My perception is limited here because even in a recent conversation I just had Kirk did not come up as one of the catching possibilities for the Cardinals, and in coverage at the Post-Dispatch the Toronto catcher that I have been able to link to the Cardinals is Jansen, not Kirk. I'm sure the Cardinals and Jays have talked about Kirk because they're talking catchers, but I just haven't been to determine that had any traction, unlike the other possibilities we've discussed throughout the chat here.
The Jays have, according to reporters in Toronto, been looking at left-handed bat. Yepez would fit one on the player types that I was told Oakland would consider. They are trading a player with three years of control remaining and would like to get in return a major-league player with more years of control and at a position of need for them. Burleson obviously fits in the conversations with both teams given those parameters.
They have an ideal result and they have alternatives lined up, yes. Contreras is positioned as one of the alternatives. Given the pacing of this offseason all indications are the Cardinals have Murphy highly rated, if not top-rated of their targets.
There is always a chance, sure.
Not out of favor. There is some thought that his bought with an illness during the season contributed to his struggles and that a big lapse in his production was the lack of swing and miss stuff. Just the quality of his stuff dimmed, and that was sometimes clear with a drop in velocity. He will be one of the pitchers that Blake is likely to meet with personally or work with there in Florida this offseason so that they can rediscover the swing and miss stuff.
Spray charts would do that, yes. That's something that the Cardinals and other teams have done -- looked at where left-handed hitters (or hitters in general) are most often hitting the ball and then parsing those spray charts for details on how many of them would now be hits. Add those in and voila a metric that shows what that hitter could do with the new rules.
Not sure what to tell you. He's a free agent. He can go anywhere he wants.
My view is not going to change from previous chats or descriptions. He has the ability to be a No. 2 hitter for a contending team. A switch-hitter who can handle the production expected from a corner outfield spot. I thought he made great strides too in center this past year, and that should be included as his possible position going into this year, where his production definitely could play up.
I have been fortunate to have already been to all of the active ballparks. Even the one in Texas. Covered the 2020 World Series there -- in the bubble. That said, there is going to be a new ballpark for me in 2023, I hope, and that's the London Series. I will not hide the thrill of getting to cover baseball in one of my favorite places in the world. Seeing baseball in London is such a delight -- especially when I can remember studying over there and having to wait on day-old, two-day-old box scores from games. My parents kept the sports section for me and there's a photo of me -- back from Great Britain -- catching up on the stats that I would keep my hand back then ... What an opportunity to see baseball there.
He is not. San Diego is not shopping Soto. The Padres are quite happy they traded for him and like their chances in 2023.
His contract. He does not have no-trade protection.
For a conversation, yes. He should get a chance on the committee's ballot in the coming years. We'll see how much support he gets. A chance he gets on the ballot. Not a lot of optimism though given how little support there was for players yesterday.
Eventually. Could be when they're elected to the Hall of Fame. Could be sooner. This is all being discussed by the team -- how to do it, when, and so on.
Sure, in the sense that any team can, yes.
My perception is limited here because even in a recent conversation I just had Kirk did not come up as one of the catching possibilities for the Cardinals, and in coverage at the Post-Dispatch the Toronto catcher that I have been able to link to the Cardinals is Jansen, not Kirk. I'm sure the Cardinals and Jays have talked about Kirk because they're talking catchers, but I just haven't been to determine that had any traction, unlike the other possibilities we've discussed throughout the chat here.