ramfandan wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:02 am
Dobbins getting most of the attention
The youngest pitcher included in the Conteras trade, the 19-year-old Fajardo made his stateside debut this year after spending the 2024 MiLB season in the Dominican Summer League. Already ranked in Cardinals Top 10 list.
MLB Pipeline has Fajardo ranked 9th in the Cardinals system.
Fajardo logged 20 2/3 innings in the Florida Complex League, where he had a 0.44 ERA and 24 strikeouts, before joining Class Low-A Salem near the middle of June. Following his promotion, Fajardo sported a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 59 batters in 51 1/3 innings, walked 20 and held hitters to a .611 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Fajardo, who had a 27.8% strikeout rate in Class Low-A, flashed a fastball that hovered around 94 mph and peaked at 96 mph this past season. The average fastball velocity represented an increase from 2024, per Baseball America. Fajardo’ slider, changeup and overall control all received 55 grades on Baseball America’s scale of 80. Scouts believe there is room for the 19-year-old to add muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame.
Originally signed as an international free agent by the White Sox in 2024, Fajardo was acquired by the Red Sox last December in a deal for lefty Cam Booser.
+1
Plenty of room at age 19 to grow both on and off the mound.
This kid could end up being the "gem" of this deal!
Agree and its guys like him and gray that you hope for in trades for gray and Contreras no one is going to give up their top prospects in those trades so go for low level raw players that have a ton of upside talent that you trust your new development system to bring along. Bloom is doing a good job so far. He and Clarke are already top 10 in cards system
100% ozzie
Hard to understand the complainers who seem to think Bloom just traded away 20-something S. Gray & WillyC instead of 36 yr old and soon to be be 34 yr old players well past their prime.
I liked both deals, acknowledging I know nothing about the kids we got back other than what I can read.
But trusting in the new brain trust to know what they're getting back and their potential for development into (hopefully) being Cardinals one day.
ramfandan wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:02 am
Dobbins getting most of the attention
The youngest pitcher included in the Conteras trade, the 19-year-old Fajardo made his stateside debut this year after spending the 2024 MiLB season in the Dominican Summer League. Already ranked in Cardinals Top 10 list.
MLB Pipeline has Fajardo ranked 9th in the Cardinals system.
Fajardo logged 20 2/3 innings in the Florida Complex League, where he had a 0.44 ERA and 24 strikeouts, before joining Class Low-A Salem near the middle of June. Following his promotion, Fajardo sported a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 59 batters in 51 1/3 innings, walked 20 and held hitters to a .611 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Fajardo, who had a 27.8% strikeout rate in Class Low-A, flashed a fastball that hovered around 94 mph and peaked at 96 mph this past season. The average fastball velocity represented an increase from 2024, per Baseball America. Fajardo’ slider, changeup and overall control all received 55 grades on Baseball America’s scale of 80. Scouts believe there is room for the 19-year-old to add muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame.
Originally signed as an international free agent by the White Sox in 2024, Fajardo was acquired by the Red Sox last December in a deal for lefty Cam Booser.
+1
Plenty of room at age 19 to grow both on and off the mound.
This kid could end up being the "gem" of this deal!
Agree and its guys like him and gray that you hope for in trades for gray and Contreras no one is going to give up their top prospects in those trades so go for low level raw players that have a ton of upside talent that you trust your new development system to bring along. Bloom is doing a good job so far. He and Clarke are already top 10 in cards system
100% ozzie
Hard to understand the complainers who seem to think Bloom just traded away 20-something S. Gray & WillyC instead of 36 yr old and soon to be be 34 yr old players well past their prime.
I liked both deals, acknowledging I know nothing about the kids we got back other than what I can read.
But trusting in the new brain trust to know what they're getting back and their potential for development into (hopefully) being Cardinals one day.
200% Rock
I have to be careful Rock.
Especially after being scolded by my buddy yesterday!
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
ramfandan wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:02 am
Dobbins getting most of the attention
The youngest pitcher included in the Conteras trade, the 19-year-old Fajardo made his stateside debut this year after spending the 2024 MiLB season in the Dominican Summer League. Already ranked in Cardinals Top 10 list.
MLB Pipeline has Fajardo ranked 9th in the Cardinals system.
Fajardo logged 20 2/3 innings in the Florida Complex League, where he had a 0.44 ERA and 24 strikeouts, before joining Class Low-A Salem near the middle of June. Following his promotion, Fajardo sported a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 59 batters in 51 1/3 innings, walked 20 and held hitters to a .611 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Fajardo, who had a 27.8% strikeout rate in Class Low-A, flashed a fastball that hovered around 94 mph and peaked at 96 mph this past season. The average fastball velocity represented an increase from 2024, per Baseball America. Fajardo’ slider, changeup and overall control all received 55 grades on Baseball America’s scale of 80. Scouts believe there is room for the 19-year-old to add muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame.
Originally signed as an international free agent by the White Sox in 2024, Fajardo was acquired by the Red Sox last December in a deal for lefty Cam Booser.
+1
Plenty of room at age 19 to grow both on and off the mound.
This kid could end up being the "gem" of this deal!
Agree and its guys like him and gray that you hope for in trades for gray and Contreras no one is going to give up their top prospects in those trades so go for low level raw players that have a ton of upside talent that you trust your new development system to bring along. Bloom is doing a good job so far. He and Clarke are already top 10 in cards system
100% ozzie
Hard to understand the complainers who seem to think Bloom just traded away 20-something S. Gray & WillyC instead of 36 yr old and soon to be be 34 yr old players well past their prime.
I liked both deals, acknowledging I know nothing about the kids we got back other than what I can read.
But trusting in the new brain trust to know what they're getting back and their potential for development into (hopefully) being Cardinals one day.
200% Rock
I have to be careful Rock.
Especially after being scolded by my buddy yesterday!
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
Did you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
Did you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
he's an asset...and a good one at that....He impresses Baseball America and MlB.com.
I agree with you on the Salary Dump, but we were lucky to get back a good prospect...he may succeed, he may fail...but he's much better than what we got for all the relief trades we made in July.
It's both....be happy...you're right and wrong...but that's a good thing in this case
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The point is they're years away from helping the Cards. Meanwhile, now there's a gaping hole in the lineup.
CCard wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 12:38 pmDid you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
Hold on. I love Willson Contreras, but you're telling me he was "feared at the plate"? Since when? One of the biggest criticisms I read here for years was that the Cardinals never had any one bat that other teams feared.
CCard wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 12:38 pmDid you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
Hold on. I love Willson Contreras, but you're telling me he was "feared at the plate"? Since when? One of the biggest criticisms I read here for years was that the Cardinals never had any one bat that other teams feared.
Well, he was the most feared bat in the Cards lineup. Don't you think he was? Name me a Card that was feared more.
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
Did you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
he's an asset...and a good one at that....He impresses Baseball America and MlB.com.
I agree with you on the Salary Dump, but we were lucky to get back a good prospect...he may succeed, he may fail...but he's much better than what we got for all the relief trades we made in July.
It's both....be happy...you're right and wrong...but that's a good thing in this case
I'd prefer to watch a competitive team in St Louis as opposed to hearing about a minor league pitcher maybe developing in the minors. But that's just me, I like to watch a competitive Cards team only.
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
Did you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
he's an asset...and a good one at that....He impresses Baseball America and MlB.com.
I agree with you on the Salary Dump, but we were lucky to get back a good prospect...he may succeed, he may fail...but he's much better than what we got for all the relief trades we made in July.
It's both....be happy...you're right and wrong...but that's a good thing in this case
I'd prefer to watch a competitive team in St Louis as opposed to hearing about a minor league pitcher maybe developing in the minors. But that's just me, I like to watch a competitive Cards team only.
So you havent watched them the past three years then
Ace wrote: ↑22 Dec 2025 09:09 am
I like the approach so far, but definitely understand why Boston was willing to send off both these players.
Whiff rate on fastballs in 2025:
Dobbins 11.9%
Yhoiker Fajardo 12.9%
Average is usually around 21-22%, this is considerably low. However, I like the makeup of both players, both can throw mid 90s and have an arsenal of breaking pitches. Hopefully they can improve on their fastballs.
The minor leagues is littered with guys like these. Maybe one will be a lottery ticket, probably not though. You can pick these guys up in the rule 5 all the time. This was a salary dump, plain and simple. They haven't forced enough losing on the "spoiled" Cards fans. Got to make them appreciate when they spend money to win. LOL "They've coddled these fans too much!"
not sure how many 18yo's with control and K's you can pick up in the Rule 5 draft....none.
Salary Dump, yes....Asset acquisition, yes.... Both sides of the Betching Coin can be happy same time
LOL...Assets? Boston sure was quick to give up on the "18 year old with control and K's". I think maybe you might not have gotten the memo about salary dumping.
LOL I think you don't know [shirt] about Prospects. So there's that Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
Did you talk to all the Boston fans? I didn't think so. Prospects have one thing in common, most of them wind up being mediocre or failing. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a proven hitter that hits 20 homeruns and is feared at the plate or a minor league pitcher that hasn't cracked the big leagues yet and doesn't miss bats? Go ahead, you can answer truthfully.
he's an asset...and a good one at that....He impresses Baseball America and MlB.com.
I agree with you on the Salary Dump, but we were lucky to get back a good prospect...he may succeed, he may fail...but he's much better than what we got for all the relief trades we made in July.
It's both....be happy...you're right and wrong...but that's a good thing in this case
I'd prefer to watch a competitive team in St Louis as opposed to hearing about a minor league pitcher maybe developing in the minors. But that's just me, I like to watch a competitive Cards team only.
I appreciate that. I like competitive teams as well...but our Organization was broken, and needed a reset on all sides. I'm okay with fixing the problem this way. We tried sweeping the issues under the rug like you want to do for so long...but the core guys got way too old and the newbies couldn't carry the team. Our hands are forced.
Let them fix the problems...it'll take 1-2 years, but I promise you, we'll likely come out smelling like roses in the end.
Boston fans are pretty upset they had to part with Fajardo. Did we not send you the memo? It can be both...Salary Dump and Asset Acquisition
