good article IMO
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/shou ... reras-more
the case to keep, the case to trade
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
Case for keeping Brendan Donovan:
The case for keeping: He’s their best player, first off. He’s also probably their most popular, one who has come up in the Cardinals’ system and one Cardinals fans have come to love. Trading him is essentially an admission that the Cardinals aren’t trying that hard to contend for the next two years. Considering they already haven’t made the playoffs in three years, that might be a hard pill to swallow for the fan base.
This is an example of how narrow-minded some people can be.
Here's a scenario:
1. Donovan (their best player!) traded for a near MLB-ready prospect.
2. JJ takes Donovan's spot on the roster.
3. Donovan's 6mil contract is used to help sign a starting pitcher.
There are numerous scenarios where BD is traded, but the team is still trying.
The case for keeping: He’s their best player, first off. He’s also probably their most popular, one who has come up in the Cardinals’ system and one Cardinals fans have come to love. Trading him is essentially an admission that the Cardinals aren’t trying that hard to contend for the next two years. Considering they already haven’t made the playoffs in three years, that might be a hard pill to swallow for the fan base.
This is an example of how narrow-minded some people can be.
Here's a scenario:
1. Donovan (their best player!) traded for a near MLB-ready prospect.
2. JJ takes Donovan's spot on the roster.
3. Donovan's 6mil contract is used to help sign a starting pitcher.
There are numerous scenarios where BD is traded, but the team is still trying.
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smilinjoefission
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
Cards are like the Blues now...a team that just doesn't realize how bad and bloated they are and what they have by way of prospects for the future. Both Blues and Cards probably wont be relevant until the late part of the 2020s/early 2030s so trade off ANYTHING that isn't part of that future and stockpile picks/prospects for the future...I can wait it out as long as they are learning (nice way to say losing) with younger players and not fat vets not pulling their weight.
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sikeston bulldog2
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
If you are correct, we will pass out longest stretch of not appearing in a World Series. The current stretch since 46 is like 18 years. We are at 12 now. Your scenario gets very close. Can you say 70’s and 90’s.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:18 am Cards are like the Blues now...a team that just doesn't realize how bad and bloated they are and what they have by way of prospects for the future. Both Blues and Cards probably wont be relevant until the late part of the 2020s/early 2030s so trade off ANYTHING that isn't part of that future and stockpile picks/prospects for the future...I can wait it out as long as they are learning (nice way to say losing) with younger players and not fat vets not pulling their weight.
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rockondlouie
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
Read it this morning too birds'.82birds wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:07 am good article IMO
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/shou ... reras-more
W. Leetch (Seeing Red Podcast w/Bernie) is a Cardinal fan as well as a national baseball writer so I value his opinions.
Laid it out about like most in here see it too.
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smilinjoefission
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
But the 70s brought us the 80s and the 90s got us the 2000s/2010s.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:23 amIf you are correct, we will pass out longest stretch of not appearing in a World Series. The current stretch since 46 is like 18 years. We are at 12 now. Your scenario gets very close. Can you say 70’s and 90’s.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:18 am Cards are like the Blues now...a team that just doesn't realize how bad and bloated they are and what they have by way of prospects for the future. Both Blues and Cards probably wont be relevant until the late part of the 2020s/early 2030s so trade off ANYTHING that isn't part of that future and stockpile picks/prospects for the future...I can wait it out as long as they are learning (nice way to say losing) with younger players and not fat vets not pulling their weight.
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sikeston bulldog2
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
Correct you are. Stand me corrected but didn’t both the 80’s and 2000’s have hew ownership. If true is that the key missing link here.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 10:15 amBut the 70s brought us the 80s and the 90s got us the 2000s/2010s.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:23 amIf you are correct, we will pass out longest stretch of not appearing in a World Series. The current stretch since 46 is like 18 years. We are at 12 now. Your scenario gets very close. Can you say 70’s and 90’s.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:18 am Cards are like the Blues now...a team that just doesn't realize how bad and bloated they are and what they have by way of prospects for the future. Both Blues and Cards probably wont be relevant until the late part of the 2020s/early 2030s so trade off ANYTHING that isn't part of that future and stockpile picks/prospects for the future...I can wait it out as long as they are learning (nice way to say losing) with younger players and not fat vets not pulling their weight.
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smilinjoefission
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Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
New managers...Whitey and LaRussa, without either I don't think the Cards have the success, especially in the 80s as Whitey pretty much built that team from scratch. Fact is the Cards aren't winning with marmot, they won't win with rookie managers....they need an old bull to get some order back into the club. I think this ownership is fine, they spend money, just not wisely and/or efficiently, but that was on Mo...this new GM along with a new vet manager might equal winning.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 10:22 amCorrect you are. Stand me corrected but didn’t both the 80’s and 2000’s have hew ownership. If true is that the key missing link here.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 10:15 amBut the 70s brought us the 80s and the 90s got us the 2000s/2010s.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:23 amIf you are correct, we will pass out longest stretch of not appearing in a World Series. The current stretch since 46 is like 18 years. We are at 12 now. Your scenario gets very close. Can you say 70’s and 90’s.smilinjoefission wrote: ↑20 Nov 2025 08:18 am Cards are like the Blues now...a team that just doesn't realize how bad and bloated they are and what they have by way of prospects for the future. Both Blues and Cards probably wont be relevant until the late part of the 2020s/early 2030s so trade off ANYTHING that isn't part of that future and stockpile picks/prospects for the future...I can wait it out as long as they are learning (nice way to say losing) with younger players and not fat vets not pulling their weight.
Re: the case to keep, the case to trade
Being a “fan favorite “ is the least important reason to hold onto a guy…