Three Free Agents

[Charles King]

We need a number 1 starter first to complete. Weather we develop it, trade for it, or sign one
Maybe 2 great starters
I know 3rd base may need up grading. If we have the great pitching we can survive with Gorman there. We have Jordan at Memphis that can play there

[rockondlouie]

The Cardinals are closer than anyone thought and have plenty of money to spend going into next year assuming the CBA gets done. Let’s assume they sell Noot, May, and Romero at the deadline to stock the farm. What 3 free agents would you sign to make the Cards contenders next year? I’m choosing Skubal and Imanaga for the rotation and Chisholm for the infield.


Skubal
Imanaga
Libby
Mcgreevy
Matthews/Pallantr

C) Crooks/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) Wetherholt
3B) Chisholm
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Rodriguez/Jordan

Bullpen I hold on to OBrien and Graceffo and look for pieces on the trade market and in free agency.

If money is not object:

1 - Tarik Skubal (SP)
2 - Seiya Suzuki (LF/DH)
3 - Bo Bichette (3B)

Money really shouldn’t be an object, plenty of room on the payroll. I thought about Bichette and like him better than Chisholm but I’m assuming he does not opt out. Suzuki is a good choice but I feel like we have more guys who could potentially hit at the big league level than pitch. Have to add two pitchers imo

I was willing to go for Skubal because he's the best SP in MLB but on the whole I'm very leery signing FA pitchers due to the injury risk.

We have power pitching on the way, not risking two of my three fantasy FA picks on them.

I prefer to draft and develop or trade for pitching, use FA money on hitters.

Not sure we have any hitters, other than possibly R.R., who can match 27 yr old Suzuki .270 .349 .475 .824/131 OPS+.

Sure Baez MIGHT one day equal his numbers but since were playing fantasy FA signings, he'd be my choice for LF/DH the next 5 years.

[JohnnyMO]

We need a number 1 starter first to complete. Weather we develop it, trade for it, or sign one
Maybe 2 great starters
I know 3rd base may need up grading. If we have the great pitching we can survive with Gorman there. We have Jordan at Memphis that can play there

I haven’t seen Jordan play enough to have a personal opinion, but all the scouting reports I’ve seen say he is a 1B / DH in the majors. It would be great if he proves them wrong.

I agree Gorman is fine at 3B but he needs to be your 7 hitter. If some combo of Baez, Jordan, Rodriguez, etc could take hold of a spot in the top 5 from the outfield or DH spot then Gorman would be fine in this lineup. I just don’t want to keep counting on him for a moto spot unless he has a Jordan Walker moment and figures something out.

[Banner29]

No thanks on Jazz, he is way to into himself

[alw80]

Skubal? Lol

[JohnnyMO]

No thanks on Jazz, he is way to into himself

Tough to say no to a 30/30 guy based on the way his personality comes off, but he might not be necessary. Is 2027 too soon to expect a lineup like this and maybe Jordan plays 3B and Gorman rests when Herrera is dh instead of catching?

Wetherholt 2B
Herrera C
Burleson 1B
Walker RF
Jordan DH
Gorman 3B
Baez LF
Winn SS
Church/Scott CF

[JohnnyMO]

Skubal? Lol

You want to write off a 29 year old with a career era of 3 because he’s going to miss a couple months? Provided he comes back and looks healthy to end the season I don’t see the issue.

[alw80]

Skubal? Lol

You want to write off a 29 year old with a career era of 3 because he’s going to miss a couple months? Provided he comes back and looks healthy to end the season I don’t see the issue.

It's a really bad idea to sink mega bucks into a SP.

[JohnnyMO]

Skubal? Lol

You want to write off a 29 year old with a career era of 3 because he’s going to miss a couple months? Provided he comes back and looks healthy to end the season I don’t see the issue.

It's a really bad idea to sink mega bucks into a SP.

I typically agree, but when a young team is clicking, has tons of payroll space, needs top end pitching and doesn’t have any pitching prospects ready it actually makes sense.

[3dender]

The Cardinals are closer than anyone thought and have plenty of money to spend going into next year assuming the CBA gets done. Let’s assume they sell Noot, May, and Romero at the deadline to stock the farm. What 3 free agents would you sign to make the Cards contenders next year? I’m choosing Skubal and Imanaga for the rotation and Chisholm for the infield.


Skubal
Imanaga
Libby
Mcgreevy
Matthews/Pallantr

C) Crooks/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) Wetherholt
3B) Chisholm
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Rodriguez/Jordan

Bullpen I hold on to OBrien and Graceffo and look for pieces on the trade market and in free agency.

Now here's what they'll actually do (I suggest preparing yourself now):

Libby
McGreevy
Pallante/Leahy/Fitts/Dobbins/Mathews
(Possibly another May-type that they can trade at deadline)

C) Pages/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) JJ
3B) Gorman/Jordan
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Jordan

BP: Svanson/Graceffo/Rajcic/Gastelum/Shuster/Hjerpe/etc./etc.

[Talkin' Baseball]

No thanks on Jazz, he is way to into himself

Agree. Hard no.

[JohnnyMO]

The Cardinals are closer than anyone thought and have plenty of money to spend going into next year assuming the CBA gets done. Let’s assume they sell Noot, May, and Romero at the deadline to stock the farm. What 3 free agents would you sign to make the Cards contenders next year? I’m choosing Skubal and Imanaga for the rotation and Chisholm for the infield.


Skubal
Imanaga
Libby
Mcgreevy
Matthews/Pallantr

C) Crooks/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) Wetherholt
3B) Chisholm
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Rodriguez/Jordan

Bullpen I hold on to OBrien and Graceffo and look for pieces on the trade market and in free agency.

Now here's what they'll actually do (I suggest preparing yourself now):

Libby
McGreevy
Pallante/Leahy/Fitts/Dobbins/Mathews
(Possibly another May-type that they can trade at deadline)

C) Pages/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) JJ
3B) Gorman/Jordan
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Jordan

BP: Svanson/Graceffo/Rajcic/Gastelum/Shuster/Hjerpe/etc./etc.

That would be very disappointing. I’m fine with not going all in this year because it would require trading prospects on a long shot. If a new CBA is in place and the offense keeps playing well it would be silly not to make a couple big additions to fill glaring holes in the pitching over the offseason. Especially if the CBA gets done. I’ve said for a while the window begins in 2027 and that prediction is looking more correct all the time.

[3dender]

Now here's what they'll actually do (I suggest preparing yourself now):

Libby
McGreevy
Pallante/Leahy/Fitts/Dobbins/Mathews
(Possibly another May-type that they can trade at deadline)

C) Pages/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) JJ
3B) Gorman/Jordan
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Jordan

BP: Svanson/Graceffo/Rajcic/Gastelum/Shuster/Hjerpe/etc./etc.

That would be very disappointing. I’m fine with not going all in this year because it would require trading prospects on a long shot. If a new CBA is in place and the offense keeps playing well it would be silly not to make a couple big additions to fill glaring holes in the pitching over the offseason. Especially if the CBA gets done. I’ve said for a while the window begins in 2027 and that prediction is looking more correct all the time.

The timeline you're describing doesn't really work out. When do you imagine they'll get the CBA settled by? In time to have a full, normal FA season? Very unlikely there will be certainty until Jan/Feb at the earliest. So if you're sure them making big signings depends on the new CBA, it's hard to square that with making big additions before 2027.

If I had to bet on it I'd put money on them not doing anything major until winter 2027-28.

[ilcubuffs]

As of May 8th -

Trade Gorman, Burl, and Pages for MLB ready prospect - prefer pitching. Herrera is 1B/DH.

One of:

SP

Alcantara
Gallen
Woodford

One of:

OF

Suzuki
Arozarena

One of:

Inf - Move JJ to 3B

Acuna Jr
Gleyber Torres

[JohnnyMO]

Now here's what they'll actually do (I suggest preparing yourself now):

Libby
McGreevy
Pallante/Leahy/Fitts/Dobbins/Mathews
(Possibly another May-type that they can trade at deadline)

C) Pages/Herrera
1B) Burly
2B) JJ
3B) Gorman/Jordan
SS) Winn
LF) Baez
CF) Church
RF) Walker
DH) Herrera/Jordan

BP: Svanson/Graceffo/Rajcic/Gastelum/Shuster/Hjerpe/etc./etc.

That would be very disappointing. I’m fine with not going all in this year because it would require trading prospects on a long shot. If a new CBA is in place and the offense keeps playing well it would be silly not to make a couple big additions to fill glaring holes in the pitching over the offseason. Especially if the CBA gets done. I’ve said for a while the window begins in 2027 and that prediction is looking more correct all the time.

The timeline you're describing doesn't really work out. When do you imagine they'll get the CBA settled by? In time to have a full, normal FA season? Very unlikely there will be certainty until Jan/Feb at the earliest. So if you're sure them making big signings depends on the new CBA, it's hard to square that with making big additions before 2027.

If I had to bet on it I'd put money on them not doing anything major until winter 2027-28.

I doubt anyone is signing free agents before there is a new CBA so it should be a level playing field once that is in place whether it’s December or February.

[hugeCardfan]

Skubal is having Stage 1 Cooper Hjerpe Denial surgery. He'll accept reality in 2 years and have Stage 3 Cooper Hjerpe Denial surgery and miss 12-18 months recovering


for now he's chosen for the elbow scope and missing most of the rest of the season, which will lead to Stage 2 and missing 4 months to "rest" the elbow next season.

You beat me to the punch. What a bargain he is this year for $32M on the IL.