STLtoday.com

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:33 pm

82birds wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pm

billybaseball wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:27 pm Cardinals are getting 2 comp B picks per Jeff Passan

wait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

please be true. PLEASE PLEASE BE TRUE.

yep....Trade Rumors is listing it, too....I was wrong on #70....it's 68 and 72. Holy Moly, 82birds....that's 6 picks in the top 86.

I'm a happy dog now....from a 6.3 on 10 scale to a Blushing 8.7

82birds wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:37 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:33 pm

82birds wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pm

billybaseball wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:27 pm Cardinals are getting 2 comp B picks per Jeff Passan

wait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

please be true. PLEASE PLEASE BE TRUE.

yep....Trade Rumors is listing it, too....I was wrong on #70....it's 68 and 72. Holy Moly, 82birds....that's 6 picks in the top 86.

I'm a happy dog now....from a 6.3 on 10 scale to a Blushing 8.7

not that I doubted you, but I just went to MLBTR and saw it with my own eyes.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:13 pm

2ninr wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:09 pm

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:02 pm

imyourhuckleberry wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:57 pm

alw80 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:51 pm

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:48 pm

Absolut wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:45 pm

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:43 pm

alw80 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:40 pm

82birds wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:39 pm

icon wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:37 pm There may be a carnival barker outside Busch yelling: "Come and see it -- the man who pitches with both arms!"

Knowing the Cardinals and the marketing aspect, they will forbid him from giving up pitching with both arms. Remember the Navy guy who was here just because he was a Navy guy? And Nootbaar, the guy with the cute name in they hang on to forever and a day.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

I disagree strongly with your last sentence.

Yep, Bloom has done more positive for the franchise in a few months than Mo had done in the last 10 years.

What great positive has he done other than clearing BDW payroll obligations for question marks.
What player out of this offseason trade return is anyone confident being a solid MLB starter?

Prefer adding an Erik Fedde and calling it a winter?

I prefer getting some stud players…….is this asking too much…..middling rehab projects fits in well to this organizations overall losing mentality

What studs were available for BD?

GF was asked the same question when he was whining about the return in the Gray trade, whining about the return in the Contrerras trade and whining about the return in the Arenado trade. He had no answers then, he'll have no answers now.

He just wants to whine.

Then what is the POINT of all this other than dumping vet contracts???
With those you mention…..they were old with large contracts is the excuse why Bloom couldn’t get a great return
Now with Donny…..he was one of the top trade targets all offseason and he’s young and CHEAP…..and still not a great return
What quality of player needs to be traded to get an almost MLB ready close to sure thing?

It was an appropriate return. Sure I would have liked more. The trade value was accurate, as usual. Still way better than getting less at td or nothing in 2 years. This player wasn't taking us to the playoffs.

Donny could’ve been a solid INF and lineup slot for the Cards for YEARS. They’re paying an injury riddled sub .500 5.00ERA SP 12mil this year…..so don’t give me the [nonsense] that somehow they can’t afford 6mil for Donny or whatever his next contract might bring.

Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #12 prospect in 2024
BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: Ledbetter has always hit. In two years at Samford, he was one of the best hitters in the Southern Conference. He then was one of the best players in the New England Collegiate League during summer 2022. And to prove that he could handle a jump in level of competition, Ledbetter transferred to Mississippi State for his junior year, where he showed that he was just as capable of hitting Southeastern Conference pitching. He hit .320/.452/.574 while stealing 17 bases in 2023, making himself the Rays’ second-round pick. Ledbetter finished his pro debut with Low-A Charleston as starting center fielder during the postseason. He homered in Game 1 of the championship series to help the RiverDogs win their third straight title.

Scouting Report: Ledbetter is a well-rounded outfielder who has a chance to have five average tools. He doesn’t do anything exceptionally, but he also has no glaring weakness. He doesn’t chase too frequently. He doesn’t get himself out and shouldn’t strike out too much. Ledbetter has average power, and he’s an above-average defender in the corners who can plausibly play center field, though probably not for the Rays who always seem to have plus defenders in center.

The Future: As a capable SEC hitter who has already gotten a taste of the Carolina League, a push to High-A Bowling Green to start 2024 is likely. There are plenty of Rays outfield prospects who do something better than Ledbetter. But the Rays don’t have an outfield prospect who can do as many things well as Ledbetter.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:21 pm SI:

Cardinals fans should be thrilled with the return in the Brendan Donovan deal

Cijntje, 22, is one of the most intriguing prospects in all of baseball for one simple reason: He's a switch pitcher.

The 22-year-old is likely going to pitch right handed more often than anything, but he can still dial it up to over 90 miles-per-hour with the left hand. He put together a very solid campaign last season with the Mariners, but will look to build on it in St. Louis.

Peete, 20, seems more like a project than anything. He was selected in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but he struggled quite a bit last season. Still, he has all the tools to be an incredible big league outfielder. The 20-year-old has good power, speed, and defense, which makes him one of the higher potential players in the Cardinals farm system.

Ledbetter, 24, has put together a few solid seasons in the minor leagues. He wasn't great last year, but he has the tools to be successful if the Cardinals can get the most out of his bat.

The addition of the Comp B pick is the perfect cherry on top of a great trade for the Cardinals. Time will tell if this trade return pans out the way it could.

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:48 pm Two extra draft picks?

That brings me up from "meh" to "Ok!" Especially two extra picks in the top 75?

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pmwait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:47 pm Cardinals' Brendan Donovan Trade Opens Door for Anticipated Prospect Debut

With Brendan Donovan reportedly headed to Seattle, JJ Wetherholt is primed for his big-league debut...
Zach Pressnell

The St. Louis Cardinals are heading in the right direction right now, even if their big league roster is getting worse. Over the course of the last calendar year, the Cardinals have cut ties with multiple veteran stars to get salary relief and add prospect capital. They're clearly headed toward a full-scale rebuild.

This offseason began with the Cardinals trading Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox in a pair of deals. They also moved Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks, too.

On Monday, the Cardinals reportedly agreed on a deal that would send All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. St. Louis was able to land a haul in return, once the deal is completed, but replacing Donovan isn't going to be easy.

Donovan is one of the best second basemen in all of baseball. He was an All-Star last season, but the Cardinals seemingly already have his replacement in St. Louis.

The clear and obvious answer is to bring top prospect JJ Wetherholt to St. Louis and start him every day at second base.

Wetherholt is a versatile infielder who played a lot of different positions last year as the Cardinals searched for a spot in the big leagues for him. He's played nearly every positon on the field over the last two seasons.

But his home is at second base next to Masyn Winn in St. Louis.

Wetherholt was incredible last season, slashing .306/.421/.510 in over 100 games split between Double-A and Triple-A. He hit 28 doubles, two triples, and 17 home runs at the minor league level last year. There's nothing left to prove at that level.

The Cardinals likely made the Donovan trade with the thought that Wetherholt is ready to take over at second base. Having a star prospect to replace an All-Star infielder is the perfect scenario for St. Louis.

There may be some growing pains early in the young prospects big league career, but it's crucial that the team trusts him at second base for the entire season and beyond.

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:49 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pmwait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

Yea, I just read the same thing!! That is indeed a wow!! 6 picks in the top 86 is real nice!!

I'm will also be revising my very technical trade rating from a B to an A. That is nice work, Chaim!!

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:49 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pmwait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

Yea, I just read the same thing!! That is indeed a wow!! 6 picks in the top 86 is real nice!!

I'm will also be revising my very technical trade rating from a B to an A. That is nice work, Chaim!!

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:31 pm

icon wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 17:37 pm There may be a carnival barker outside Busch yelling: "Come and see it -- the man who pitches with both arms!"

Knowing the Cardinals and the marketing aspect, they will forbid him from giving up pitching with both arms. Remember the Navy guy who was here just because he was a Navy guy? And Nootbaar, the guy with the cute name they hang on to forever and a day.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

I just want to see him walk out to the mound with two gloves.

82birds wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:55 pm

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:49 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 18:29 pmwait...we're getting Seattle's #70 and Tampa's #72?

WOW....are sure on that?

That's insanely crazy....that makes that a sure fire winner for the Cards...of course, time really tells on trades...much time. But 2 picks, darn....that would be awesome, BB

Yea, I just read the same thing!! That is indeed a wow!! 6 picks in the top 86 is real nice!!

I'm will also be revising my very technical trade rating from a B to an A. That is nice work, Chaim!!

funny
hey, RD, don't miss Wednesday with Walton and Reis (this Wednesday of all Wednesdays)