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CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:26 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:27 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Why would anyone want to sign with the Cardinals right now unless they are a rehab project or washed up?
Who would you sign with if you were in their place?

Whomever offered the best contract.

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:25 pm

Melville wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:32 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Imai has an opt out after each season.
That is NOT the type of 3 year deal STL should be signing with any pitcher right now.
The Cardinals need more certainty and stability than that.
Not every player who signs with another team is a lost opportunity.

Quality is quality. They should be signing quality players. The fact that they have open pitching spots and weren't even mentioned in connection speaks volumes. He appears to be a quality option and once he got here maybe he'd love it. We will never know though.

Melville wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 20:20 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:25 pm

Melville wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:32 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Imai has an opt out after each season.
That is NOT the type of 3 year deal STL should be signing with any pitcher right now.
The Cardinals need more certainty and stability than that.
Not every player who signs with another team is a lost opportunity.

Quality is quality. They should be signing quality players. The fact that they have open pitching spots and weren't even mentioned in connection speaks volumes. He appears to be a quality option and once he got here maybe he'd love it. We will never know though.

May is on a one-year deal.
Imai has an opt out each year.
The last thing STL needs is to have 40% of a starting rotation walk away at the end of next season.
Not every player is a fit.

CCard wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 06:18 am

Melville wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 20:20 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:25 pm

Melville wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:32 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Imai has an opt out after each season.
That is NOT the type of 3 year deal STL should be signing with any pitcher right now.
The Cardinals need more certainty and stability than that.
Not every player who signs with another team is a lost opportunity.

Quality is quality. They should be signing quality players. The fact that they have open pitching spots and weren't even mentioned in connection speaks volumes. He appears to be a quality option and once he got here maybe he'd love it. We will never know though.

May is on a one-year deal.
Imai has an opt out each year.
The last thing STL needs is to have 40% of a starting rotation walk away at the end of next season.
Not every player is a fit.

Shota re-upped with the Cubs. Sometimes a player likes a place after spending a year there. That used to be the Cards mantra. Get them here and they'll fall in love with St. Louis and mid-western hospitality. Whatever happened to "The Cardinal Way"?

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:25 pm

BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:30 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:27 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Why would anyone want to sign with the Cardinals right now unless they are a rehab project or washed up?
Who would you sign with if you were in their place?

I’m continuously amused by the posters around cards talk that refuse to acknowledge the rebuild that is underway within this organization. The only people that are standing around with their hands in their pocket, whistling show tunes are the folks that have their head in the sand and refuse to admit what’s going on. Much has been written and recorded around the strategy that this organization is in the midst of.

Didn't Bloom come out and say it's not a rebuild?

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 02:08 am

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:26 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:27 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Why would anyone want to sign with the Cardinals right now unless they are a rehab project or washed up?
Who would you sign with if you were in their place?

Whomever offered the best contract.

So, like I said, only rebound players, because the Cardinals won’t be offering the best contracts.

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 11:42 am

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 19:25 pm

BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:30 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:27 pm

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Why would anyone want to sign with the Cardinals right now unless they are a rehab project or washed up?
Who would you sign with if you were in their place?

I’m continuously amused by the posters around cards talk that refuse to acknowledge the rebuild that is underway within this organization. The only people that are standing around with their hands in their pocket, whistling show tunes are the folks that have their head in the sand and refuse to admit what’s going on. Much has been written and recorded around the strategy that this organization is in the midst of.

Didn't Bloom come out and say it's not a rebuild?

Bloom has said a lot of things this offseason.His message has been the same each time. The Cards are in the midst of an organizational rebuild from the inside. Player development is at the core of it.

Why do I bother replying to the trolls. They just whine and complain and don't read or pay attention or acknowledge what is so.

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 12:07 pm Sorry this frustrates you but you even note "Bloom has said a lot of things..."

Chaim Bloom, the president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, has stated that the team is not undertaking a traditional rebuild. Instead, he is focusing on building the organization from the ground up, emphasizing player development and staff training. Bloom's approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to learning and improvement within the team. He has been vocal about the need for boldness and humility in the face of competition, and his leadership is seen as a shift from previous organizational practices that may have been less focused on long-term success.

In December he said this word salad

“Everybody who works for this organization … there’s something we can all do to get us closer to where we want to be. Even when we’re planning long term, we have to attack each day with that in mind. … You never know what might happen today that could be really important to helping us accomplishing our goals – whether that’s in 2026 or beyond.”

rockondlouie wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 12:26 pm

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 12:07 pm Sorry this frustrates you but you even note "Bloom has said a lot of things..."

Chaim Bloom, the president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, has stated that the team is not undertaking a traditional rebuild. Instead, he is focusing on building the organization from the ground up, emphasizing player development and staff training. Bloom's approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to learning and improvement within the team. He has been vocal about the need for boldness and humility in the face of competition, and his leadership is seen as a shift from previous organizational practices that may have been less focused on long-term success.

In December he said this word salad

“Everybody who works for this organization … there’s something we can all do to get us closer to where we want to be. Even when we’re planning long term, we have to attack each day with that in mind. … You never know what might happen today that could be really important to helping us accomplishing our goals – whether that’s in 2026 or beyond.”

^^^This is correct ^^^

Bloom has avoided the term re-build and for good reason, this is a re-set focused on long-term goals and strategic moves.

I've called it a "Back-to-the-Future" move by BDWJr/Bloom to take the Cardinals back to the days of J. Luhnow and the system churning out quality prospects.

We fans and the media are the one's who call it a re-build.

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 13:35 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 12:26 pm

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 12:07 pm Sorry this frustrates you but you even note "Bloom has said a lot of things..."

Chaim Bloom, the president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, has stated that the team is not undertaking a traditional rebuild. Instead, he is focusing on building the organization from the ground up, emphasizing player development and staff training. Bloom's approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to learning and improvement within the team. He has been vocal about the need for boldness and humility in the face of competition, and his leadership is seen as a shift from previous organizational practices that may have been less focused on long-term success.

In December he said this word salad

“Everybody who works for this organization … there’s something we can all do to get us closer to where we want to be. Even when we’re planning long term, we have to attack each day with that in mind. … You never know what might happen today that could be really important to helping us accomplishing our goals – whether that’s in 2026 or beyond.”

^^^This is correct ^^^

Bloom has avoided the term re-build and for good reason, this is a re-set focused on long-term goals and strategic moves.

I've called it a "Back-to-the-Future" move by BDWJr/Bloom to take the Cardinals back to the days of J. Luhnow and the system churning out quality prospects.

We fans and the media are the one's who call it a re-build.

Who cares what they call it? It’s what they do and the results in the future that matter. I for one are just happy to see some sort of change. I never liked Moe’s operating procedure.

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 11:46 am

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Sure, because God knows that any free agent would MUCH rather sign with a rebuilding team instead of a playoff contender!

CCard wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 18:26 pm

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026 11:46 am

CCard wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 13:21 pm

82birds wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026 11:54 am Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai
By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.


glad the Cubs didn't sign him.

Again, the Cards standing with their hands in the pockets whistling show tunes.

Sure, because God knows that any free agent would MUCH rather sign with a rebuilding team instead of a playoff contender!

Again, Dollars matter. As Lance Berkman said, "It's always about the dollars."