact they could have spent a lot less to do the same given the returns on recent free agents.The Cardinals goal is to win the division -- and it really should be to finish with the first or second best record in the NL, but that's another topic -- and the expectation is title.These things can coexist. Hold them to it.
-
-
-
-
-
-
He is not eligible to return until more than a month from now. The goal will be to see him on a rehab assignment within the first 10-14 days of August. He's going to see some bullpens in the near future to make that possible. Should see him around the ballpark that first week of August.
-
what is more attractive to rebuilding teams? Guys that have done it in the majors for a brief period (Brendan Donovan, Juan Yepez, Lars Nootbar, Zack Thompson), but who have service clocks started---or guys like Alec Burleson, who haven't shown they can do it in the majors, but whose service time hasnt' started?
-
Depends entirely on the team and its timeline to contend. The Nationals might have a different timeline than, say, the Reds. But the Reds aren't going to want to trade for someone who doesn't help them win while Greene is under control. Nationals might what a jolt so they go with the collection of players closer to the majors/in the majors who could help them in the immediate term. Think of the difference between the deal the White Sox made with the Nationals for Eaton, and the one the Yankees made with the Cubs for Chapman. Different timetables. Different goals.That's why I will continue to say knowing the Nats' motivation is essential.
-
-
Yep. I think they already have. We've seen changes in approach to Yepez and Donovan for sure. The book on Gorman beat him to the majors. Plus, the Cardinals are going to start bunching series against teams. That's going to give the division teams more of a look, more planning, and more of a chance to unplug the rookies.
-
The future Soto money would be GIANT, but the Cardinals sure do have a lot of money coming off the books right around the time Soto would hit his FA years.
Bob Nightengale says the Cardinals have checked in, but as you often remind us: that’s their job.
My question is this: Do you think the Cardinals would entertain the prospect of a trade WITHOUT a long term commitment? Would their hope be to win Soto over? That really doesn’t happen with Boras clients and with all due respect to Matt Holliday, Soto is quite a step above MH. -
There are multiple reports that the Cardinals will "check in" or make a call on Soto, including a report from the local typists. That's because ... say it with me ... that's their job. If they didn't explore the deal, they wouldn't be doing what they're hired to do: Make the team better. Acquire generational talent if possible.The Cardinals would absolutely entertain 2 1/2 years and the potential of three Octobers with Soto with no guarantees. In effect, that's their business model. They acquire, see if a player is a fit, and try to extend. They did with Edmonds, Rolen, Holliday, Goldschmidt. It's really the through-thread of this entire era when it comes to acquire outside talent. This is no different. The price would have to reflect that.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Only more of the same from the spring: The asking price is steep for him, and the Cardinals have been reluctant to part with the prospects necessary to make that deal. Is that going to shift as the deadline nears and A's realize they cannot get all that they want? We'll see. Doubtful. The market for starters has a few standout options, and if there is more demand than supply, they might be able to meet their asking price.
-
-
Yadier Molina makes the most sense for the Cardinals, honestly. That comment about looking for a catcher might not have been a shopping list as much as a message to the veteran. That is possible. There's Tucker Barnhart -- an excellent receiver, but not having the best offensive season over there in Detroit. Yan Gomes would be a solid get -- again not the best offensive season, and he's with the Cubs.
-
-
Sure. He's a starting pitcher who they could use and one they'll discuss. Lopez is a talent for sure, and I've been told the Cardinals are exploring the market for moves like that, ones that might not be getting all the attention. I don't know how "splashy" that is. But it would be a substantive move.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Paul Blackburn is a name to keep in mind. Good walk rate. Good ground ball rate. Averaging about 5 1/3 innings per outing, so not the given for bulk innings, but quality will help, too. Not a wow-factor strikeout rate, but better than some of the Cardinals current options. So, not all of the traits the Cardinals seek, but availability and cost is going to be part of his appeal.
-
I understand the 2021 Braves comparison, and yes the Cards built a stronger record on the back of a 17-game winning streak, but that was an Atlanta team with four pitchers who made over 20 starts and had ERAs under 4.50 (Cards had just two such pitchers last year), and they dealt for Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler midseason, both of whom won a postseason series MVP for the team. If the Cards want to follow *that* model of "get in and see," it'd feel a lot more like their 2000-2011 run, as opposed to the "ride a flawed Spring Training roster through October" model of recent years.
-
Fair criticism. I hate to repeat myself, but I will: The Cardinals have been too thin on starting pitching for a few years now, and that's why they've lacked the consistency to run away with a week division or the rotation to lead them through a playoff series. I appreciate the illustration here of how Atlanta's rotation set them apart. Strong point.
-
-