This could be the most practical way to get some needed '26 starting pitching

[Mort Gage]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

That would be great. Get Herrera some reps there too. Not happening, though. As you’ve been told probably hundreds of times by now.

There's more to the advantage of trading Contreras. The money saved could be utilized for a FA starting pitcher of significance. Burleson would be fine at 1B, offensively and defensively.

Do you think Contreras would waive his no trade? He has stated he will not.

Do you think many teams would have interest if he did waive his no trade?

Do you feel the Cardinals are screwed in trying to make this happen, somehow, in order to enhance the reset? Be creative in your thinking occasionally.

Please explain how you would be "creative" in convincing Contreras to waive his NTC when he is happy here? We know you're dying to see him gone so your dreamboat could take over 1B, but it's not happening soon.

I’d also like to see that creative thinking put to use to suggest some possible landing spots Contreras might consider that would be looking for a veteran right hander bat for 1B/DH.

And with his contract and option buyout he's owed 41.5mm for his age 34-35 seasons. I don't see anyone taking him on unless the Cards eat a significant portion of that.

[scoutyjones2]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

LoL. Fat fingers hit 2 vs 1...brilliant catch...

He'd be tied for 5th in all of MLB as a catcher, for HRs. He's like 7 behind the over valued Realmuto on career HRs. In almost 1500 less ABs

13th for 1b in all ofLB. Nothing to complain about when it's a new position

[TheSolution]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

And when he did that he wasn't a DH or 1b, but you knew that.

What point are you attempting to make?

[TheSolution]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

LoL. Fat fingers hit 2 vs 1...brilliant catch...

He'd be tied for 5th in all of MLB as a catcher, for HRs. He's like 7 behind the over valued Realmuto on career HRs. In almost 1500 less ABs

13th for 1b in all ofLB. Nothing to complain about when it's a new position

Right, signing a free agent catcher who can’t catch who must play DH or 1B who’s never hit 25 HR’s is an excellent choice.

[scoutyjones2]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

LoL. Fat fingers hit 2 vs 1...brilliant catch...

He'd be tied for 5th in all of MLB as a catcher, for HRs. He's like 7 behind the over valued Realmuto on career HRs. In almost 1500 less ABs

13th for 1b in all ofLB. Nothing to complain about when it's a new position

Right, signing a free agent catcher who can’t catch who must play DH or 1B who’s never hit 25 HR’s is an excellent choice.

I bet you'd wet your pants for Realamuto, who he only lags behind by 8 HRs

Cards needed a 1b once Oldys contract expired. Baker wasn't doing it so WillyCon stepped up and been pretty (bleep) good. But think what you want, no matter how misaligned your thinking is..
What other RH bat should have played 1b? JW???

[CorneliusWolfe]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

That would be great. Get Herrera some reps there too. Not happening, though. As you’ve been told probably hundreds of times by now.

There's more to the advantage of trading Contreras. The money saved could be utilized for a FA starting pitcher of significance. Burleson would be fine at 1B, offensively and defensively.

Would the trade return not be better for the great Alec Burleson? Considering the cost, WC would be more of a salary dump, so no prospect return.

As far as savings in salary, do you really think BDW will reinvest the $$ in a “FA pitcher of significance?

With their offensive numbers being similar, why not keep the better defender and RH hitter on a team starved for it? Burleson will likely never reach 25 HRs either btw.

[JohnnyMO]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

That would be great. Get Herrera some reps there too. Not happening, though. As you’ve been told probably hundreds of times by now.

There's more to the advantage of trading Contreras. The money saved could be utilized for a FA starting pitcher of significance. Burleson would be fine at 1B, offensively and defensively.

Would the trade return not be better for the great Alec Burleson? Considering the cost, WC would be more of a salary dump, so no prospect return.

As far as savings in salary, do you really think BDW will reinvest the $$ in a “FA pitcher of significance?

With their offensive numbers being similar, why not keep the better defender and RH hitter on a team starved for it? Burleson will likely never reach 25 HRs either btw.

Don’t go injecting logic into things

[CorneliusWolfe]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

That would be great. Get Herrera some reps there too. Not happening, though. As you’ve been told probably hundreds of times by now.

There's more to the advantage of trading Contreras. The money saved could be utilized for a FA starting pitcher of significance. Burleson would be fine at 1B, offensively and defensively.

Would the trade return not be better for the great Alec Burleson? Considering the cost, WC would be more of a salary dump, so no prospect return.

As far as savings in salary, do you really think BDW will reinvest the $$ in a “FA pitcher of significance?

With their offensive numbers being similar, why not keep the better defender and RH hitter on a team starved for it? Burleson will likely never reach 25 HRs either btw.

Don’t go injecting logic into things

Sorry, I don’t know what came over me! I should’ve known better. Shady only engages in insult dialogue instead of the “baseball discussion” he claims to crave so much.

[An Old Friend]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ca ... 291d&ei=12
Right now, the Cardinals are going to need, at least, two additions to the '26 starting rotation. This makes sense as a way to try to get them.

<starts thread talking about ways to get pitching, suggesting additions>
<links article without a single pitcher target mentioned>

Sounds about right.

Their pitching acquisition plan should start with Dylan Cease. It WON’T, but it should.

[rockondlouie]

Only a few dozen posters here have made the same suggestion for months, this is an OLD IDEA.

[njcardfan]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Honest question. Doesn’t every team have a bunch of Noots?

[JuanAgosto]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

LoL. Fat fingers hit 2 vs 1...brilliant catch...

He'd be tied for 5th in all of MLB as a catcher, for HRs. He's like 7 behind the over valued Realmuto on career HRs. In almost 1500 less ABs

13th for 1b in all ofLB. Nothing to complain about when it's a new position

Contreras has played well in moving to 1b. Having him there in 2026 isn't a bad thing.

[Bad14]

Contreras isn't the problem. The problem is no serious power in outfield.

[JohnnyMO]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Honest question. Doesn’t every team have a bunch of Noots?

Left hander that plays all three outfield positions and generally gives you about a .780 ops? A lot of teams have something like that, plenty don’t. And, more importantly, a lot of teams are in love with hard hit percentage and swing speed and all those underlying stats that make Noot an analytics darling.

[Bomber1]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

And when he did that he wasn't a DH or 1b, but you knew that.

What point are you attempting to make?

That’s what I was wondering.

[TheSolution]

Two of Burly/Noot/Gorman/Donovan need traded for sure. Noot and Donovan are the two I’d trade in a perfect scenario, but any two of those four is fine if the return is right.

I hold on to Gorman because of the needed power upside and Burly just because I think the other two will bring back more in a trade.

Another option, trade Contreras. Move Burleson to 1B.

(bleep), WillyCon has NTC thru 2026

Which only adds to the complications and validation that it was a very dumb signing.

He’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career, hits for a low average, can’t play his main position, blocks others at DH and 1B, and did I mention he’s going to be 34 and has never hit 25 HR’s in a season and he’s taking up DH and 1B.

Nope. A perfectly good signing.

He's blocking no one from DH or 2b. He has hit 24.

Had some injury issues during his Cards career.

Anybody on this team leading in HRs or RBI's

He doesn’t play 2b.

7 year ago, at the age of 27, he hit his max HR total in his career of a whopping 24, which is nowhere near what you’d want at DH or 1B when selecting a free agent for these spots.

And when he did that he wasn't a DH or 1b, but you knew that.

What point are you attempting to make?

That’s what I was wondering.

Mentioning that Contreras hit his 24 HR’s (career max) while catching, not DH or 1B, as a reply to me pointing out he’s never hit 25 HR’s in his career and he hit his career max 7 years ago makes zero sense as an attempted point.