Live Chats

Join Hall of Fame Cardinals writer Rick Hummel for his live Cardinals chat at 11 a.m. Monday

Bring your Cards questions and comments to Monday’s 11 a.m. live chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

I would like to see Matt Holliday back, too. And, thank you.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 6:57:53 PM
The reason Jeff Albert gave for not coming back seemed a bit odd. How do you have such a public role in a baseball-centric market and not take the criticism with a grain of salt? 20 some-odd cranks in a public chat forum managed to run him off?

by Groucho 10/31/2022 6:58:13 PM
You would hope that that wasn't the only reason.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 6:58:33 PM
Left handed power hitter and number one starter, sounds like Ohtani to me.

by Phoenix Az 10/31/2022 6:58:43 PM
We have a winner!

by rhummel 10/31/2022 6:59:04 PM
Rick: Why is there no online coverage for the Ws?

by e side 10/31/2022 6:59:37 PM
There will be from now on. Derrick is in place at Philadelphia and then would move on to Houston and there will be a special on-line piece for you every morning after.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:00:30 PM
Regarding Tyler O'Neill...you know what is the best predictor of future injury? Past injury.

by TomBruno23 10/31/2022 7:00:59 PM
There does seem to be a pattern, not a good one.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:01:32 PM
Do you think there is a match between the Cards and the one of the Blue Jays catchers?

by FunBobby 10/31/2022 7:01:43 PM
Danny Jansen, who has home-run power, could be available. He had 15 homers in 215 at-bats this season but he's thrown out only 25 % of opposing base stealers in his career and I don't know much about the rest of his catching portfolio.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:04:41 PM
You just said that Montgomery,Flaherty,And Mikolas,along with Waino would be free agents after next season?Isn't that concerning?

by chico 10/31/2022 7:04:53 PM
That's one of the reasons why you would bring in another starter who would be here until at least through the 2024 season.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:05:46 PM
Commish: If everything goes to the plan does Pujols, Arenando, and Rolen go into the Hall as Cardinals?

by Brett 10/31/2022 7:06:04 PM
Pujols is a no doubter, for me. Arenado and Rolen would have a hard decision to make, especially with Rolen having played one more year with the Phillies and Arenado will be about even with Rockies and Cardinals.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:10:10 PM
What is a realistic ask from Oakland for Murphy and his 3 years of club control?

by TomBruno23 10/31/2022 7:10:45 PM
They likely would ask for two pitchers, one of them big-league ready, and a young position player.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:11:28 PM
Looking at the Phillies success so far it seems that besides the high priced additions it was the patience they had with there home grown talent that finally paid off

by JWHelp 10/31/2022 7:11:47 PM
The Phillies' success, more than anything else, likely has more to do with the Cardinals' offense not showing up in the series here. The Phillies didn't do anything offensively either but the Cardinals gave them the first game of the series. The Phillies had a total of nine hits in two games and Schwarber didn't even get on base. This Phillies club is not a dynasty in the making, by any means.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:15:21 PM
Hi Rick,

One thing I've always been curious about is how injured player insurance works. I have heard that teams will often have policies on larger contracts in case of an injury, but is that widespread throughout the league? And how does it work usually?

by Houston cards fan 10/31/2022 7:17:12 PM
Teams generally seek insurance for high-priced players, based on their history of a particular injury, but that doesn't cover another injury that might occur. Depending on the policy and the injury, teams can get back a certain percentage of their investment in a player for a season. But these are not inexpensive policies either.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:19:40 PM
Refresh my memory, what player was known as the secret weapon?

by Phoenix Az 10/31/2022 7:19:46 PM
That would be Jose Oquendo, who was the Brendan Donovan of his day.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:20:11 PM
Rick: Has Wainwright ever pitched to a catcher other than Molina? How will this affect him next season?

by HiltonHeadMatt 10/31/2022 7:20:31 PM
Knizner has caught Wainwright many times in his brief career and in minor league rehab starts, too. But, a whole season without Molina? Don't know how that might affect Waino.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:21:30 PM
Call me crazy, but Masyn Winn seems to have the physical attributes to be a plus plus outfielder, even in CF. If the Cards go into the FA SS market, could he take the OF route at AAA to start the year next year?

by fumblinbumblin 10/31/2022 7:21:50 PM
Winn is programmed as a shortstop, although he is playing some second base in the Arizona Fall League. I hadn't heard his name mentioned as an outfield candidate.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:22:53 PM
I heard some comments on the radio this morning that the Cardinals had some $60mil to add to the payroll, where they got those numbers I have no idea...the cards supposedly last year had a payroll of $170mil, what would you expect them to spend this year?

by bigron 10/31/2022 7:23:00 PM
$190 to $195 million.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:23:16 PM
Thank you for investing the time in these chats, it is always interesting to get your insight into issues regarding the Cardinals. Are you planning on being at spring training?

by NJ Cardinal Fan 10/31/2022 7:24:04 PM
I am planning on going to spring training to do some writing of some sort for somebody.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:24:38 PM
Are the Dodgers still obligated to pay Trevor Bauer?

by Phoenix Az 10/31/2022 7:25:18 PM
He will not be paid while on suspension into 2024.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:28:51 PM
I'm as concerned as anyone about Jacob DeGrom's durability...but with the depth we have, I wonder if he's still worth signing? I would guess he's going to command a contract comparable to Scherzer's - less years and more AAV. I'd baby him throughout the season with the goal of having him healthy for September and October, and all he costs is money (albeit lots of it). Thoughts?

by Aaron 10/31/2022 7:28:55 PM
You would see what it costs but anything more than three years is a big reach.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:29:44 PM
Would Jessie Winkler be an option?

by Phoenix Az 10/31/2022 7:29:49 PM
I like left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker very much. At least I liked him in Cincinnati. Not so much in Seattle this year.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:30:35 PM
You referenced the possibility of trading Montgomery or Hudson if needed to free up a rotation spot. Of course this is all hypothetical, as both could return next year in the rotation, but Hudson's got the advantage of being two years younger with an extra year of service time at a lower cost, while Montgomery has a stronger recent body of work, and both will be a couple years removed from TJS; beyond those factors, do you have a feel for how the team balances everything else when they've got a couple possibly moveable players, like future earnings potential, likely return in a trade, fit in the clubhouse, how they mesh with manager/coaches, etc.? Or is there no one formula and they might float multiple guys out there to see what they can make fit with potential trade partners?

by Phil 10/31/2022 7:31:20 PM
There is no one formula, as you put it so well. Teams often float many players just to see what the reactions might be.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:32:38 PM
A few questions ago, Arnezzi proposed an all-time Cardinal lineup. It made me wonder, just what would a mound visit between Molina and Gibson be like? I could see Gibby telling Yadi to go back behind the plate, as we've heard he did to McCarver, but then Yadi would still head out to the mound, and some sort of argument would emerge. Thoughts?

by tom 10/31/2022 7:32:40 PM
Now, that mound visit would be something. I would think Yadi would pick his spots. Very carefully.

by rhummel 10/31/2022 7:33:16 PM