So the Cardinals spent $20 million for 1 decent prospect

[hmoss859]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

[Carp4Cy]

Salary dumps do the opposite of exciting me.

Clarke is a very long shot and much more likely to be a massive injury frustration, a la Alex Reyes at his ceiling - but with worse control.

[mattmitchl44]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

[Carp4Cy]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

So Fitts is a major downgrade in the 2026 rotation, and still a major injury risk where we might need to still sign 2-3 more FA type pitchers just to get thru a full season.

Clarke walked 8 /9IP in A+. He's so far away you can't even begin to count on him ever contributing at this point. Its just a lotto ticket. You can buy 100 of them and miss on every one.

[redbirdfan51]

On paper, this trade doews not excite me, but we shall see.

[alw80]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

No, they saved $15M and got two good pieces.

[OldRed]

That should sell some tickets.

Looks like they paid $20 to save $15. Another bone head signing by Mo.

[Adam2]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

Not our problem

[mattmitchl44]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

So Fitts is a major downgrade in the 2026 rotation, and still a major injury risk where we might need to still sign 2-3 more FA type pitchers just to get thru a full season.

Clarke walked 8 /9IP in A+. He's so far away you can't even begin to count on him ever contributing at this point. Its just a lotto ticket. You can buy 100 of them and miss on every one.

Bloom and Co.'s job is to make sure that they identified the right prospects to acquire and can develop them so that they don't miss (or that they miss infrequently).

[Carp4Cy]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

So Fitts is a major downgrade in the 2026 rotation, and still a major injury risk where we might need to still sign 2-3 more FA type pitchers just to get thru a full season.

Clarke walked 8 /9IP in A+. He's so far away you can't even begin to count on him ever contributing at this point. Its just a lotto ticket. You can buy 100 of them and miss on every one.

Bloom and Co.'s job is to make sure that they identified the right prospects to acquire and can develop them so that they don't miss (or that they miss infrequently).

"miss" is relative. If you stockpile a ton of complimentary players and even bullpen arms and backend of the rotatation starters and develop them into what they need to be, you can say you've done your job, but meanwhile the Texas or Houston GM can fill all those same roles by simply signing some moderate priced vets and making MLB trades. All this hard work necessitated by Bill wanting to be cheaper than he actually has to be, and even still it doesn't build a franchise core. We need Bobby Witt types for that, and either come from drafting them yourselves or trading for them once they are already in the MLB and paying talent to get them.

I'm all for Bloom drafting and developing the best players he can in the draft, but this money for lotto ticket business is not going to contribute to the franchise core, and may not really even move the needle. I want to see the moves that do move the needle. Bring JJ up, develop Doyle and Franklin on the fast track. Get Matthew Back on Track. Reclaim Walker. Maybe even Gorman. Pick a future C and make them our staff mentor. These are Our guys - I want to see big movement in their progress and stats. And then adding some real top talent around them, and not waiting until 2028 when Winn is on the backside of his years of control either and Libby nearly a FA.

[mattmitchl44]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

So Fitts is a major downgrade in the 2026 rotation, and still a major injury risk where we might need to still sign 2-3 more FA type pitchers just to get thru a full season.

Clarke walked 8 /9IP in A+. He's so far away you can't even begin to count on him ever contributing at this point. Its just a lotto ticket. You can buy 100 of them and miss on every one.

Bloom and Co.'s job is to make sure that they identified the right prospects to acquire and can develop them so that they don't miss (or that they miss infrequently).

"miss" is relative. If you stockpile a ton of complimentary players and even bullpen arms and backend of the rotatation starters and develop them into what they need to be, you can say you've done your job, but meanwhile the Texas or Houston GM can fill all those same roles by simply signing some moderate priced vets and making MLB trades. All this hard work necessitated by Bill wanting to be cheaper than he actually has to be, and even still it doesn't build a franchise core. We need Bobby Witt types for that, and either come from drafting them yourselves or trading for them once they are already in the MLB and paying talent to get them.

I'm all for Bloom drafting and developing the best players he can in the draft, but this money for lotto ticket business is not going to contribute to the franchise core, and may not really even move the needle. I want to see the moves that do move the needle. Bring JJ up, develop Doyle and Franklin on the fast track. Get Matthew Back on Track. Reclaim Walker. Maybe even Gorman. Pick a future C and make them our staff mentor. These are Our guys - I want to see big movement in their progress and stats. And then adding some real top talent around them, and not waiting until 2028 when Winn is on the backside of his years of control either and Libby nearly a FA.

Fitts was a FG Top 100 in MLB prospect before he was promoted last year.

Clarke is a FG Top 100 in MLB prospect right now.

Both were/are FV50 and ranked exactly the same as Quinn Mathews.

You're not going to get more for Gray.

[rockondlouie]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

No, they saved $15M and got two good pieces.

$20M

and two good pieces!

[alw80]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

No, they saved $15M and got two good pieces.

$20M

and two good pieces!

Gray was going to make $35m right? Either way it's a great move.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

No, they saved $15M and got two good pieces.

$20M

and two good pieces!

I remember, back in the day. I could spend 20 dollars for a piece; and it didn’t even have to be good. Times have changed.

[ecleme22]

Gray was effectively worthless to a rebuilding Cardinals team in 2026.

They got a substantial prospect return.

FG notes bottom lines.

Clarke - He merits development as a starter just to see if things work out, but in all likelihood Clarke’s future rests in late-inning relief. Don’t let the relief projection undersell his prospectdom, this is the sort of stuff you see at the end of games in October; monstrous, overwhelming, door-slamming stuff. [My note - if he develops a third pitch, he's a high level SP prospect.]

Fitts - He can attack all quadrants of the zone and his velocity has been trending up across the last two years, going from averaging 93 to averaging 95 on either side of his shoulder issue. It has boosted Fitts' projection from that of a stable backend starter to a big league-ready no. 4 option.

I really like this move!

[rockondlouie]

Clarke is a decent big-arm prospect with injury history.

Fitts is just pitching depth, maybe a 5th starter type, with some injury history.

Decent salary dump at end of day.

That being said, Sonny Gray will get lit up in the AL East pitching in those ballparks.

No, they saved $15M and got two good pieces.

$20M

and two good pieces!

Gray was going to make $35m right? Either way it's a great move.

+ $5M buyout

Cardinals are paying $20M of his salary and save another $20M

Agreed, it's a great move