Humor Me - One Move they Make

[Adam2]

IMO the Cardinals won't do much, this will be let's see what we have and develop the minor leaguers we currently have and have coming in.

With that said, what one move will they make in your opinion. I would think most of us would agree they will prune the current roster somehow, someway.

Is it at the catching position with all the depth and active players who have value?
Arb guys who are going to cost a lot more but who control
High priced FA that needs to take a hike to free up cash flow and open up a spot for eval and opportunity.

I'm stuck between moving on from a catcher, Pages or Pozo (maybe Crooks) or Nootbaar. He had his chance, has limited control and is now aging out. He has some value being able to play all 3 outfield positions, lefty and when right can draw a ton of walks and hit for a little power. Maybe unrefined bullpen arm?

Anyway just curious what foresee happening if only one move was to occur, or if you want, the highest probability of <N> move happening.

The single one move that the Cards could do to get better is to go out and sign the best free agent pitcher available. They won't of course because they're penny pinchers. But a dominant starter would make the rest of the pitching better.

Who?
the list consists of Cease, Gallen, Valdez, then down to Merrill Kelly and Flaherty. for the money who is worth it? Weak weak weak class. you want 180 mil for the top of a (bleep) class? too easy to say "just sign the best free agent pitcher available". research is helpful

I don't need to research it. I'm not employed by the Cards. They have a whole dept to research stuff like that. Cease has been really good at times so has Gallen. Are you telling me neither would fit nicely in the Cards rotation? Bieber is about to start in the ALCS and he's a free agent. Giolito, Kelly, Bassitt. There are a lot of upgrades out there. Pony up and put a decent product on the field.

Cease was at best decent at times. Gallen had a horrendous year

[butsir01]

IMO the Cardinals won't do much, this will be let's see what we have and develop the minor leaguers we currently have and have coming in.

With that said, what one move will they make in your opinion. I would think most of us would agree they will prune the current roster somehow, someway.

Is it at the catching position with all the depth and active players who have value?
Arb guys who are going to cost a lot more but who control
High priced FA that needs to take a hike to free up cash flow and open up a spot for eval and opportunity.

I'm stuck between moving on from a catcher, Pages or Pozo (maybe Crooks) or Nootbaar. He had his chance, has limited control and is now aging out. He has some value being able to play all 3 outfield positions, lefty and when right can draw a ton of walks and hit for a little power. Maybe unrefined bullpen arm?

Anyway just curious what foresee happening if only one move was to occur, or if you want, the highest probability of <N> move happening.

The single one move that the Cards could do to get better is to go out and sign the best free agent pitcher available. They won't of course because they're penny pinchers. But a dominant starter would make the rest of the pitching better.

Who?
the list consists of Cease, Gallen, Valdez, then down to Merrill Kelly and Flaherty. for the money who is worth it? Weak weak weak class. you want 180 mil for the top of a (bleep) class? too easy to say "just sign the best free agent pitcher available". research is helpful

I don't need to research it. I'm not employed by the Cards. They have a whole dept to research stuff like that. Cease has been really good at times so has Gallen. Are you telling me neither would fit nicely in the Cards rotation? Bieber is about to start in the ALCS and he's a free agent. Giolito, Kelly, Bassitt. There are a lot of upgrades out there. Pony up and put a decent product on the field.

Hear! Hear!
II & III, your negligence and penny-pinching mismanagement has cost your fans many wasted summers and reduced your asset’s value by many millions. I thought billionaires were supposed to be smart at this business thing. Here, quite the opposite actually.

[CCard]

IMO the Cardinals won't do much, this will be let's see what we have and develop the minor leaguers we currently have and have coming in.

With that said, what one move will they make in your opinion. I would think most of us would agree they will prune the current roster somehow, someway.

Is it at the catching position with all the depth and active players who have value?
Arb guys who are going to cost a lot more but who control
High priced FA that needs to take a hike to free up cash flow and open up a spot for eval and opportunity.

I'm stuck between moving on from a catcher, Pages or Pozo (maybe Crooks) or Nootbaar. He had his chance, has limited control and is now aging out. He has some value being able to play all 3 outfield positions, lefty and when right can draw a ton of walks and hit for a little power. Maybe unrefined bullpen arm?

Anyway just curious what foresee happening if only one move was to occur, or if you want, the highest probability of <N> move happening.

The single one move that the Cards could do to get better is to go out and sign the best free agent pitcher available. They won't of course because they're penny pinchers. But a dominant starter would make the rest of the pitching better.

Who?
the list consists of Cease, Gallen, Valdez, then down to Merrill Kelly and Flaherty. for the money who is worth it? Weak weak weak class. you want 180 mil for the top of a (bleep) class? too easy to say "just sign the best free agent pitcher available". research is helpful

I don't need to research it. I'm not employed by the Cards. They have a whole dept to research stuff like that. Cease has been really good at times so has Gallen. Are you telling me neither would fit nicely in the Cards rotation? Bieber is about to start in the ALCS and he's a free agent. Giolito, Kelly, Bassitt. There are a lot of upgrades out there. Pony up and put a decent product on the field.

Cease was at best decent at times. Gallen had a horrendous year

Gallen....Whip 1.26....175 SO.....192 IP

Gray....Whip 1.234....201 SO.....201 IP

A horrible year? LOL He would have been the 2nd best pitcher in the Cards rotation

Mikolas...Whip1.318...100 SO...156 IP
Pallante...Whip 1.445...111 SO...162 IP

Wow.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

IMO the Cardinals won't do much, this will be let's see what we have and develop the minor leaguers we currently have and have coming in.

With that said, what one move will they make in your opinion. I would think most of us would agree they will prune the current roster somehow, someway.

Is it at the catching position with all the depth and active players who have value?
Arb guys who are going to cost a lot more but who control
High priced FA that needs to take a hike to free up cash flow and open up a spot for eval and opportunity.

I'm stuck between moving on from a catcher, Pages or Pozo (maybe Crooks) or Nootbaar. He had his chance, has limited control and is now aging out. He has some value being able to play all 3 outfield positions, lefty and when right can draw a ton of walks and hit for a little power. Maybe unrefined bullpen arm?

Anyway just curious what foresee happening if only one move was to occur, or if you want, the highest probability of <N> move happening.

The single one move that the Cards could do to get better is to go out and sign the best free agent pitcher available. They won't of course because they're penny pinchers. But a dominant starter would make the rest of the pitching better.

Who?
the list consists of Cease, Gallen, Valdez, then down to Merrill Kelly and Flaherty. for the money who is worth it? Weak weak weak class. you want 180 mil for the top of a (bleep) class? too easy to say "just sign the best free agent pitcher available". research is helpful

I don't need to research it. I'm not employed by the Cards. They have a whole dept to research stuff like that. Cease has been really good at times so has Gallen. Are you telling me neither would fit nicely in the Cards rotation? Bieber is about to start in the ALCS and he's a free agent. Giolito, Kelly, Bassitt. There are a lot of upgrades out there. Pony up and put a decent product on the field.

Cease was at best decent at times. Gallen had a horrendous year

Gallen....Whip 1.26....175 SO.....192 IP

Gray....Whip 1.234....201 SO.....201 IP

A horrible year? LOL He would have been the 2nd best pitcher in the Cards rotation

Mikolas...Whip1.318...100 SO...156 IP
Pallante...Whip 1.445...111 SO...162 IP

Wow.

Those are two awful pitchers.

[juan good eye]

The one move I feel strongly they make is dealing NADO.

Why? He has no trade value.

[juan good eye]

I think the only for sure internal moves they will make is trade Nado and Sonny.
The rest just depends on what their goal is next season.
Gorman should be gone. Same with Noot.

What’s the point of trading Nado?

Gorman and Noot value is low but has chance to rebound, same as Walker so I say hold for now.

Sonny, BD, and WC should be moved asap as their value becomes less with every game played next year.

[rockondlouie]

The one move I feel strongly they make is dealing NADO.

Why? He has no trade value.

Why?

Because:

1 - You clear some payroll space, even it's only $10-15M that can be used for adding a player of need

2 - You have to clear 3rd base for either N. Gorman or Donny if he's not traded

3 - NADO's made it pretty clear he understands the re-build is happening and even though he really likes it here he wants to end his career on a playoff team if possible

4 - And if BDWJr does pickup 50%-75% of his remining deal (minus the $5M from the Rockies in 2026), then C. Bloom may indeed unearth a gem in the acquires minor league system and get him

5 - He has more trade appeal to other teams than too many in here think. Defense is still well above league average and at 34/35 yrs old in 2026 it's not beyond the realm a change of scenery could energize him to being a league average (100 wRC+) hitter.

JMO

[RunSup]

They will trade a catcher and one or several 1B/DH.

Hopefully they pick up a couple of good prospects.

They will sign stop gap starting pitching to get through innings in 2026.

They will eat salary to trade Arenado. Shouldn't have to eat much to trade Gray or Contreras.

Highest value trade bait: Gray, Contreras, Donovan, Burleson, Herrera, Jo Jo, VSII, Crooks, Walker/Gorman,

Only Winn and Wetherholt are untouchable.

Nootbar's feet surgery says he stays until he recovers.

[ScotchMIrish]

Bloom will try to move Arenado and Gray and acquire pitching. I'll be surprised if he gets much in return other than to free up salary to sign a free agent pitcher or two. The question is how much of their salary he has to absorb if any other team wants them and whether they waive the no trade clause. I could see him trying to move Contreras also.

[ecleme22]

Bloom will try to move Arenado and Gray and acquire pitching. I'll be surprised if he gets much in return other than to free up salary to sign a free agent pitcher or two. The question is how much of their salary he has to absorb if any other team wants them and whether they waive the no trade clause. I could see him trying to move Contreras also.

I could see him eating 40% of NAs, 25-30% of SGs, 10% of WCs.

Now, I do think Bloom will offer to eat more of the salary if it will improve the return.

[ScotchMIrish]

Bloom will try to move Arenado and Gray and acquire pitching. I'll be surprised if he gets much in return other than to free up salary to sign a free agent pitcher or two. The question is how much of their salary he has to absorb if any other team wants them and whether they waive the no trade clause. I could see him trying to move Contreras also.

I could see him eating 40% of NAs, 25-30% of SGs, 10% of WCs.

Now, I do think Bloom will offer to eat more of the salary if it will improve the return.

Nothing against Arenado but he will be 35 next April coming off a 12 HR .237 BA scheduled to make $27 next season. I think we will have to take more like 75% of his salary and wouldn't expect much in return. Gray seems to still have more left in the tank but he will be 36 next July scheduled to make $35. Best return could be for Contreras and we have Hererra and Burleson to take over at 1B and DH.

I suspect Gray and Contreras will go to a team with a new manager to try to provide a boost. General managers want their new manager hire to succeed.

[imetsatchelpaige]

Nootbaar gets traded. Failure of Bloom to move him would be a Mo like event.

And a catcher. Could be part of the same trade.
And clearly what is targeted in return is a starting pitcher.

[jackclark57]

I think Chaim will look to find a buy-low starting pitcher with some upside on a short deal to try to rehabilitate their value. Someone like Mike Soroka.

[imetsatchelpaige]

I think Chaim will look to find a buy-low starting pitcher with some upside on a short deal to try to rehabilitate their value. Someone like Mike Soroka.

I actually think he looks for a #3 type to lock in long term.
It will take a lot--think combo of Nootbar, Arenado+$, Willy/another catcher, Burleson, Hererra, Walker, maybe but I hope not-Donovan--but I think that is the move. We keep Gray, get a solid #3, move Leahy to the rotation and pitch the kids.

The OP is hereby humored.