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ecleme22 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 10:56 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 09:35 am

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 09:28 am Call me gunshy, but I hope we don't go back into the Asian leagues for reformed MLB pitchers. I've seen enough of the Drew VerHagens, Miles Mikolases, and Erick Feddes...which was a Chisox move, I know.

I just don't know of any MLB-er who's come back stateside after moonlighting in East Asia who has sustained their success there. Or even being above average. Miles was about the best, and by measure of ERA+, he was still below average in four of his seven seasons here. Not to mention the season he sat out and the season where he was literally just one tic above average.

The problem wasn't signing Mikolas originally for 2 yrs./$15.5 million. The problem was falling in love with him to soon and giving him a 4 yr./$68 million extension AND THEN another extension that stretched that for two more years.

That second extension can only be classified as weird.

I’ve said this before, but sometimes Mo acted as if he were scared of the offseason hot stove.

Why extend MM before his last season of his contract even started? And keep in mind, the man was spotty his first 5 years here.

Just weird…

12xu wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 10:00 am I have posted this before, but I will repeat: The Cardinals should sign FA OF Miguel Andujar.......soon. He could probably be signed to a short term contract for less than $8 MM per year. He had a strong comeback season for the Reds last year, and plays RF and LF well, can also fill in at 3B. Good power, not big strikeout prone.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

Mort Gage wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 14:26 pm

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

That kind of money for a 32 yr old seems steep for a rebuilding team. They have a glut of 1B/DH/corner OF guys. If they were to pursue a bench bat I'd look for a cheap RH OF on a one year deal.

Ponce? Sure, he could be in the mix. They will need a low cost inning eater or two who could be flipped in July.

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 21:54 pm Why would Bloom want to sign O’Hearn. A left hand hitting 1stbaseman? I’d be willing to bet the farm, that he isn’t as sure handed or has a stronger throwing arm than Burleson in the outfield either! For a guy preaching Rebuild, Rebuild, Rebuild why would you want O’Hearn either? Uh better options out there, who also hit right handed.
Better yet why not just keep, Donovan? He will cost less money than O’Hearn, plays better defense than O’Hearn, at multiple positions, and is a better hitter than O’Hearn!

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 04:20 am

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 21:54 pm Why would Bloom want to sign O’Hearn. A left hand hitting 1stbaseman? I’d be willing to bet the farm, that he isn’t as sure handed or has a stronger throwing arm than Burleson in the outfield either! For a guy preaching Rebuild, Rebuild, Rebuild why would you want O’Hearn either? Uh better options out there, who also hit right handed.
Better yet why not just keep, Donovan? He will cost less money than O’Hearn, plays better defense than O’Hearn, at multiple positions, and is a better hitter than O’Hearn!

As noted, I predicated O'Hearn on trading Burleson, expecting to station O'Hearn in LF at lease vs. RHPs. O'Hearn's career OPSs are .642 vs. LHPs and .759 vs. RHPs, although he was significantly better in 2025 (.832 vs. LHPs and .795 vs. RHPs).

Some of CT has been clamoring for the Cardinals to at least make a show of trying "to compete" in 2026, so signing a guy who might give you another .800 OPS bat in the middle of the order would seem to do that.

And you're trading Donovan to obtain prospects for 2027, 2028, 2029. O'Hearn is just a short term bridge (and one you might even be able to trade in July 2026 for more prospects).

rockondlouie wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 08:49 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

Pass on RoH who turns 33 yrs old mid 2026 season, another LHHer w/little power would be a waste of $12-13.5M AAV.

RoH Career:
.252 .321 .421 .743

Noot Career:
.242 .341 .406 .747

I'd rather keep Noot.

No way I'd give Ponce an $8M AAV, he's unproven in MLB (career: 20 G/2 GS: 5.86 ERA).

PASS ON BOTH, C. Bloom can do better.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 08:53 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 08:49 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

Pass on RoH who turns 33 yrs old mid 2026 season, another LHHer w/little power would be a waste of $12-13.5M AAV.

RoH Career:
.252 .321 .421 .743

Noot Career:
.242 .341 .406 .747

I'd rather keep Noot.

No way I'd give Ponce an $8M AAV, he's unproven in MLB (career: 20 G/2 GS: 5.86 ERA).

PASS ON BOTH, C. Bloom can do better.

You would certainly not be signing Ponce based on what he last did in MLB back in 2021.

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 12:49 pm I'd take a flyer on Andujar

zuck698 wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 16:46 pm

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 12:49 pm I'd take a flyer on Andujar

We would have our new "you never know" guy. It is what out last Andujar always said.

May or Mahle before Andujar for my preference. Hope Bloom calls up the Twins to see if Joe Ryan is availalbe. Good bounce back season last year and could get him at a reasonable cost, I would think. Twins are always trying to save money and they only have 2 more years of control before he is gone due to affordability and they got some younger guys able to replace him. Would give us a decent number 3 with future 2 potential.

Alex Reyes Cy Young wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 13:59 pm

12xu wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 10:00 am I have posted this before, but I will repeat: The Cardinals should sign FA OF Miguel Andujar.......soon. He could probably be signed to a short term contract for less than $8 MM per year. He had a strong comeback season for the Reds last year, and plays RF and LF well, can also fill in at 3B. Good power, not big strikeout prone.

Interesting.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑29 Nov 2025 07:35 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025 08:35 am Ryan O'Hearn - in particular if the Cardinals were to include Nootbaar in a trade, I wouldn't mind them checking in on O'Hearn. If he goes for his estimated. 2 yrs./$24-$27 million ($12-$13.5 million AAV), he might be an affordable veteran bat on a short deal that could add some depth to the lineup vs. RHPs.

Cody Ponce - a SP who went overseas, projects to get like 2 yrs./$16 million ($8 million AAV) at age 32, but saw a big one season jump to 12+ K/9 in the KBO last year. Could be a sneaky Eric Fedde like return to MLB, at least for part of a season and then dealt in 2026.

There are 780 players on rosters. 26 times 30 teams. 390 are pitchers.

That leaves 390 position players. Minus 60 catchers that’s 330. Minus SS, second base, and first base, allowing two per team, that’s another 180. Making the pool of eligible players at about 150 players.

That about it.