STLtoday.com

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 11:34 am**

Banner29 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:24 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:30 am I'm a little surprised. But in a weird way it's encouraging.

Blaze was a pretty well known Bloom guy. Seems he's not letting favorites get in the way of roster decisions.
This is a good way to look at it. The only reason any of us know his name now is because he came through trade, which naturally makes any prospect stand out more. Had he been drafted by the Cardinals, high chance nobody here would even recognize the name and think anything of it.

Likely the rest of the league sees it that way and he doesn’t get picked up. Especially with hot not ready he is for big league at bats.

And even if he doesn’t get picked up the chances are he never amounts to much, and he just ends up being a guy traded for a 34 year old left reliever that all of us couldn’t wait to get rid of for most of his contract. Not exactly a premium prospect we squandered

I doubt the Matz trade was contract related.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 13:06 pm**

ecleme22 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:34 am
Banner29 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:24 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:30 am I'm a little surprised. But in a weird way it's encouraging.

Blaze was a pretty well known Bloom guy. Seems he's not letting favorites get in the way of roster decisions.
This is a good way to look at it. The only reason any of us know his name now is because he came through trade, which naturally makes any prospect stand out more. Had he been drafted by the Cardinals, high chance nobody here would even recognize the name and think anything of it.

Likely the rest of the league sees it that way and he doesn’t get picked up. Especially with hot not ready he is for big league at bats.

And even if he doesn’t get picked up the chances are he never amounts to much, and he just ends up being a guy traded for a 34 year old left reliever that all of us couldn’t wait to get rid of for most of his contract. Not exactly a premium prospect we squandered
I doubt the Matz trade was contract related.

According to Sporttrac the Sox were on the hook for $4M of Matz's 2025 salary. Given the state of the organization, this was certainly a money saving move by BDW/Mo.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 13:21 pm**

I just looked at his milb numbers from 2025. .300 hitter at both levels with some power at 22 years of age. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets drafted.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 13:31 pm**

to me, the most interesting part of the Jordan decision was the corresponding decision to protect Matt Koperniak, who is several years older and not much of a prospect on any of the lists. Tells me Bloom & Co. see something there.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 13:45 pm**

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:06 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:34 am
Banner29 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:24 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:30 am I'm a little surprised. But in a weird way it's encouraging.

Blaze was a pretty well known Bloom guy. Seems he's not letting favorites get in the way of roster decisions.
This is a good way to look at it. The only reason any of us know his name now is because he came through trade, which naturally makes any prospect stand out more. Had he been drafted by the Cardinals, high chance nobody here would even recognize the name and think anything of it.

Likely the rest of the league sees it that way and he doesn’t get picked up. Especially with hot not ready he is for big league at bats.

And even if he doesn’t get picked up the chances are he never amounts to much, and he just ends up being a guy traded for a 34 year old left reliever that all of us couldn’t wait to get rid of for most of his contract. Not exactly a premium prospect we squandered
I doubt the Matz trade was contract related.
According to Sporttrac the Sox were on the hook for $4M of Matz's 2025 salary. Given the state of the organization, this was certainly a money saving move by BDW/Mo.

I'd say 95% was because SM was on an inspiring contract and the org wanted prospects.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 13:55 pm**

BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:59 am
rage-STL wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:37 am So if someone were to select Blaze in the Rule 5 draft, he would have to be on their MLB roster for the entire 2026 season?
Yes, that is my understanding. This process is always somewhat of a poker game.

No one is going to select him.
Which is why he was not protected.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 14:20 pm**

ecleme22 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:45 pm
Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:06 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:34 am
Banner29 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:24 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:30 am I'm a little surprised. But in a weird way it's encouraging.

Blaze was a pretty well known Bloom guy. Seems he's not letting favorites get in the way of roster decisions.
This is a good way to look at it. The only reason any of us know his name now is because he came through trade, which naturally makes any prospect stand out more. Had he been drafted by the Cardinals, high chance nobody here would even recognize the name and think anything of it.

Likely the rest of the league sees it that way and he doesn’t get picked up. Especially with hot not ready he is for big league at bats.

And even if he doesn’t get picked up the chances are he never amounts to much, and he just ends up being a guy traded for a 34 year old left reliever that all of us couldn’t wait to get rid of for most of his contract. Not exactly a premium prospect we squandered
I doubt the Matz trade was contract related.
According to Sporttrac the Sox were on the hook for $4M of Matz's 2025 salary. Given the state of the organization, this was certainly a money saving move by BDW/Mo.
I'd say 95% was because SM was on an inspiring contract and the org wanted prospects.

There was nothing inspiring about Matz’s contract…

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 14:43 pm**

Pete Hansen is the one I think we will lose and will hurt the most.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:18 pm**

Melville wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:55 pm
BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:59 am
rage-STL wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:37 am So if someone were to select Blaze in the Rule 5 draft, he would have to be on their MLB roster for the entire 2026 season?
Yes, that is my understanding. This process is always somewhat of a poker game.
No one is going to select him.
Which is why he was not protected.

Fully agree. I saw nothing impressive about Jordan’s game after the trade. He was Baker 2.0 from what I saw. I fully expect his career path to be though Asia.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:20 pm**

IndCard75 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 14:43 pm Pete Hansen is the one I think we will lose and will hurt the most.

Don’t remember seeing him pitch. From what I heard yesterday he was the kind of pitcher the game no longer values and ABS will negatively impact the most. What did you see that you feel he will be a loss?

Not saying you were wrong as I don’t know a lot about him, just curious what impressed you.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:28 pm**

IndCard75 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 14:43 pm Pete Hansen is the one I think we will lose and will hurt the most.

Absolutely.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:42 pm**

bccardsfan wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 10:17 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 10:04 am
rage-STL wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:37 am So if someone were to select Blaze in the Rule 5 draft, he would have to be on their MLB roster for the entire 2026 season?
That's correct.
I think the calculus is pretty obvious by Bloom. The kid couldn't hit above the Mendoza line in AAA. Worst case is someone selects him and has to put him on their roster and he cannot hit in the show. They are forced to return him if the Cards want him back. The odds of the kid actually hitting in the show are pretty low. If he does figure it out so be it and good for him and the team that selects him. A calculated risk by Bloom.

technically he did hit above the mendoza line in AAA, just not with the cardinals. he was hitting just under .300 in AAA when the cardinals traded for him but then fell off a cliff.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:46 pm**

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:21 pm I just looked at his milb numbers from 2025. .300 hitter at both levels with some power at 22 years of age. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets drafted.

i think you didnt look at all the numbers.
he hit .248 overall in AAA last year with a .714 ops.

he had a .298 avg and .820 ops for the red sox aaa affiliate in 171 at bats but afzer being traded to us hit .198 with a .608 ops in 172 at bats at memphis to close the year. Tje collapse this being why he wasmt protected

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 17:50 pm**

jackclark57 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:31 pm to me, the most interesting part of the Jordan decision was the corresponding decision to protect Matt Koperniak, who is several years older and not much of a prospect on any of the lists. Tells me Bloom & Co. see something there.

Koperniak is going to be 28 before the start of next season. This season his numbers were down. Maybe the Cardinals unload some of their outfielders and Koperniak makes the team but I don't see the point in protecting someone at his age.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 18:28 pm**

Wattage wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 17:46 pm
ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:21 pm I just looked at his milb numbers from 2025. .300 hitter at both levels with some power at 22 years of age. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets drafted.
i think you didnt look at all the numbers.
he hit .248 overall in AAA last year with a .714 ops.

he had a .298 avg and .820 ops for the red sox aaa affiliate in 171 at bats but afzer being traded to us hit .198 with a .608 ops in 172 at bats at memphis to close the year. Tje collapse this being why he wasmt protected

The fact that he never hit that poorly in 10 milb stops tells me that the Cardinals analytics gurus worked their magic. I'd pick him up if I was a MLB gm. Plenty of upside and nothing to lose. If he doesn't work out you give him back.

Posted: **19 Nov 2025 18:55 pm**

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 13:06 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:34 am
Banner29 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 11:24 am
Strummer Jones wrote: ↑19 Nov 2025 09:30 am I'm a little surprised. But in a weird way it's encouraging.

Blaze was a pretty well known Bloom guy. Seems he's not letting favorites get in the way of roster decisions.
This is a good way to look at it. The only reason any of us know his name now is because he came through trade, which naturally makes any prospect stand out more. Had he been drafted by the Cardinals, high chance nobody here would even recognize the name and think anything of it.

Likely the rest of the league sees it that way and he doesn’t get picked up. Especially with hot not ready he is for big league at bats.

And even if he doesn’t get picked up the chances are he never amounts to much, and he just ends up being a guy traded for a 34 year old left reliever that all of us couldn’t wait to get rid of for most of his contract. Not exactly a premium prospect we squandered
I doubt the Matz trade was contract related.
According to Sporttrac the Sox were on the hook for $4M of Matz's 2025 salary. Given the state of the organization, this was certainly a money saving move by BDW/Mo.

Yes, of course.

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