Live Chats

Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live St. Louis sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday

3rd & 7 37yd

The bidding will be high on Castillo from multiple teams. I see the Reds taking the best offer regardless of bidder. While the Reds wouldn't be thrilled to face Castillo often next season, they know he is likely to hit the open market when his contract is up.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:40:29 PM
Binnington's numbers go down every regular season. He's not a big strong guy. Griess is supposed to play over 30 games I don't see it? We're going to lose a good amount of games from inconsistent goal tending. Should have kept Husso over Leddy. We got enough lefty D!!!

by Roy Hobbs 7/29/2022 6:40:49 PM
The Blues have nobody beyond Calle Rosen in the AHL for depth on defense, so that was another reason to go with Leddy. The Blues like Joel Hofer as the next man up in goal.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:41:47 PM
Gordo I find it interesting that Nolan Gormans name is coming up in trade rumors especially considering he has been touted as “the next great thing” for a few years now. And probably rightfully so. They would have to get a top starting pitcher in return for him. Having said that, I believe the Cards are actually a better “team” with DeJong and Edman at short and second. Exceptional defense. Edman & Gorman are league average at best. If you have inconsistent hitting and consistently poor pitching you better play great defense. I hope they don’t trade Gorman without certainty about Arenado’s future plans. You’re thoughts? Thanks!

by Arnold 7/29/2022 6:42:16 PM
Like I noted earlier, trading away Nolan Gorman long-term power potential AND losing Nolan Arenado would sting. But at the moment, Paul DeJong (good defense, occasional homer) might be an upgrade of today's Gorman (OK defense, occasional homer) for the rest of the season.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:44:17 PM
There has to be some lesson that comes out of this team’s current predicament, right? Scherzer wanted a term the Cards seek (3 years) and cost no prospects. Pound foolish.

by Tackleberry 7/29/2022 6:47:31 PM
Max Scherzer makes $43.3 million per year, He is in he twilight of his career and he has pitched just 82 innings this year due to injury. Maybe he'll be fine down the stretch, but the pay/age/injury equation didn't thrill Bill DeWitt Jr.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:47:31 PM
Gordon:

Are you on the payroll of the Cardinals marketing department?

by Cbow 7/29/2022 6:47:34 PM
No.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:48:05 PM
I believe Vladi's interest in the East Coast is related to Panarin who he played with in Russia for years. Vladi tried to recruit Panarin to the Blues when he went undrafted. www.nbcsports.com

by Liz 7/29/2022 6:48:11 PM
Yes, they are friends. This is not news.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:48:20 PM
Please stop using the fact that the Cardinals are in the playoff chase or only a few games out as a support of what the FO has done. That's a fact without context and you know it. The Cardinals are in the hunt because of expanded playoffs and because they play in either the worst or second worst division in baseball. There are three tanking teams in the division and yet the Cardinals are only five games over .500. I don't have the animus towards Mozeliak as so many in these chats seem to have, but just be honest about what this team is and has been--mediocre and outclassed by the best teams. In the tanking era, the Cardinals haven't won more the 91 games since 2015. They've only one the division once in that same span, and it's been a weak division. You yourself have mocked the "nostalgia tour" as evidence that the team isn't putting all its resources into assembling the best possible product.

by DCG 7/29/2022 6:48:47 PM
Peer franchises like the Cubs, Reds and Pirates endure long stretches of painful failure. So that's your context for what the Cardinals have done. Fans in similar markets could love the opportunity to whine about their team winning just 90 games in a bad division.
This team, when healthy, is pretty good. It has a nice mix of pitching, fielding, power and speed. But the team hasn't been healthy all year, which is why it has to aim higher with its depth of talent. The good news: Their prospect development is at a high point. The bad news: Some of that capital will get spent in the next few days to offset injuries. That may make it harder to build the sort of 100-victory team that fans weary of mere 90-victory success crave.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:53:51 PM
I think Vladi wants to play with Panarin

by Liz 7/29/2022 6:54:10 PM
That's what free agency is for.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:54:29 PM
Why didn't Spangenberg have to clear waivers before returning to Memphis?

by Brownie 7/29/2022 6:54:46 PM
He replaced a player who was ineligible to play under COVID restrictions.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:56:15 PM
yes, you are definitely on their payroll

by Cbow 7/29/2022 6:56:18 PM
I wish. Everything is breaking down in my house.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:56:32 PM
Jeff Albert seems to be okay this year with the chatters but he didn't help Carpenter and DeJung. Albert Pujos has had a good week so I can't rip on him.

by Ed 7/29/2022 6:56:42 PM
Funny how that works. Hitting only ruin players in the eyes of fans. They never help anybody.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:57:17 PM
If Mo leaves and the Cardinals need a highly paid moron to make obvious trades, I'm available.

by Jay Lewis 7/29/2022 6:57:20 PM
Unfortunately, this team does not operate like the Rockies. It aims a bit higher.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 6:57:53 PM
Soto is great, but would cost too much and is not the Cards most urgent need -- pitching is, ideally two starters and one or even two relievers. Who are realistic targets beyond Castillo (the new schedule makes intra-divisional play less compelling), Montas, and Lopez?

by Alex K in DC 7/29/2022 7:01:51 PM
Martín Pérez, Noah Syndergaard, Tyler Mahle, Kyle Freeland, Tyler Mahle, Edward Cabrera, Madison Bumgarner, Merrill Kelly and Tarik Skubal are some of the better possibilities.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:02:39 PM
Is Arizona looking for a scary dump for Bum? Or do they want a lot more? His experience and fiery personality would be a big plus for us.

by Faus 7/29/2022 7:02:45 PM
I'm guessing they want to dump the salary AND get some prospects. How much salary they would eat will determine how good the prospects would be.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:03:26 PM
I know the Cardinals need pitching, but I would not waste a single top prospect on what is available. This is not a championship caliber team, so burning assets in order to try to sneak in is dumb. The Osuna fiasco should always be a lesson to the Cardinals--don't waste prime assets on non-sure things. If someone were looking to move a clear ace, that's one thing, but no one that's out there is close to that. If they can use second tier prospects to get some pitching, fine, but save the prime prospects either to acquire elite talent or to become part of the future.

by Dave G 7/29/2022 7:03:43 PM
That is a realistic view. Even the top pitchers available (Castillo, Montas, Lopez) wouldn't guarantee much in a short playoff series.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:04:54 PM
What is the ETA for Walker in the bigs? Could he make the team out of Spring Training next year? Would he alternate between the outfield and DH?

by Jake the Snake 7/29/2022 7:04:56 PM
Until he plays a bunch at Triple-A, it's hard to place an ETA. I would say a some point next season he will get big league at bats. When he arrives, he is most likely to play outfield unless Arenado bails and the team tries to get him big league-ready at third base.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:06:22 PM
Who do the Brewers grab? and do they run away with the division? Cards are tied with Philly for third playoff spot and absent real quality in a trade for pitchers will be gasping for air in September.

by Alex K in DC 7/29/2022 7:06:26 PM
I see the Brewers adding offense. They are looking at outfielders and a first baseman like Josh Bell would really help.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:07:00 PM
I wouldn't trade Gorman or Walker, true power hitters are hard find. Soto and Ohtani will command obscene contracts in a couple years and will be with big dollar teams.

by Ed 7/29/2022 7:07:03 PM
Yes, it's hard to imagine the Cardinals spending at that level.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:07:18 PM
Gorman would get you MadBaum and who else from Az

by JW Help 7/29/2022 7:07:33 PM
Merrill Kelly would be a nice get.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:07:41 PM
We have all known going into this season we needed more Starting pitching. Not just arms but studs who can shut things down. But I don't envy how difficult it would be to understand contracts, years, talent, chemistry. What is more likely? Big trade with Washington? Big trade with the Angels. Lots of trades with multiple teams - or do nothing?

by Faus 7/29/2022 7:07:56 PM
I would bet on two or three trades for pitching. I don't see how they could add Juan Soto as a rental and still have enough to get all the pitching they will need to make it through the stretch run.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:08:43 PM
I appreciate that the cost of good pitcher will be expensive from a prospect standpoint, but I don’t want to hear that as an excuse. Flaherty has dealt with injuries prior to this year. Matz was healthy last year, but during his career he’s missed significant time. The Alex Reyes injury history has been well documented. My point is nobody should be surprised the pitching is in the shape it’s in. The Cardinals stopped short and when fans like myself brought it up a common response was something to the effect of “it’s early and the roster isn’t frozen”. Acquiring good pitching is always expensive either in prospects or dollars. It was true last year, ten years ago, and it still will be ten years from now. My question is for all of the people who let the team off the hook at the deadline, is there any excuse from the team that you won’t accept?

by WP 7/29/2022 7:09:46 PM
I have pointed out quite often that the team went into the spring without much of a safety net for pitching because there wasn't much behind the top few options at Memphis and the team made only the one move to upgrade the rotation with a veteran. I have also written about how the team filled bullpen depth on the cheap and how that cost them.
The bottom line is, every team should expect their pitching staff to suffer multiple injuries every year. This week I wrote that an optimal starting point for the Cardinals is six strong starting pitchers backed by a good five-man rotation in Memphis. The bullpen should have six high-leverage relievers with four good options available on the Memphis shuttle.
If the Cardinals achieve that going into next season -- a doable goal --then they would be as well-prepared as possible for the injuries to come.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:14:37 PM
People, including you, Gordo, need to stop making claims about what the Nats want or are attempting to do with ihe Cardinals. Everything out there is speculation because until their ownership has a sense of when it will be selling and what will be most enticing to buyers, they won't be engaging in any talks. No one knows what the Nats want because the Nats don't even know if they are ready to deal Soto, and they aren't leaking offers or wish-lists. It's all twitter speculation.

by Cards fan in NC 7/29/2022 7:16:23 PM
The Nationals have been quite open about their intention to sell off players, including Soto. In fact, GM Mike Rizzo clarified his strategy by insisting he would not take less of a return for Soto or Josh Bell by dumping a bad contract into the trade.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:17:50 PM
Will the Cardinal's front office be kicking itself for not signing more reasonable pitching depth last offseason, if they have to give up significant prospect capital to infuse some talent into the rotation? Will it be worse if Soto does get moved and they don't have the firepower left to pull of a deal because they spend their dry powder in prospects to get more arms?

by Dave 7/29/2022 7:18:09 PM
Sure, the Cardinals should have done more in the offseason to fortify their pitching. Fans get worked into a frenzy over trade deadline deals, but I'm more interested in what teams do to build depth through player development and offseason moves that yield full-season value.

by Jeff Gordon 7/29/2022 7:19:40 PM