Top 40 Trade Candidates

[renostl]

Screw off with that 3 to 5 year bullcrap. Where do you guys get that from? Stupidity is rampant among you. A couple of signings and this team makes the playoffs.

The organization has said over and over it is not increasing payroll. 2026 is another rebuild. They are not making any major signings. It'll be one cost effective starting pitcher and maybe a reliever. They are not signing any major player that puts them in contention. THEY ARE FOCUSING ON BUILDING FROM WITHIN.

If you expect major changes this winter, you'll be very disappointed. But go ahead and wait for it.

That building from within worked back before free agency, it doesn't work now. The days of stacking a bunch of talent in the minors to languish are gone. Rule 5 drafts and minor league free agents have changed the game. They still have players under their thumbs some, but arbitration has alleviated much of that. That's why the cry poor crowd makes no sense. You play the game to try to win. If you don't then what's the purpose? Even if by some miracle you manage to pull off your pie in the sky juggernaut of young cost controlled superstars, you're still going to have to pay them through arbitration. And if you won't pay them through that or free agency they will be gone and you'll be doing the same thing all over again. LOL....3 to 5 years at a time.

I dont disagree with your opinion of trying to win. But to answer your question of why not try, its all about money. A cheap roster allows for revenue even if ticket sales and attendance drops.

As for the 3 to 5 year windows, just look at Tampa Bay. That's the strategy they've used. And Bloom knows it well.

Did Tampa Bay win something?

Tampa made a World Series appearance in the last 5 years. StL hasn't been close.

Im not saying its a strategy i agree with. But it's more likely to be what Bloom follows compared to spending on big free agents this winter.

As long as they spend enough to be competitive. That's all that most serious fans would ask for and expect. This cutting a team to the bone for some pot of gold down the road is laughable. I don't expect Bloom to perform miracles. Teams that spend win year in and year out.

If BDW allows Bloom to sign one GOOD starting pitcher and either a reliever or quality bench bat, I'll be satisfied. I think Bloom adds a starting pitcher through trade as well. If he was to acquire this and a RH power bat, I'd be ecstatic!

That's good with me pretty well. But not if they get rid of Gray. They need that 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. And they absolutely need a proven rbi guy that doesn't strike out a ton. That and some upgrade of the bullpen would give fans some hope and they might actually show up if there's a legit chance to make the playoffs. If they would target the payroll around 180 to 200 million it would probably get that done.

No way DeWitt is going anywhere close to a $200 million payroll in 2026.

Depends on if he wants to field a competitive team or not.

Haven't they already answered that question?

Or did we just watch what happens after a broadcast bankruptcy of which they had a 30% stake, a lot of uncertainty until 2025. 23% decrease in TV
revenue and a change in the strategy in putting a team together happening simultaneously?

I am of the belief that DeWitt could spend more. It doesn't matter what I believe. His margins and his budget are what they are.
I can respect that he may not have been open to spending good money after bad when the roster became flawed with the past FO.
A reset was needed; few disagree even here. A new direction is needed; many agree. He chose to not spend on Band-Aids for a flawed
roster. He was overly loyal to MO through that period but, did bring in a guy that matches more the direction he wants to go and
he took the punches along the way.

I think that he still wants to compete, he still likes the game, or he'd sell and fully appreciate a full ROI and walk away with a lot.
Maybe he'll let his kid decide on that fate or does it himself after 2027.

Now of course the 2027 is hanging over everything BUT both sides also know that there will be an agreement and neither side
will get everything that they want. There's an expected range that the new CBA will fall or they are not very good at projecting
these things.

He is also fully aware and needs to rebuild demand for his product. I expect them to improve the roster
but not by spending big unless they think they are a piece or two away from a legit run. That's not now but an improved roster
isn't difficult and it's not impossible to get to the top of the NLC in a short time period.

[CCard]

That building from within worked back before free agency, it doesn't work now. The days of stacking a bunch of talent in the minors to languish are gone. Rule 5 drafts and minor league free agents have changed the game. They still have players under their thumbs some, but arbitration has alleviated much of that. That's why the cry poor crowd makes no sense. You play the game to try to win. If you don't then what's the purpose? Even if by some miracle you manage to pull off your pie in the sky juggernaut of young cost controlled superstars, you're still going to have to pay them through arbitration. And if you won't pay them through that or free agency they will be gone and you'll be doing the same thing all over again. LOL....3 to 5 years at a time.

I dont disagree with your opinion of trying to win. But to answer your question of why not try, its all about money. A cheap roster allows for revenue even if ticket sales and attendance drops.

As for the 3 to 5 year windows, just look at Tampa Bay. That's the strategy they've used. And Bloom knows it well.

Did Tampa Bay win something?

Tampa made a World Series appearance in the last 5 years. StL hasn't been close.

Im not saying its a strategy i agree with. But it's more likely to be what Bloom follows compared to spending on big free agents this winter.

As long as they spend enough to be competitive. That's all that most serious fans would ask for and expect. This cutting a team to the bone for some pot of gold down the road is laughable. I don't expect Bloom to perform miracles. Teams that spend win year in and year out.

If BDW allows Bloom to sign one GOOD starting pitcher and either a reliever or quality bench bat, I'll be satisfied. I think Bloom adds a starting pitcher through trade as well. If he was to acquire this and a RH power bat, I'd be ecstatic!

That's good with me pretty well. But not if they get rid of Gray. They need that 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. And they absolutely need a proven rbi guy that doesn't strike out a ton. That and some upgrade of the bullpen would give fans some hope and they might actually show up if there's a legit chance to make the playoffs. If they would target the payroll around 180 to 200 million it would probably get that done.

No way DeWitt is going anywhere close to a $200 million payroll in 2026.

Depends on if he wants to field a competitive team or not.

That's the problem. I think BDW is happy to have a couple low payroll years of mediocre (at best) baseball until after the possible work stoppage.

DeWitt is getting older and every year they don't win it is another year he doesn't win it. You'd think he'd be like Gussy Busch was with Whitey. "Just win me one more, Whitey."

Hes won two and had several playoff teams. I think he fell for a formula that doesn't work. Be just good enough to qualify and hope to get hot (and fortunate). He tried to mix lower payroll with luck. The luck hasn't been there. He let a lazy, arrogant, idiot oversee the deterioration of the developmental system while handing out stupid contracts.

Hopefully, a new direction with updated methods will allow the team be serious competitors in a 3-5 year window.

Ugh....Keep your 3-5 year window. This team could be competitive with a few additions. DeWitt has always been cheap. Never wants to pay full price for anything. Mo had to work under this philosophy. Instead of going out and getting a great reliever he had to get a reliever and hope for greatness. Eventually that fails.

[JuanAgosto]

I dont disagree with your opinion of trying to win. But to answer your question of why not try, its all about money. A cheap roster allows for revenue even if ticket sales and attendance drops.

As for the 3 to 5 year windows, just look at Tampa Bay. That's the strategy they've used. And Bloom knows it well.

Did Tampa Bay win something?

Tampa made a World Series appearance in the last 5 years. StL hasn't been close.

Im not saying its a strategy i agree with. But it's more likely to be what Bloom follows compared to spending on big free agents this winter.

As long as they spend enough to be competitive. That's all that most serious fans would ask for and expect. This cutting a team to the bone for some pot of gold down the road is laughable. I don't expect Bloom to perform miracles. Teams that spend win year in and year out.

If BDW allows Bloom to sign one GOOD starting pitcher and either a reliever or quality bench bat, I'll be satisfied. I think Bloom adds a starting pitcher through trade as well. If he was to acquire this and a RH power bat, I'd be ecstatic!

That's good with me pretty well. But not if they get rid of Gray. They need that 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. And they absolutely need a proven rbi guy that doesn't strike out a ton. That and some upgrade of the bullpen would give fans some hope and they might actually show up if there's a legit chance to make the playoffs. If they would target the payroll around 180 to 200 million it would probably get that done.

No way DeWitt is going anywhere close to a $200 million payroll in 2026.

Depends on if he wants to field a competitive team or not.

That's the problem. I think BDW is happy to have a couple low payroll years of mediocre (at best) baseball until after the possible work stoppage.

DeWitt is getting older and every year they don't win it is another year he doesn't win it. You'd think he'd be like Gussy Busch was with Whitey. "Just win me one more, Whitey."

Hes won two and had several playoff teams. I think he fell for a formula that doesn't work. Be just good enough to qualify and hope to get hot (and fortunate). He tried to mix lower payroll with luck. The luck hasn't been there. He let a lazy, arrogant, idiot oversee the deterioration of the developmental system while handing out stupid contracts.

Hopefully, a new direction with updated methods will allow the team be serious competitors in a 3-5 year window.

Ugh....Keep your 3-5 year window. This team could be competitive with a few additions. DeWitt has always been cheap. Never wants to pay full price for anything. Mo had to work under this philosophy. Instead of going out and getting a great reliever he had to get a reliever and hope for greatness. Eventually that fails.

Yes, Dewitt could make this team very competitive next year if he wanted to. But i think the $ is more important to him at this point. So instead of a retool, its a rebuild.