rbirules wrote: ↑08 Sep 2025 21:12 pm
Nobody, now, or ever, is untouchable. Every player can be traded for the right return. Some players that's next to impossible to get of course.
It's hard for me to imagine getting a return where it makes sense to move Winn, JJW, or Doyle but there are absolutely players I'd trade them for.
This question often devolves into what I consider a semantic argument. If a player will not realistically attract a return strong enough to make it worthwhile to trade them (i.e. they are worth significantly more to the Cardinals than they are to an acquiring team, or the Cardinals value them higher than an acquiring team does), then they're de facto (if not technically) untouchable. Those players right now are:
Edit to add minor league hitters:
Rainiel Rodriguez
Josh Baez
Deniel Ortiz
Apart from the two relievers I sort of think about it as "Would any team offer a Bryan Woo type (TORP w/4 more years of control) in exchange for him?" And the answer is pretty clearly no for all of them except maybe JJ. And I don't think just Woo is enough to trade JJ.
Last edited by 3dender on 09 Sep 2025 09:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
Rainiel Rodriguez is untouchable and Joshua Baez isn't untouchable but he has a chance to be a star OF and I'd hate to move him. Matthews is untouchable too imo.
Lloyd Braun wrote: ↑08 Sep 2025 20:45 pm
If you are like me, you think this rebuild will take 2-3 years minimum, at best. If you think they can compete right away, this post isn't for you.
But to me, there are nearly no untouchables in the Cardinals' entire organization right now. Because guys like Donovan, Nootbar, Gorman, Burleson, Walker and Liberatore will be on the verge of, or already hit their free agent years by the time the Cardinals are ready to compete again.
My thought get rid of all of them over the next couple of years and stock the system with assets. But who are the untouchables - the one's you want around in 3 years?
* Winn - Already a valuable player, when he becomes a solid above average hitter, he could be a 5-6 war player
* JJ Wealtherholt - For now. As he's our only hope for a true star to emerge from the system as a hitter.
* Victor Scott II ??? --- Odd player. He stinks offensively, but is so outstanding in centerfield and baserunning that he might lead the team this year in bWAR while hitting 35% below league average. If he becomes just an average hitter, he'd be insanely valuable.
* Pitching - Can't really think of anyone. Maybe someone in our system.
I see Winn and Weatherholt as the only untouchables. Everyone else seems expendable for the big picture.
None are untouchable but you still need to field a team.
Those that can be traded, I assume it would be scattered across the years anyway.
But since winning is not a concern (I assume), they have 240 players across the organization. I think they'll have no problem having 26 guys. Even if they're just a bunch of guys.
