Should Curtis Taylor get a shot

[hugeCardfan]

Clearly the 30 year old journeyman surprised the Cardinals in Memphis last year. He was brought in as a long relief candidate and became their most consistent starter. He was the Memphis starter of the year over McGreevy, who clearly pulled double duty in St Louis. Taylor has a high K rate and a much improved change up since spending last winter at Driveline. He won 10 games with a 3.1 ERA.

He has a mid 90’s fastball to go along with improved off speed stuff. Should be interesting addition in ST. Would love for him to stick. We could use a break in the rotation department.

[BrummerStealsHome]

Why not? If for no other reason as a trade piece.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I'm not against it, but it seems like if the organization had any intention of giving him a shot they would have done it in the last 6 weeks of this season when Pallante couldn't get out of his own way.

[Bomber1]

Clearly the 30 year old journeyman surprised the Cardinals in Memphis last year. He was brought in as a long relief candidate and became their most consistent starter. He was the Memphis starter of the year over McGreevy, who clearly pulled double duty in St Louis. Taylor has a high K rate and a much improved change up since spending last winter at Driveline. He won 10 games with a 3.1 ERA.

He has a mid 90’s fastball to go along with improved off speed stuff. Should be interesting addition in ST. Would love for him to stick. We could use a break in the rotation department.

Agree, this rotation could use a nice surprise.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Clearly the 30 year old journeyman surprised the Cardinals in Memphis last year. He was brought in as a long relief candidate and became their most consistent starter. He was the Memphis starter of the year over McGreevy, who clearly pulled double duty in St Louis. Taylor has a high K rate and a much improved change up since spending last winter at Driveline. He won 10 games with a 3.1 ERA.

He has a mid 90’s fastball to go along with improved off speed stuff. Should be interesting addition in ST. Would love for him to stick. We could use a break in the rotation department.

I think so. It would be nice to see a guy who paid his dues and succeeded at AAA get a shot. And at the very least, he could display some trade value as Brummer mentioned.

[Cusecards]

Great topic thanks!
I confess to knowing nothing about him so I looked up his stats.
Career minor leaguer and 30 but did post nice numbers at Memphis.
BP fit?? Especially long relief/middleman??
I don’t see the Cards spending big $$ on FA pitching. Short term at best unless they manage to unload Arenado AND Gray without sending a ton of cash in the deal.
Taylor could certainly get a look along with Leahy, Mathews etc.
Should be an interesting Hot Stove.

[Jatalk]

Great topic thanks!
I confess to knowing nothing about him so I looked up his stats.
Career minor leaguer and 30 but did post nice numbers at Memphis.
BP fit?? Especially long relief/middleman??
I don’t see the Cards spending big $$ on FA pitching. Short term at best unless they manage to unload Arenado AND Gray without sending a ton of cash in the deal.
Taylor could certainly get a look along with Leahy, Mathews etc.
Should be an interesting Hot Stove.

I don’t see a big dollar FA either. Frankly it’s too early to tie up big money for pitching. I see next year as more of a “committee” approach both in the rotation and in the pen. Several deserve a good look and I think they can win with that approach. I would rather spend money on offense.

[Cusecards]

Great topic thanks!
I confess to knowing nothing about him so I looked up his stats.
Career minor leaguer and 30 but did post nice numbers at Memphis.
BP fit?? Especially long relief/middleman??
I don’t see the Cards spending big $$ on FA pitching. Short term at best unless they manage to unload Arenado AND Gray without sending a ton of cash in the deal.
Taylor could certainly get a look along with Leahy, Mathews etc.
Should be an interesting Hot Stove.

I don’t see a big dollar FA either. Frankly it’s too early to tie up big money for pitching. I see next year as more of a “committee” approach both in the rotation and in the pen. Several deserve a good look and I think they can win with that approach. I would rather spend money on offense.

Agree
If they were in a position where adding a significant FA pitcher would put them over the top then fine.
Like you said more likely 2027.
Too many potential arms to look at within the system.
Of course they could add a vet on a one year deal
as a transition move to cover innings?

[rockondlouie]

Clearly the 30 year old journeyman surprised the Cardinals in Memphis last year. He was brought in as a long relief candidate and became their most consistent starter. He was the Memphis starter of the year over McGreevy, who clearly pulled double duty in St Louis. Taylor has a high K rate and a much improved change up since spending last winter at Driveline. He won 10 games with a 3.1 ERA.

He has a mid 90’s fastball to go along with improved off speed stuff. Should be interesting addition in ST. Would love for him to stick. We could use a break in the rotation department.

Fresh eye's in the POBO office most likely means everyone is going to get a solid chance to impress this spring!

That's why this move was needed years ago, Mo had grown stale in the job and set in his ways.

[hmoss859]

Woo said Tayllor did not fit into future organizational plans, so they let Pallente continue his beatings

[Basil Shabazz]

He should absolutely get a real look in the spring.

For a big guy, he doesn't appear to have a ton of swing & miss though.

[ilcubuffs]

If he is a pitch movement and location guy definitely give him is opportunity in ST. I know they want to have the fireballer but a change within the rotation or BP would help.

[greyhawk]

The cost would be right for Taylor -- i bet he gets a shot especially if Gray gets moved.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

I would give him a chance over Pallante.

[hugeCardfan]

He should absolutely get a real look in the spring.

For a big guy, he doesn't appear to have a ton of swing & miss though.

469 strikeouts in 440 innings. He must have some swing and miss.

[Basil Shabazz]

He should absolutely get a real look in the spring.

For a big guy, he doesn't appear to have a ton of swing & miss though.

469 strikeouts in 440 innings. He must have some swing and miss.

I see it as progressing to mediocre swing and miss. 2025 was his most extensive innings at his highest level, and he was a 7.7 SO9 guy. Pretty good, but not what I'd consider a swing and miss MLBer as a starter. Appears to be a guy who dials up the juice more in shorter relief stints. Think Lance Lynn lite(no pun intended). Now, if he is 80% of LL and cost-controlled, he'd surely be a short-term asset.