TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 08:57 am
I liked Willy's energy and attitude. Thought it was refreshing to have someone with that fire inside the clubhouse. That said, that "fire" also came with quite a bit of immaturity. That's fine when you have established, respected, vocal vets like Waino and Yadi around. But, i'm not sure Willy was the vet leader I would have wanted leading that clubhouse into a rebuild. Now keeping Donnie might just be a necessity.
I liked him as well but at least the base running will improve.
He needed a AAA Trip Tik once he got on base.
3dender wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 07:45 amDobbins is better than Pallante and they have 5 years of control. Sure nothing to be excited about but quality 4/5 starters don't grow on trees, as the Cardinals themselves have demonstrated the last few years.
Also he struck out a lot more in the minors, 9 K/9 overall... so stands to reason there's more K-power there than what was seen in his first 61 MLB innings which got shortened by a leg injury.
I agree. Fajardo is the most interesting to me. Seems to have a lot of upside. I haven't read much about Aita. I know not a lot of people thought much of Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantera when we traded for them, so you never know.
And while I may not be "excited" by Dobbins, I like that we are building starting pitching depth. Like you said, I'd rather not depend on Pallante if we don't have to. But if you get a nice base of inexpensive mid to bottom rotation starters, and then are able to produce a few higher caliber pitchers, that is a great thing. As much as I loved Contreras, it's the right thing to do.
And yea, before he tore his ACL on a freak thing he was pitching pretty good. It looks like he's about to start throwing bullpens, so he appears on track to start the season, or be very close to doing so.
Can’t deny it.....moving on from WC and Gray will sting in 2026!
But beyond this next season their productivity due to age etc will decrease.
Now...Bloom could have waited a year to deal either but then you run the risk of diminishing returns.
Bottom line...it’s a guessing game without a crystal ball. There will be a debate here all season but hindsight is always 20/20.
And we have some classic Hindsight Posters on CT!
3dender wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 07:45 amDobbins is better than Pallante and they have 5 years of control. Sure nothing to be excited about but quality 4/5 starters don't grow on trees, as the Cardinals themselves have demonstrated the last few years.
Also he struck out a lot more in the minors, 9 K/9 overall... so stands to reason there's more K-power there than what was seen in his first 61 MLB innings which got shortened by a leg injury.
^^^THIS^^^
The Cardinals dealt WillyC, not exactly in his prime yet some think he should've brought back a teams Top 5 prospect.
As you correctly stated Dobbins (and Fitts) are both better than Pallante so this is another rotation upgrade.
You traded two expensive, aging vets and got 2 mid to back-end rotation guys in their twenties with muy cost-control for years. You also got two high-upside lottery arms ta boot. This is about as good as we could have done. We also chopped about $50mil off the books
3dender wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 07:45 amDobbins is better than Pallante and they have 5 years of control. Sure nothing to be excited about but quality 4/5 starters don't grow on trees, as the Cardinals themselves have demonstrated the last few years.
Also he struck out a lot more in the minors, 9 K/9 overall... so stands to reason there's more K-power there than what was seen in his first 61 MLB innings which got shortened by a leg injury.
I agree. Fajardo is the most interesting to me. Seems to have a lot of upside. I haven't read much about Aita. I know not a lot of people thought much of Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantera when we traded for them, so you never know.
And while I may not be "excited" by Dobbins, I like that we are building starting pitching depth. Like you said, I'd rather not depend on Pallante if we don't have to. But if you get a nice base of inexpensive mid to bottom rotation starters, and then are able to produce a few higher caliber pitchers, that is a great thing. As much as I loved Contreras, it's the right thing to do.
And yea, before he tore his ACL on a freak thing he was pitching pretty good. It looks like he's about to start throwing bullpens, so he appears on track to start the season, or be very close to doing so.
TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 10:13 am
You traded two expensive, aging vets and got 2 mid to back-end rotation guys in their twenties with muy cost-control for years. You also got two high-upside lottery arms ta boot. This is about as good as we could have done. We also chopped about $50mil off the books
And if BDWJr takes that $50M......sets it aside in a lock box..........and then let's Bloom spend it (plus more!) on FA's in 2027/28, then these trades are even bigger winner.
One thing I've been documenting for over a decades is Dewitt almost always re-invested off the books contracts into new players, let's hope he sticks to the plan.
ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025 20:30 pm
Contreras turns 34 in May. By trading him now we get something.
Fodder
Dobbins is pitch to contact. Certainly not an ace but he could be a viable MLB pitcher. Fajardo is young but he has very good numbers for his age in the low minors.
I like the deal. Certainly better than nothing.
Keeping WillyCon isn't nothing
Only leader on the team.
If drama is leadership maybe we should hire some Hollywood actors.
Sure. Passion, caring and drive is drama. Doing whatever the team asks of him...that's drama.
Outstanding.
Who is the leader of the team and why?
Gets hit deliberately on the elbow pad and then blames his teammates. That's drama.
Most of us weren’t against them trading Willson, but were expecting something different in return. A pitcher with a history of injuries, who, when healthy, projects as a bottom of the rotation pitcher, and two lottery tickets, who are 3, or 4 years away.
It's the new reality. He will be 34 in May and he was signed to be a catcher. We don't know what offers Bloom had. Perhaps if he had settled for one prospect instead of 3 he could have received more but we don't know that. It does seem a bit odd that his two trades thus far are with Boston.
