Bloom does have some trade chips at catcher

[Melville]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

[Ozziesfan41]

Bloom cannot trade Crooks or Bernal until they have a face off between the two under similar conditions for at least half a season.

There is no one on this team they cannot trade. Good baseball men can evaluate their talent andif they believe they are getting better talent at a key position like starting pitcher than they should trade them. Tampa traded Lib for Arozarena because they could evaluate their talent and others. They won that trade.

I get that and agree with it but see his point also. Trade some catchers you run the risk of going the cardinals side of trades and trading when they traded arorzorena because of a surplus of outfielders and traded the wrong outfielder kept the wrong ones or when they traded gallen and alcantara because they had pitching to spare they kept the wrong ones and traded the wrong ones. It would suck if they traded catchers who go on to be good elsewhere and keep the one who sucks. But that was mo maybe bloom is a better judge of talent

[StlMike1969]

Bloom cannot trade Crooks or Bernal until they have a face off between the two under similar conditions for at least half a season.

There is no one on this team they cannot trade. Good baseball men can evaluate their talent andif they believe they are getting better talent at a key position like starting pitcher than they should trade them. Tampa traded Lib for Arozarena because they could evaluate their talent and others. They won that trade.

Obviously anyone can be traded, but should they is the point. Bloom has said he will not risk the future for short term. I believe that means developing and evaluating at all levels before someone is trade material. What this team needs to do is understand if the next Yadier is in the pipeline and locks down the position for the next 10 years. That means some time at the MLB level while in this rebuild. None of these guys is going to return a stud to the team in a trade. We have enough pitching to get through 2026 and into the lockout. I am of the belief such as Bloom that we need to develop the pitchers. Most every team is in that mode these days.

Arozarena has had moments but Libby is considered a solid starter for next year and coming into his own. I would call that trade a win win for both teams moving forward.

[Cranny]

Would be very surprised if either Bernal or Rodriguez is traded.

[CardsBest]

Bloom cannot trade Crooks or Bernal until they have a face off between the two under similar conditions for at least half a season.

There is no one on this team they cannot trade. Good baseball men can evaluate their talent andif they believe they are getting better talent at a key position like starting pitcher than they should trade them. Tampa traded Lib for Arozarena because they could evaluate their talent and others. They won that trade.

Obviously anyone can be traded, but should they is the point. Bloom has said he will not risk the future for short term. I believe that means developing and evaluating at all levels before someone is trade material. What this team needs to do is understand if the next Yadier is in the pipeline and locks down the position for the next 10 years. That means some time at the MLB level while in this rebuild. None of these guys is going to return a stud to the team in a trade. We have enough pitching to get through 2026 and into the lockout. I am of the belief such as Bloom that we need to develop the pitchers. Most every team is in that mode these days.

Arozarena has had moments but Libby is considered a solid starter for next year and coming into his own. I would call that trade a win win for both teams moving forward.

It is not risking the future when you trade young players for young players and Tampa did that alot with very good success. Cardinals have held on to far to many young players to long and traded away others before they got a shot. They were horrible at extracting value out of their assets either by selecting players to keep or players to trade. Cards needed better evaluators of their own talent.

Cardinals lost the Arozarena trade. Lib over his 4 year career has ERA+ of 89 and he has never had an ERA+ of 100. He gave up more hits than IP this year with low K total. Lib also lost velocity at points this year and he is questionable as far as durability. Lib is a number 4 or 5 starter and those can be had cheap. Arozarena won ALCS MVP and was very good for them right away. The cards have had to suffer through Libs growing pains the last 4 years. Lib had 8-12 record this year and 16-24 over his career.

[2ninr]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

[Melville]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

[scoutyjones2]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Isn't Bernal a rule 5 candidate?

[Melville]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Isn't Bernal a rule 5 candidate?

That is correct.
He will be the 5th catcher on the 40 man - joining Pages, Crooks, Pozo, and Herrera (though Herrera really is not a viable catcher).

[2ninr]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

[Melville]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

I made no prediction of whom he would trade.
After a few years, I knew Mo better than Mo knew MO.
The evidence and pattern emerged.
It will take time to evaluate Bloom.
All I have done to this point is correctly identify which catcher he should trade, if he elects to move one - which appears to be inevitable.
Bernal is the correct trade piece among the 5 catchers under discussion.
Remains to be seen what Bloom actually decides to do.

[2ninr]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

I made no prediction of whom he would trade.
After a few years, I knew Mo better than Mo knew MO.
The evidence and pattern emerged.
It will take time to evaluate Bloom.
All I have done to this point is correctly identify which catcher he should trade, if he elects to move one - which appears to be inevitable.
Bernal is the correct trade piece among the 5 catchers under discussion.
Remains to be seen what Bloom actually decides to do.

Show your work Mel. Why would you trade Bernal instead of Crooks.

[Melville]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

I made no prediction of whom he would trade.
After a few years, I knew Mo better than Mo knew MO.
The evidence and pattern emerged.
It will take time to evaluate Bloom.
All I have done to this point is correctly identify which catcher he should trade, if he elects to move one - which appears to be inevitable.
Bernal is the correct trade piece among the 5 catchers under discussion.
Remains to be seen what Bloom actually decides to do.

Show your work Mel. Why would you trade Bernal instead of Crooks.

I appreciate the high level quality of your posts in this discussion.
Highly commendable.
I have previously analyzed in this thread why Bernal is the best option, should Bloom choose to trade a catcher.
I won't rehash it here, but I will quickly summarize.
1. If Bloom wants to acquire quality pitching or a quality outfielder, he will be required to trade quality in return.
2. With Pages and Crooks ahead of him currently, and with Rodriguez pushing him from below (and currently seen as having a higher ceiling), Bernal becomes the logical trade piece from a position of depth in the organization to acquire talent badly needed at other positions.

[2ninr]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

I made no prediction of whom he would trade.
After a few years, I knew Mo better than Mo knew MO.
The evidence and pattern emerged.
It will take time to evaluate Bloom.
All I have done to this point is correctly identify which catcher he should trade, if he elects to move one - which appears to be inevitable.
Bernal is the correct trade piece among the 5 catchers under discussion.
Remains to be seen what Bloom actually decides to do.

Show your work Mel. Why would you trade Bernal instead of Crooks.

I appreciate the high level quality of your posts in this discussion.
Highly commendable.
I have previously analyzed in this thread why Bernal is the best option, should Bloom choose to trade a catcher.
I won't rehash it here, but I will quickly summarize.
1. If Bloom wants to acquire quality pitching or a quality outfielder, he will be required to trade quality in return.
2. With Pages and Crooks ahead of him currently, and with Rodriguez pushing him from below (and currently seen as having a higher ceiling), Bernal becomes the logical trade piece from a position of depth in the organization to acquire talent badly needed at other positions.

1) Bernal is younger than Crooks
2) Crooks is left handed. Last thing we need.
3) Bernal is a switch hitter. Exactly what we need.
4) Bernal is more highly graded overall 55-50 Than Crooks.
5) Most importantly, Bloom has stated we will not sacrifice the future for 2025. Bernal will bring back the better pitcher or outfielder you keep talking about. Because he's a better player than Crooks. But the correct answer is they trade Crooks because Bernal and
Rainer are our future. When the time comes to trade one of them, their value will be much higher than it is now. Cheers Game time

[Jobu's Rum]

Which current catcher would hold the most value on the trade market. I would rather see the Cards stick with Crooks. LHH catchers are not all that common.

This is a very simple equation.
Pages and Crooks are already penciled in for 2026 by Bloom.
Neither is going anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary to obtain a key target.
Herrera is not a quality MLB catcher and never will be - he is a DH/LF, or an eventual trade piece.
Pozo had his extremely brief moment, but is nothing more than roster chum and will be disposed of one way or another.
That leaves Bernal and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is not as close to MLB yet has a higher ceiling of the two.
Bottom line: Bernal is very clearly the best trade piece from the group.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Couldn't be wrong. You want to trade the real unicorn.

I am never for nor against trading any player.
I am, however, always in favor of the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
2 truths.
One, trade from depth to fill areas of need.
Two, surrender quality to acquire quality.
FACT is, STL currently has more organizational depth at catcher than any other position.
In a bias free, agenda free analysis of the catchers in the organization, if the Cardinals choose to trade one for quality pitching or a quality outfielder, Bernal is indisputably the right option.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Do your homework Mel. Chaim isn't trading Bernal. Or Rainel. Crooks will be the guy they trade. You really are behind the curve on these guys. I recommend some brushing up.

I made no prediction of whom he would trade.
After a few years, I knew Mo better than Mo knew MO.
The evidence and pattern emerged.
It will take time to evaluate Bloom.
All I have done to this point is correctly identify which catcher he should trade, if he elects to move one - which appears to be inevitable.
Bernal is the correct trade piece among the 5 catchers under discussion.
Remains to be seen what Bloom actually decides to do.

Show your work Mel. Why would you trade Bernal instead of Crooks.

I appreciate the high level quality of your posts in this discussion.
Highly commendable.
I have previously analyzed in this thread why Bernal is the best option, should Bloom choose to trade a catcher.
I won't rehash it here, but I will quickly summarize.
1. If Bloom wants to acquire quality pitching or a quality outfielder, he will be required to trade quality in return.
2. With Pages and Crooks ahead of him currently, and with Rodriguez pushing him from below (and currently seen as having a higher ceiling), Bernal becomes the logical trade piece from a position of depth in the organization to acquire talent badly needed at other positions.

1) Bernal is younger than Crooks
2) Crooks is left handed. Last thing we need.
3) Bernal is a switch hitter. Exactly what we need.
4) Bernal is more highly graded overall 55-50 Than Crooks.
5) Most importantly, Bloom has stated we will not sacrifice the future for 2025. Bernal will bring back the better pitcher or outfielder you keep talking about. Because he's a better player than Crooks. But the correct answer is they trade Crooks because Bernal and
Rainer are our future. When the time comes to trade one of them, their value will be much higher than it is now. Cheers Game time

+1
Only an absolute fool would trade Bernal over Crooks.

[redbirdfan51]

If a team is looking to trade for an established major league catcher, then Pages would be the most likely. If Herrera shows over the winter that he is capable of being the starting catcher, I think the Cards would trade Pages. Crooks will get some starts when Herrera DH. Cards could also keep Pozo as a reserve catcher. I don't think Bloom will trade the switch hitting catcher Bernal who is one of the best young prospects in the organization and one of the best catcher prospects in all of baseball.