ESPN analysis of Contreras trade

[BrummerStealsHome]

What does he mean by interesting??

Is he implying that as a sports journalist the Cardinals aren’t that sexy to write about right now? That’s fair..

Fortunately, Bloom doesn’t give a [shirt] about that

Yeah, not too interesting to the national audience. But the media has painfully short attention spans.

I am interested and I think the core of Cardinals fans will be interested. The bandwagon fans will go wherever bandwagon fans go, and good riddance, but Cardinals fans will remain to experience the growing pains of a rebuild.

I've been through these things as a fan before. It's not my preferred experience in fandom, but it's the reality of sport. This era of Cardinals baseball has a feel similar to the early 90s to me. It was interesting watching young prospects sink or swim in the majors. Guys like Lankford and Gilkey swam, and guys like Luis Alicea sank. And I thought Alicea was going to be really good, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

I think the Cardinals will be back in the World Series by the end of the decade, and will have another perennial playoff team fun. Remember times like the early/mid-00s are much more fun and meaningful when we've had to walk through the fire of the early 90s.

[82birds]

I wonder who knows more about the arms we got. Schoenfield or Bloom?

Bloom

[dugoutrex]

Get ready for the losing. It's coming.

68-94 is my prediction

[82birds]

I find young and bad but with the potential to improve much more interesting than older and mediocre with a ceiling of .500.

agree
and I wouldn't call our new guys young and bad, just young and inexperienced.

[Stlcardsblues]

Get ready for the losing. It's coming.

I keep seeing people say that this team will be better than some think and in the 75 to 80 win range. I would love to know what they see that has them this positive.

I see a 95 to 100 loss team. This doesn’t mean that I feel the rebuild is the wrong direction (as I mentioned before I completely disagree with how Mo and DeWitt messed up this franchise, but they left it no realistic path to get back to winning that doesn’t involve a rebuild).

[Ozziesfan41]

Get ready for the losing. It's coming.

In case you weren’t paying attention the losing was already here

[Hofikebrucee]

If I am honest, none of what they have received in trades is overly exciting. However, I am attracted to rebuilds over the status quo for the same reason I get excited for opening day. Because hope springs eternal.

I’d rather be invested in hope instead of the garbage that has been on the field in recent years.

Just saying.

[Bomber1]

What does he mean by interesting??

Is he implying that as a sports journalist the Cardinals aren’t that sexy to write about right now? That’s fair..

Fortunately, Bloom doesn’t give a [shirt] about that

Yeah, not too interesting to the national audience. But the media has painfully short attention spans.

I am interested and I think the core of Cardinals fans will be interested. The bandwagon fans will go wherever bandwagon fans go, and good riddance, but Cardinals fans will remain to experience the growing pains of a rebuild.

I've been through these things as a fan before. It's not my preferred experience in fandom, but it's the reality of sport. This era of Cardinals baseball has a feel similar to the early 90s to me. It was interesting watching young prospects sink or swim in the majors. Guys like Lankford and Gilkey swam, and guys like Luis Alicea sank. And I thought Alicea was going to be really good, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

I think the Cardinals will be back in the World Series by the end of the decade, and will have another perennial playoff team fun. Remember times like the early/mid-00s are much more fun and meaningful when we've had to walk through the fire of the early 90s.

Nice post Brummer.

I generally agree, although I think a WS by 2029 is a pretty bold prediction.

[Jobu's Rum]

It will be a lot more interesting to watch than the past three years

Same, I'd rather watch the young ones grow and become beasts (IF they become beasts) than watch that avg. mediocre piece by piece patchwork bee_s that Moe served up every year

[2ninr]

It will be a lot more interesting to watch than the past three years

If you know what you are watching.

[RamFan08NY]

It will be a lot more interesting to watch than the past three years

100% agree. Looking forward to seeing the younger players cut their teeth.
Many seem upset that they're not bringing in the usual 37 year old washed up pitchers, but hey, cant please everybody!

[smilinjoefission]

Get ready for the losing. It's coming.

Its already here with The Marmot...and will be until he's gone.

[Cusecards]

I has posted the brutal closing comment in another thread, but thought I would post the full piece for posterity.
This is from Schoenfield.

Cardinals grade: B

Contreras didn't have much excess value beyond the $42.5 million he's owed the next two seasons, so while this return won't exactly pump up Cardinals fans, Dobbins at least has some utility as a back-end starter -- and he comes with six more seasons of team control. In other words, the Cardinals are dumping a potential declining veteran for a pitcher who might be in their rotation for years to come. That can be a win even if Dobbins never develops beyond a fourth starter.

That's probably his upside after posting a 4.13 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie, throwing strikes (2.5 walks per nine innings) but not whiffing enough batters (6.6 strikeouts per nine). Still, as an eighth-round pick out of Texas Tech in 2021, he was a development success for the Red Sox. He does possess above-average velo on his fastball (95.5 mph), but it got hit hard with a .316 average. A splitter that he didn't throw a whole lot showed some promise and maybe becomes his best secondary pitch, while a slow sweeper (81.2 mph) was more effective than his slider that he throws much harder (87.6). Throw in a curveball and it's an interesting mix of pitches, but unless he generates more swing-and-miss on his fastball, the ceiling is limited.

Fajardo is the more interesting of the two minor leaguers. He received the highest bonus among Venezuelan pitchers in 2024, signed by the White Sox, and then acquired by Boston for Cam Booser. Just 19, he pitched well in Single-A with a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts, so he's a nice throw-in in a trade like this.

The Cardinals will now be paying the Red Sox $24 million in 2026 for Sonny Gray and Contreras. It's never fun to pay another team's players, but the Cardinals have decided to punt on 2026, with Brendan Donovan probably next to go. In the end, they've trimmed payroll, added some young depth and will field one of the least interesting teams in the majors. -- Schoenfield

Interesting.
Thanks Satch!
I like the moves but of course time will tell.

[Catfish4U]

These next few years Memphis and Springfield should have very good teams!

[Bushiro]

If I am honest, none of what they have received in trades is overly exciting. However, I am attracted to rebuilds over the status quo for the same reason I get excited for opening day. Because hope springs eternal.

I’d rather be invested in hope instead of the garbage that has been on the field in recent years.

Just saying.

Yeah it had to be done...obviously you would like to be like the 04 team...where adding a piece like Larry Walker makes you world series favorites....but lately it's been boring off seasons...boring trade deadlines for the most part....3 worthless seasons in a row....the rebuild is taking place...so might as well get behind it ...and hope Bloom does a great job....also would love to see a few of these young guys break out....that any winning ball games will fill the seats again

[Dicktar2023]

Get ready for the losing. It's coming.

Such a grim fellow...

Of course it's coming.
But so is the future.

"In the garden, growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again. As long as the roots are not severed, all is well." and

"I like to watch, Eve."

Peter Sellers as Chauncy Gardiner
Being There

We're not so far apart, you and me.