Our trades won't yield much and if we don't buy any free agents: How does this lineup play?

[Bully4you]

Let's say the trade Walker and Nootbaar for unknown minor league assets. I don't know how the bull pen shapes out, but I put Pallante there for sure.

How does this lineup play in 2026? Based on what we heard, I'd say it may be what we will get or something similar to this. Burleson in RF is a disaster, but he hits. Arenado may not be able to be moved for what they'd want. I'd like Burleson to get as many plate appearances as possible. Herrera is a injury concern in LF. Not sure he can last. Gorman only in field if absolutely necessary.

Starting lineup

2nd Base—Wetherholt
LF – Donovan/Herrera
1st Base—Contreras
RF—Burleson
DH--Gorman/Herrera --Bounce back year
3rd Base—Arenado--Bounce back year
SS—Winn
C—Pages/Crooks--Hope for Improvements
CF—Scott/Church--Hope for Improvements


Rotation

Gray
Doyle
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews/Leahy

Bull Pen

Pallante
Graceffo
Mathews/Leahy
Matt Svanson
JoJo Romero
Riley O'Brien
Tink Hence??

[Youboughtit]

Let's say the trade Walker and Nootbaar for unknown minor league assets. I don't know how the bull pen shapes out, but I put Pallante there for sure.

How does this lineup play in 2026? Based on what we heard, I'd say it may be what we will get or something similar to this. Burleson in RF is a disaster, but he hits. Arenado may not be able to be moved for what they'd want. I'd like Burleson to get as many plate appearances as possible. Herrera is a injury concern in LF. Not sure he can last. Gorman only in field if absolutely necessary.

Starting lineup

2nd Base—Wetherholt
LF – Donovan/Herrera
1st Base—Contreras
RF—Burleson
DH--Gorman/Herrera --Bounce back year
3rd Base—Arenado--Bounce back year
SS—Winn
C—Pages/Crooks--Hope for Improvements
CF—Scott/Church--Hope for Improvements


Rotation

Gray
Doyle
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews/Leahy

Bull Pen

Pallante
Graceffo
Mathews/Leahy
Matt Svanson
JoJo Romero
Riley O'Brien
Tink Hence??

Close. Only a few things wrong Doyle has been said will
Follow same path as Wetherholt and Arenado and likely Gray will be gone. Walker will 100% be in RF and Burley in LF and Donovan or Wetherholt at 3B. A low end SP will be obtained either in Gorman trade or FA. That’s all

[Midrange Jay]

Let's say the trade Walker and Nootbaar for unknown minor league assets. I don't know how the bull pen shapes out, but I put Pallante there for sure.

How does this lineup play in 2026? Based on what we heard, I'd say it may be what we will get or something similar to this. Burleson in RF is a disaster, but he hits. Arenado may not be able to be moved for what they'd want. I'd like Burleson to get as many plate appearances as possible. Herrera is a injury concern in LF. Not sure he can last. Gorman only in field if absolutely necessary.

Starting lineup

2nd Base—Wetherholt
LF – Donovan/Herrera
1st Base—Contreras
RF—Burleson
DH--Gorman/Herrera --Bounce back year
3rd Base—Arenado--Bounce back year
SS—Winn
C—Pages/Crooks--Hope for Improvements
CF—Scott/Church--Hope for Improvements


Rotation

Gray
Doyle
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews/Leahy

Bull Pen

Pallante
Graceffo
Mathews/Leahy
Matt Svanson
JoJo Romero
Riley O'Brien
Tink Hence??

You are describing a 70-75 win team.

[Bully4you]

[/quote]

You are describing a 70-75 win team.
[/quote]

Yeah, we'd need major improvements from several players to do much better.
Can't count on that.
Also, the pitching is a real issue.
Gray is grey.
And the rest are unproven.
Not sure what we'd get.
It's a big unknown.
Could actually be worse than you described.

[Cusecards]

Looks pretty accurate.
3B- Arenado probably gone. Gorman gets first look? Donovan behind him.
I’m excited for Doyle but probably see him after the break?
Cards might add a veteran SP on a reasonable one year deal?
Certainly will if Gray is dealt.

[stormtime]

I would advise not to plan on contending at all. FA signings won't be impressive names, but possible rebound candidates and/or those that Chaim and his team value differently. The same with trades. No chance we end up with a current elite group of prospects given what we have to offer, but Chaim may find potential upside that we will enjoy later.

[Bully4you]

Looks pretty accurate.
3B- Arenado probably gone. Gorman gets first look? Donovan behind him.
I’m excited for Doyle but probably see him after the break?
Cards might add a veteran SP on a reasonable one year deal?
Certainly will if Gray is dealt.

If they can't get a taker for Arenado, don't they just keep him and hope for a rebound?
I get the feeling dEwitt won't pay down the contract.
It's less this coming year, I think?

[Bully4you]

I would advise not to plan on contending at all. FA signings won't be impressive names, but possible rebound candidates and/or those that Chaim and his team value differently. The same with trades. No chance we end up with a current elite group of prospects given what we have to offer, but Chaim may find potential upside that we will enjoy later.

Yeah, this will be a Moneyball type year.

[mattmitchl44]

I would advise not to plan on contending at all. FA signings won't be impressive names, but possible rebound candidates and/or those that Chaim and his team value differently. The same with trades. No chance we end up with a current elite group of prospects given what we have to offer, but Chaim may find potential upside that we will enjoy later.

Yeah, I think if you sign FAs you sign guys who you plan to shop to contenders at the 2026 trading deadline.

[Cusecards]

Looks pretty accurate.
3B- Arenado probably gone. Gorman gets first look? Donovan behind him.
I’m excited for Doyle but probably see him after the break?
Cards might add a veteran SP on a reasonable one year deal?
Certainly will if Gray is dealt.

If they can't get a taker for Arenado, don't they just keep him and hope for a rebound?
I get the feeling dEwitt won't pay down the contract.
It's less this coming year, I think?

Yes because of the NTC.
They might stand a better chance of moving him at the trade deadline in July?
If he proves healthy AND has a bounce back on offense he is only owed $15M for 2027.

[Talkin' Baseball]

You may be pleasantly surprised at our trade returns. They will not be as sparse as you portray. I'm not sure what you have in mind when you say "buy" free agents. They may sign a few, but they won't "buy" anybody they can't also "sell" at the deadline.

[ecleme22]

The play is to trade BD, SG, NA and maybe WC and AB.

If you are low on players, sign some vets to one year deals and flip them at the deadline.

[Imperial Capitalist]

Rotation

Gray
Doyle
Liberatore
McGreevy
Mathews

Bull Pen

Pallante
Graceffo
Mathews/Leahy
Matt Svanson
JoJo Romero
Riley O'Brien
Tink Hence??

I wouldn't plan on Mathews in St Louis next season, regardless of the role.

His 2025 season in Memphis:

99 ip, 76 h, 74 bb, 107 k

WHIP - 1.596

Raw talent; yes. Still needing some work; most definitely.

[Midrange Jay]

The play is to trade BD, SG, NA and maybe WC and AB.

If you are low on players, sign some vets to one year deals and flip them at the deadline.

What do you mean “if” we are low on players? If we trade Gray, we have no starting pitchers that have pitched a complete season.

[ecleme22]

The play is to trade BD, SG, NA and maybe WC and AB.

If you are low on players, sign some vets to one year deals and flip them at the deadline.

What do you mean “if” we are low on players? If we trade Gray, we have no starting pitchers that have pitched a complete season.

No matter if Gray is traded or not, they will most likely have to pick up one or two starters via FA. Prob one year deals.

If they trade Gray, they will have to pick up one more.

They will definitely be short on players and will have to acquire some talent. I'm guessing they may also grab a flippable OFer too.

[Ozziesfan41]

Lord I hope Gorman isn’t back. If bloom needs another season to see what they have in him he’s blind. It will be more of the same Gorman will suck he will get hot for a while and Mel will be Patting himself on the back saying how brilliant he is for seeing how great Gorman is the same posters who fall for it every time will say Gorman has figured it out he looks like a completely different player then he will go back to sucking and at the end of the year his numbers will suck and he will have played bad defense. The only good Gorman is is to pad the strike out numbers of pitchers who face him