How to get Elite Talent on the Cardinals

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good morning.

How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.

Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.

But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.

Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.

I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.

So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.

I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.

Thoughts.

[An Old Friend]

I don’t anticipate them to participate in the high end of the free agent market. Unless baseball economics wildly change, St Louis will have a small market mindset and model moving forward.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I don’t anticipate them to participate in the high end of the free agent market. Unless baseball economics wildly change, St Louis will have a small market mindset and model moving forward.

I hear ya. So references signing a big name that is unlikely. STL not big enough for a Judge type.

So that leaves the farm, and they leave soon after stardom, and trades, which you gotta give to get. Other than a stock of young talent maybe, we have few names to offer in a big trade.

[mattmitchl44]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

[sikeston bulldog2]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

[woofy25]

I think if the next Pujols comes around for the Cardinals, they will figure out how to keep him through his prime. Meaning, if Walker had lived up to the hype, I think they'd have him locked up through most of his 20s already. I also think they will play in the Sonny Gray/Contreras type markets as well. But, they are certainly going to need their stars to come from within, and they will have to get savvy in the international market. There still has to be ways to find a competitive advantage there.

One thing is for certain, once the lockout is over, the Cardinals will have a ton of money to spend. I don't see them being in the top 10 any longer, but they can still be in the top half. If that's so, then they could very well go after a couple big name FAs if they have a core in place that warrants the investment.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I think if the next Pujols comes around for the Cardinals, they will figure out how to keep him through his prime. Meaning, if Walker had lived up to the hype, I think they'd have him locked up through most of his 20s already. I also think they will play in the Sonny Gray/Contreras type markets as well. But, they are certainly going to need their stars to come from within, and they will have to get savvy in the international market. There still has to be ways to find a competitive advantage there.

One thing is for certain, once the lockout is over, the Cardinals will have a ton of money to spend. I don't see them being in the top 10 any longer, but they can still be in the top half. If that's so, then they could very well go after a couple big name FAs if they have a core in place that warrants the investment.

Fine write. I can’t add a thing but good work. I did find something.

No. Not a Pujols type. Too rare. I consider Albert a top 5 in my he game. That just won’t happen. I less caliber stud. Where ever he is.

[Melville]

Good morning.

How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.

Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.

But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.

Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.

I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.

So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.

I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.

Thoughts.

I believe you are correct on two of your three points.
Trading or signing to acquire elite players is how it is done.
There are fans of the team who foolishly believe (you are not among them) that Bloom can acquire elite talent through the draft - which is nonsense.
Even if a team consistently drafts in the top 5-10 spots for several years in a row, it will never create a core of elite players through the draft process.
It simply is not possible.
If it were, the A's would be a powerhouse right now - and they are not.
Same is true of Baltimore.
And Pittsburgh.
And many others.
Sure, across a 5 year stretch, if extremely lucky and if drafting at the extreme top of the board, they may land and develop one truly elite player and perhaps a handful of good ones.
At best.
That is the reality.
A team can develop a competent core capable of playing slightly above .500 ball - but will never be anything more unless it acquires via trade or FA, several high end MLB players who are established and at the peak of their careers.
No different than the NFL or NBA.
Or any other competitive business.
The highest level of talent in any field must be acquired as needed by any organization.

[mattmitchl44]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

It depends.

If you believe, like I do, that they will bounce back at some point to a $170, $180, etc. million payroll, then I think there will be room for like 2 or 3 star/superstar level signings, but they will be rare.

[3dender]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

(you don't build a cake you bake it )

[45s]

there may be room in the budget......

but convincing the stars to pass on winning teams in the big markets and come to stl will be challenging

[sikeston bulldog2]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

It depends.

If you believe, like I do, that they will bounce back at some point to a $170, $180, etc. million payroll, then I think there will be room for like 2 or 3 star/superstar level signings, but they will be rare.

My thought. The draw back on money was two fold. One, we as an org got left behind in the industry at many areas. And like it rains it pours, it all crumbled simontaneously.

Then a larger hole than usual to crawl out.

Second. They know something about the looming CBA that is driving that draw down.

Finally, a sale would look similar, but I truly doubt that is the intent.

[sikeston bulldog2]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

(you don't build a cake you bake it )

Ha. Good catch. Ok, let’s make the cake, then bake it. Or. Let’s make a good young team, and then go play. Far fetched comparison.

[mattmitchl44]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

It depends.

If you believe, like I do, that they will bounce back at some point to a $170, $180, etc. million payroll, then I think there will be room for like 2 or 3 star/superstar level signings, but they will be rare.

My thought. The draw back on money was two fold. One, we as an org got left behind in the industry at many areas. And like it rains it pours, it all crumbled simontaneously.

Then a larger hole than usual to crawl out.

Second. They know something about the looming CBA that is driving that draw down.

Finally, a sale would look similar, but I truly doubt that is the intent.

As noted, it depends on your beliefs about the future.

If you believe that payroll is going to be permanently reset to $120 or $130 million, that will mean that you need even more cake and much less icing.

[sikeston bulldog2]

The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.

Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.

And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.

So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.

As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.

It depends.

If you believe, like I do, that they will bounce back at some point to a $170, $180, etc. million payroll, then I think there will be room for like 2 or 3 star/superstar level signings, but they will be rare.

My thought. The draw back on money was two fold. One, we as an org got left behind in the industry at many areas. And like it rains it pours, it all crumbled simontaneously.

Then a larger hole than usual to crawl out.

Second. They know something about the looming CBA that is driving that draw down.

Finally, a sale would look similar, but I truly doubt that is the intent.

As noted, it depends on your beliefs about the future.

If you believe that payroll is going to be permanently reset to $120 or $130 million, that will mean that you need even more cake and much less icing.

That’s an ugly cake. Nice input.

[OldRed]

It's going to be difficult unless they get very lucky with what they have.