Three Free Agents

[renostl]

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.

I doubt any deviation happens with position players.
In your noted 3B situation, it can also be covered from within. A WCS can have
Gorman dropped in the order to the #7 spot or Jordan brought up, JJ moved etc.

IMO it's all about TOR pitching and the pen. I'd keep Jo Jo for the reasoning
of his consistency from the left side. Need a RHP for the pen. Should be about
as easy as falling to find a Stanek upgrade, probably also from within, Soriano?
but even IF he works never can have too many.

At this moment, I'd go Alcantara, Jo Jo, and a solid RHRP, Hels?
, I haven't explored the FA market well enough yet.

Indications are Jordan isn’t going to cut it defensively at 3rd. Outside of trying to move Walker back, which I would absolutely not do just after he figures out how to hit, I don’t see any good internal options there.

I don’t understand the allure with Sandy. He hasn’t looked good for a while now.


Edit - I really like Parades from Houston and he is a free agent after 2027. Maybe they can wait until then or get creative with a trade and resign scenario.

I'll freely admit that I have not watched Memphis yet this season. I don't know of indications
of Jordan being unable to cut it other than his original scouting. Statistics say in the 430 innings
at 3B in AAA with both Boston and St. Louis he fields at least what is at him. Again, he'd be replacing Gorman's
range there, and good luck finding GG and the hit tool at 3B unless they move JJ there in 2027.

I'm far from being hooked on Sandy. Going forward though, Skubal doesn't excite. Those free bodies in
the elbow whether 1 or 5 come from excessive wear.

[Jatalk]

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.

A little off topic but what kind of return would we expect for May and Romero? If we are in wild card contention I would not trade them. I understand the thought to do so but I question the real return value of both compared to the playoff experience for the players and fans.

[rockondlouie]

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.

Agreed alw, but remember this was just three fantasy moves and that's why I went w/Skubal (since 2023: 84 GS-2.41 ERA-2.37 FiP and two CY Young awards)!

In the real world I'm a firm believer you draft, develop or trade for pitching while spending your FA money on hitters!

[renostl]

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.

A little off topic but what kind of return would we expect for May and Romero? If we are in wild card contention I would not trade them. I understand the thought to do so but I question the real return value of both compared to the playoff experience for the players and fans.

Agree with you and add that it is trading from a weakness especially Jo Jo
who will not break the bank. They''ll need to replace them immediately and the system
depending on your view, might not have those answers.

There's a likelihood of getting as much if not more trading from depth of
catcher, 2B, or one of the similar #4 or #5 type pitchers in the system.

[renostl]

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.

I doubt any deviation happens with position players.
In your noted 3B situation, it can also be covered from within. A WCS can have
Gorman dropped in the order to the #7 spot or Jordan brought up, JJ moved etc.

IMO it's all about TOR pitching and the pen. I'd keep Jo Jo for the reasoning
of his consistency from the left side. Need a RHP for the pen. Should be about
as easy as falling to find a Stanek upgrade, probably also from within, Soriano?
but even IF he works never can have too many.

At this moment, I'd go Alcantara, Jo Jo, and a solid RHRP, Hels?
, I haven't explored the FA market well enough yet.

That would be sad if we don't go after Any position players. Our lineup is not good enough. Sure our top 4 are producting well overall, but the lineup is not nearly long enough. On those nights when the opposing pitcher shuts down our top 6, then the bottom 3 become auto-outs - see last night (only Burly's HR against the SP), and a few other recent games we've been nearly no hit into the bullpen innings. We have plenty of room to improve externally at CF/OF even if Baez becomes an instant star (church would make a pretty great 4th OFer and right now we don't even have 4 true OFers), and 3B - Gorman just isn't going to turn into a 4-6 WAR guy over there, ever. And C - hopefully that can come internally but Bloom does need to figure out what we've got. Seen enough of Pages to know he's not the WS MVP type of the future. How many playoff teams would he even start on?

Totally valid point.

IMO, the lineup depth improves almost by default. There will be a winner in the CF position
and catcher. FA bats that move the needle and that are relatively young enough to not expect
drop off production soon, that out produce what is seen as a hole, Scott, Pages, or Gorman won't
be numerous. The Phillies, NYY, and LAD have had difficulty filling 3B. St Louis suddenly buying a 3B
ahead of those seems like long odds. CF is similar but one of Scott / Church vs both would improve
lineup depth.

I don't know if that occurs in pitching where May might be gone, Pallante, Leahy could easily need upgrading
along with the unknown failures or injuries. IF spending pitching would be the spot and of course you
need to be wise and lucky in that market. I liked the Suarez contract this off season as
an example and wouldn't want to go above that in term.

[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.

A little off topic but what kind of return would we expect for May and Romero? If we are in wild card contention I would not trade them. I understand the thought to do so but I question the real return value of both compared to the playoff experience for the players and fans.

The trade deadline is strange. If May and JoJo are performing well and some contending team is in dire need of a starter or reliever they might return some decent prospects.

[Jatalk]

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.

A little off topic but what kind of return would we expect for May and Romero? If we are in wild card contention I would not trade them. I understand the thought to do so but I question the real return value of both compared to the playoff experience for the players and fans.

The trade deadline is strange. If May and JoJo are performing well and some contending team is in dire need of a starter or reliever they might return some decent prospects.

Maybe. But this team can be close to doing some very big things by 2027/28. As discussed in thread. I just don’t see trading them and adding players that impact that soon. Certainly if things turn bad trading them will make sense.