Four Big Swings

[Talkin' Baseball]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

[scoutyjones2]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

Appreciate the work! Nicely done...I want the Cards to focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching

1. Cards don't need anymore catching prospects. Or LH hitters

2. Cards don't need more LH hitters. And I think you can get a prospect closer to viable than 19 year old with hitting deficiencies for the package being offered

3. Dodgers have the best farm system. I don't want to help them at all

4. We already have our Duran in Church who is younger and may have more upside than a 30;year old.Another Lefty...no thanks

[Talkin' Baseball]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

Appreciate the work! Nicely done...I want the Cards to focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching

1. Cards don't need anymore catching prospects. Or LH hitters

2. Cards don't need more LH hitters. And I think you can get a prospect closer to viable than 19 year old with hitting deficiencies for the package being offered

3. Dodgers have the best farm system. I don't want to help them at all

4. We already have our Duran in Church who is younger and may have more upside than a 30;year old.Another Lefty...no thanks

We obviously see some of this differently and I can respect that, but in no universe is having Nathan Church the equivalent of having Jarren Duran.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

Appreciate the work! Nicely done...I want the Cards to focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching

1. Cards don't need anymore catching prospects. Or LH hitters

2. Cards don't need more LH hitters. And I think you can get a prospect closer to viable than 19 year old with hitting deficiencies for the package being offered

3. Dodgers have the best farm system. I don't want to help them at all

4. We already have our Duran in Church who is younger and may have more upside than a 30;year old.Another Lefty...no thanks

Nice write. I will add. The players we give away seems close. Good chance they go. But receiving the exact name in return is the rub. And if we want said player, so does 29 other teams.

Nice start.

[scoutyjones2]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

Appreciate the work! Nicely done...I want the Cards to focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching

1. Cards don't need anymore catching prospects. Or LH hitters

2. Cards don't need more LH hitters. And I think you can get a prospect closer to viable than 19 year old with hitting deficiencies for the package being offered

3. Dodgers have the best farm system. I don't want to help them at all

4. We already have our Duran in Church who is younger and may have more upside than a 30;year old.Another Lefty...no thanks

We obviously see some of this differently and I can respect that, but in no universe is having Nathan Church the equivalent of having Jarren Duran.

The almost 30 year old has a 70 OPS+... Church has a 76.

Your right Duran is not equivalent, he's lesser

[Talkin' Baseball]

Most of these I have mentioned before. I've chosen specific targets for the Cardinals and tried to figure out how we could meet the other teams' needs.

Swing #1- Alec Burleson to Detroit for Josue Briceno. Briceno is a left handed hitting C/1B. He and Ivan and Rainiel should form the Former Catchers Club (FCC). He is 21 playing in AA and could make the majors by sometime next season. He has the power of Joshua Baez with less swing and miss. He would be Burleson's replacement with more team control and higher upside with the bat. The Tigers are notorious prospect huggers, but maybe this season being Tarik Skubal's last with them they will be more aggressive. Scott Harris could very well get fired if they don't make the playoffs. The Tigers are near the bottom in the majors in production from 1B, RF, and DH. Enter, Burly. I would add a smaller piece, or pieces to get this done. You wouldn't be sorry.

Swing #2- Dustin May, Lars Nootbaar, and Ryne Stanek to Houston for Xavier Neyens. Neyens is a 19 year oldLHH SS/3B who will end up at 3B. Like Rainiel Rodriguez, he has a power grade of 65. He is currently playing at high-A where he is battling swing and miss issues. It will be a couple seasons before he is ready to play in the big leagues. We don't have any 3B prospect with the ceiling he has. With better development from the get-go, maybe he can tame his K issues better than Gorman has. Houston needs rotation help due to injury. Their bullpen is pretty good, but needs RH help. They have a desperate need for a LH OF bat. Dana Brown is for sure getting fired if they miss the playoffs.

Swing #3- Riley O'Brien, Pedro Pages, Sebastian Dos Santos, and either Ryan Campos/Sammy Hernandez to the Dodgers for Zyhir Hope. Hope, like Joshua Baez, has played mostly corner OF, but also more than a little CF. He is a 21 year old LHH ready for promotion to AAA. For the Cardinals, Hope or Baez could man CF, with the other holding down LF.
Hope's scouting grades: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
The Dodgers are looking for some catching help. Will Smith is out indefinitely. They want someone who is competent, but also someone they can move aside when Smith comes back. They are considering bolstering their pitching- both starting and relief (who has more pitchers hurt than the Dodgers?). They also want to fortify their farm system as they draft toward the back end and lose so many picks due to free agent signings. Heck, ask them for River Ryan while you are at it! (His BTV for some reason in down to 0.4)

Swing #4- I floated this in another thread and got very little (if any) traction, but the more I think about it, the better I like it. Jimmy Crooks to Boston for Jarren Duran. Duran would play CF for the Cardinals for 2 seasons until Tai Peete, or Trevor Condon was ready. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced (not something I can substantiate) that he would bounce back considerably in a better environment. Boston (and the Mets) are as toxic as it gets. His past two seasons he has put up 9 and 5.4 WAR. High ceiling if you can get to it. Moves Church into a more appropriate role as a fourth OF. I believe Crooks will have a good major league career, but I thing two years of what Duran can do for the Cardinals would be more valuable than what five years of Crooks will provide, simply because we have other options at C who could provide similar things. The same is not true of CF.

There you go, four big swings. What do you think? Thumbs up, thumbs down (no middle fingers please)?

Appreciate the work! Nicely done...I want the Cards to focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching

1. Cards don't need anymore catching prospects. Or LH hitters

2. Cards don't need more LH hitters. And I think you can get a prospect closer to viable than 19 year old with hitting deficiencies for the package being offered

3. Dodgers have the best farm system. I don't want to help them at all

4. We already have our Duran in Church who is younger and may have more upside than a 30;year old.Another Lefty...no thanks

Nice write. I will add. The players we give away seems close. Good chance they go. But receiving the exact name in return is the rub. And if we want said player, so does 29 other teams.

Nice start.

The exact player in return is the whole point.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Swings 1,2, & 3 all involve Top 100 prospects. Only 4 of those got dealt last year. Zyhir Hope is #26, Josue Briceno #56, and Xavier Neyens #84.

Swings 2 & 3 involve groups of players on the Cardinals part. There are two reasons for that. The first is obvious. It takes multiple players to match the value of the player incoming. Also, trades are hard to make. These players going out from the Cardinals match stated needs of the receiving team. Rather than trying to get 3 deals to the finish line, they can come to agreement one time.

Obviously, you don't do swings 3 AND 4- it's either, or.

If only one of these got done, it would be a big deal.

[Strummer Jones]

Hard pass on Duran. Guy is a complete and total head case.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Hard pass on Duran. Guy is a complete and total head case.

I may have to submit to the will of the board. Everyone seems to share your point of view. Am I having my "I, and I alone" moment?

[JDW]

Hard pass on Duran. Guy is a complete and total head case.

I may have to submit to the will of the board. Everyone seems to share your point of view. Am I having my "I, and I alone" moment?

No, if you could actually get him for Crooks, I'd be for taking the chance he'd rebound here.

[DiehardCard]

Wait we want to trade Burleson? What have I missed?

[Talkin' Baseball]

Wait we want to trade Burleson? What have I missed?

We don't dislike Burleson. This would be an upgrade (eventually).

[Talkin' Baseball]

Hard pass on Duran. Guy is a complete and total head case.

I may have to submit to the will of the board. Everyone seems to share your point of view. Am I having my "I, and I alone" moment?

No, if you could actually get him for Crooks, I'd be for taking the chance he'd rebound here.

I have company. Wasn't expecting that. I've been practicing my condescending "I, and I alone" pontification all morning. Maybe some other time...

[JDW]

Wait we want to trade Burleson? What have I missed?

So most fans don't, and I'd guess the Cards aren't thinking this way also.
Why do some of us consider it. Can only speak for myself, but if Bernal becomes the main C for the Cards, where does Rainiel play? Or more currently, you might ask the same question for Herrera, especially if you don't think he should be part of the C mix.
Burleson has been very good, Do you want him extended? Will his prime match up with the Cards best window for competing?
Having the DH helps solve some of the potential logjam, as could trades. Could Rainiel learn to play 3B adequately?
Just some of the considerations, but I think the Cards are leaning toward keeping Burly, but even with his very good season to date, his current trend only gets him to about a +2.8 bWAR for the season. That's not bad, but is it the level of overall production you want out of your 1B? Could Rainiel exceed that? I think so, but at this point still too many unanswered questions. Keeping Burly for now makes sense to me, especially if his work with Brant Brown over the AS break continues to look like it's helped AB unlock even more of his offensive potential.

[JDW]

Hard pass on Duran. Guy is a complete and total head case.

I may have to submit to the will of the board. Everyone seems to share your point of view. Am I having my "I, and I alone" moment?

No, if you could actually get him for Crooks, I'd be for taking the chance he'd rebound here.

I have company. Wasn't expecting that. I've been practicing my condescending "I, and I alone" pontification all morning. Maybe some other time...

Well, my company may not be what you were hoping for, but Duran has been pretty good recently, and even this year with the strife involved is about equal to Church. IF the Cards could offer a better environment for him like you suggest, you might have a heck of a CF for a couple years to bridge potentially to Condon. Losing Crooks isn't insignificant, but it looks like the Cards are needing to make decisions at C with Bernal knocking.

[kyace]

I’ve often watched Duran play. He is not a centerfielder. He takes terrible routes and is barely acceptable as a left fielder.
If trading with Boston I would make a play for Mayer. Boston has now Durban and Mead on the infield and top prospect SS prospect Arias on the horizon.
Mayer was a Bloom pick and sort of on the outs with Breslow.