Outfielder acquisition

[Principal1]

Anyone remember a 30yr old CFer acquired by trade in Spring 2000? How about a SP named Kent Bottenfield and a 2b youngster named Adam Kennedy? Ya, that CF was a oft-injured guy named Jim Edmonds who went on to have a "pretty good" several years for the Cardinals You've gotta give to get, Would Libby and NG and? get that impact bat outfielder?

[3dender]

The outfield has to be a priority, period. For years we have been running out some of the least productive outfielders in baseball. To do nothing is criminal. An outfield of Nootbaar, Scott ll and Walker again next year would be a slap in the face of every fan of this team.

Sure there’s lots to do but the outfield has to be front and center.

While our offense is pretty weak as well, our starting pitching era is 25th out of 30 in mlb and sonny gray is only getting older and we do t really ha e prispe ts to step up next year.

Acquiring 2 pitchers to replace mikolas and pallante id say is a much greater need than outfield since putchers can single handedly lose a game.

I hear ya and I’m all for adding starting pitching but you can’t run the same outfield out there in 2026 that we did in 2025. I’d like to think we have someone(s) who can step up but I think it’s been proven that it’s unlikely. Even if we take fliers on wild cards, something has to change in that outfield.

It won't be the same, Walker will be starting in AAA and one of Noot or Burleson will be gone, with Herrera probably starting a decent amount in LF.

An OF of Herrera/Scott/Burleson or Donny/Scott/Burleson is fine, and the only way Walker will be in the mix is if he actually figures something out at AAA.

[3dender]

Anyone remember a 30yr old CFer acquired by trade in Spring 2000? How about a SP named Kent Bottenfield and a 2b youngster named Adam Kennedy? Ya, that CF was a oft-injured guy named Jim Edmonds who went on to have a "pretty good" several years for the Cardinals You've gotta give to get, Would Libby and NG and? get that impact bat outfielder?

I don't hate to break it to you but both the trade market and FA market have evolved a little in the last quarter century. Years of control matter, as does a team's willingness and confidence to re-sign the player to a market value extension. Both of those were huge factors in getting Edmonds and McGwire.

[rockondlouie]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

[MrPostman01]

How many tools do these guys have?

Scott has the speed, but no power or average. He fields well, but has a little league throwing arm.
Walker has speed, a shot gun arm, and fields ok. He has zip for power and pathetic average.
Newtbar no power or average. fields ok. arm not great, speed ok. cannoy bring japan's best to cards.

I say goodbye to all 3. A new broom sweeps clean.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

The Cardinals would have to eat a lot more than 50% of Arenado's salary in order to trade him. The no trade doesn't help. Arenado will block a ton of teams. I think the Cardinals might be eating 70%-90%. Some people think that he will be released.

I like Bellinger but he would first have to opt out to be a free agent and how many years would he want? The Cardinals aren't going to sign him. Too much money and I think if the Cardinals sign anyone next year it will be for a 1 year deal because of the CBA.

[Hazelwood72]

The Cardinals will not be looking to improve the team for 2026. For one thing, they don’t have the assets to move to do so, nor will they be players in the FA market, at least not in a big way. That does not mean they will be inactive. There is a lot of redundancy on this roster. The moves made will be with an eye towards clearing out some log jams and rebalancing the roster. That it and of itself should bring some improvements. That being said, 2026 will probably look a lot like 2025. Young guys getting a chance to play and fail and play again. But…for those of you who were around, it may be like the 1973 Big Red. It was the first year of the Don Coryell Era. For the third straight year they went 4-9-1. (For God, For Country, Four-Nine-and-one). However, there was a different feel to it, an excitement for 1974. That could be what we see in 2026.

Red, your analogy is exact why the Cards need to purge Oli and the entire coaching staff. Even if the Cards don’t make any significant trades or acquisitions, they need to send the message that a new regime is running the show and that low IQ baseball and lackadaisical play will no longer be tolerated. The baseball Cards need that same Don Coryell Era vibe and the only way they can do it is by firing Marmol on October 2, 2025.

[12xu]

Other than Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, who will both get multi-year huge money contracts which DeWitt won't pay - there are not many FA OF who the Cards could target. I know both of these are long shots, but I would consider Luis Robert Jr. or Miguel Andujar. Both of these RH OF have produced just one outstanding season in their careers, but they are still relatively young - 28 and 30 respectively. Both have had many injuries, of course this is a major concern.

Robert Jr. is a CF, and has excellent speed and power (stole 33 bases this year, and hit 38 HR in '23), does not walk much, and strikes out too much. The White Sox have an option on him for '26 at $20 MM, but can let him walk for $2 MM. Maybe the Cards could sign him on a short term contract with attractive games played and production based incentives. It is also possible that the Chisox might be open to trading him.

Andujar is a LF/3B, and had a tremendous rookie season with the Yanks in 2018, when he was runner up for ROY with 47 doubles, 27 HR, 92 RBI. He would then have labrum surgery - missing most of '19 and '20, wrist injury in '21, waived and claimed by Pittsburgh where he only played in 39 games in '22 and '23. He was then released and the A's picked him up and he has begun to play better since, with 13 HR, 72 RBI, .298/.334/.420/.755 - this year and last, with the A's and Reds, who acquired him at the deadline. Might he be worth a short term, incentive based contract? If he could stay healthy, maybe so.

[rockondlouie]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

The Cardinals would have to eat a lot more than 50% of Arenado's salary in order to trade him. The no trade doesn't help. Arenado will block a ton of teams. I think the Cardinals might be eating 70%-90%. Some people think that he will be released.

I like Bellinger but he would first have to opt out to be a free agent and how many years would he want? The Cardinals aren't going to sign him. Too much money and I think if the Cardinals sign anyone next year it will be for a 1 year deal because of the CBA.

I don't think so KtR, not even close to eating 70%-90%.

And he will NOT be DFA'd.

$27M in 2026 ($2-3M deferred)
$15M in 2027

$42M + deferred

IF BDWJr picks up $20+M, then I'd bet some team would take a shot at him rebounding at the plate (his defense is still elite) to no worse than a league average +100 wRC+.

As for CB, I wouldn't go over four years would you?

But like I said, never going to happen since BDWJr isn't going to put BIG money into the 2026 team (enjoy that sub 2M attendance Dewitt).

[Red7]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

The new CBA will have little to no impact on the Cardinals. Even if there is a cap, I doubt it's lower than 250-300 million. The Dewitts will still never come close to that. In any case, new CBA or not, the Cardinals are not looking for a quick turnaround. They know they're in for process that will take a few years. This offseason will be spent trying to de-clutter the roster. Any improvement will result from a better constructed roster than one that is improved talent-wise.

Actually, I could see an Edmonds-type deal. The Angels had pretty much given up on him. Edmonds was far from a sure thing and many on Bernie's Press Box forum criticized the deal since they gave up an 18 game winner and a young second baseman who'd been a #1 pick for an oft-injured Cali boy. Ironically, a Chris Carpenter type signing would be derided on here as more dumpster diving. That type of signing could be a Walker Buehler. This isn't going to be like the 1995 or 2000 off seasons and definitely not the 1980, 81, and 84 off seasons. If one is looking for or hoping for one of those, they're might as well be hoping for that pony for Xmas.

[ecleme22]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

The Cardinals would have to eat a lot more than 50% of Arenado's salary in order to trade him. The no trade doesn't help. Arenado will block a ton of teams. I think the Cardinals might be eating 70%-90%. Some people think that he will be released.

I like Bellinger but he would first have to opt out to be a free agent and how many years would he want? The Cardinals aren't going to sign him. Too much money and I think if the Cardinals sign anyone next year it will be for a 1 year deal because of the CBA.

I don't think so KtR, not even close to eating 70%-90%.

And he will NOT be DFA'd.

$27M in 2026 ($2-3M deferred)
$15M in 2027

$42M + deferred

IF BDWJr picks up $20+M, then I'd bet some team would take a shot at him rebounding at the plate (his defense is still elite) to no worse than a league average +100 wRC+.

As for CB, I wouldn't go over four years would you?

But like I said, never going to happen since BDWJr isn't going to put BIG money into the 2026 team (enjoy that sub 2M attendance Dewitt).

Signing at 30 year old Bellinger to 4 years is NOT the type of move the Cards should be making.

Dude has a 5 WAR this year. He wants to sign his LAST big contract.

[Red7]

The Cardinals will not be looking to improve the team for 2026. For one thing, they don’t have the assets to move to do so, nor will they be players in the FA market, at least not in a big way. That does not mean they will be inactive. There is a lot of redundancy on this roster. The moves made will be with an eye towards clearing out some log jams and rebalancing the roster. That it and of itself should bring some improvements. That being said, 2026 will probably look a lot like 2025. Young guys getting a chance to play and fail and play again. But…for those of you who were around, it may be like the 1973 Big Red. It was the first year of the Don Coryell Era. For the third straight year they went 4-9-1. (For God, For Country, Four-Nine-and-one). However, there was a different feel to it, an excitement for 1974. That could be what we see in 2026.

Red, your analogy is exact why the Cards need to purge Oli and the entire coaching staff. Even if the Cards don’t make any significant trades or acquisitions, they need to send the message that a new regime is running the show and that low IQ baseball and lackadaisical play will no longer be tolerated. The baseball Cards need that same Don Coryell Era vibe and the only way they can do it is by firing Marmol on October 2, 2025.

OR...they could unleash Oli and let him run the show. As it is, Oli's hands are pretty much tied as to what he can do. Oli Marmol is exactly the type of manager Bloom wants. He works well with the collaborative management group and implements the decisions made by them. Bloom's style is very much like Mo's. The hope is he does it better. If he does, that in and of itself will make Oli a better manager.

[rockondlouie]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

The new CBA will have little to no impact on the Cardinals. Even if there is a cap, I doubt it's lower than 250-300 million. The Dewitts will still never come close to that. In any case, new CBA or not, the Cardinals are not looking for a quick turnaround. They know they're in for process that will take a few years. This offseason will be spent trying to de-clutter the roster. Any improvement will result from a better constructed roster than one that is improved talent-wise.

Actually, I could see an Edmonds-type deal. The Angels had pretty much given up on him. Edmonds was far from a sure thing and many on Bernie's Press Box forum criticized the deal since they gave up an 18 game winner and a young second baseman who'd been a #1 pick for an oft-injured Cali boy. Ironically, a Chris Carpenter type signing would be derided on here as more dumpster diving. That type of signing could be a Walker Buehler. This isn't going to be like the 1995 or 2000 off seasons and definitely not the 1980, 81, and 84 off seasons. If one is looking for or hoping for one of those, they're might as well be hoping for that pony for Xmas.

The CBA will have have an impact on BDWJr's thinking when it comes to the 2026 payroll. He won't put money into any LT contracts until he knows what the new CBA looks like.

And we're in total agreement RedBaron, Dewitt will never have to worry about paying a luxury tax.

I too am looking for C. Bloom to make an Edmonds/Goldy/NADO type deal where he "steals" us a solid OF'er, he made some big time steal deals while in Boston (re: TGKS for one).

I'd roll the dice on Buehler too.

[Hazelwood72]

The Cardinals will not be looking to improve the team for 2026. For one thing, they don’t have the assets to move to do so, nor will they be players in the FA market, at least not in a big way. That does not mean they will be inactive. There is a lot of redundancy on this roster. The moves made will be with an eye towards clearing out some log jams and rebalancing the roster. That it and of itself should bring some improvements. That being said, 2026 will probably look a lot like 2025. Young guys getting a chance to play and fail and play again. But…for those of you who were around, it may be like the 1973 Big Red. It was the first year of the Don Coryell Era. For the third straight year they went 4-9-1. (For God, For Country, Four-Nine-and-one). However, there was a different feel to it, an excitement for 1974. That could be what we see in 2026.

Red, your analogy is exact why the Cards need to purge Oli and the entire coaching staff. Even if the Cards don’t make any significant trades or acquisitions, they need to send the message that a new regime is running the show and that low IQ baseball and lackadaisical play will no longer be tolerated. The baseball Cards need that same Don Coryell Era vibe and the only way they can do it is by firing Marmol on October 2, 2025.

OR...they could unleash Oli and let him run the show. As it is, Oli's hands are pretty much tied as to what he can do. Oli Marmol is exactly the type of manager Bloom wants. He works well with the collaborative management group and implements the decisions made by them. Bloom's style is very much like Mo's. The hope is he does it better. If he does, that in and of itself will make Oli a better manager.

If Oli isn’t “running the show” right now, it further demonstrates how inept Mozo the Clown is. However, I don’t like what I see from the team’s attitude and playing style that makes me want to let Oli run the show.

I still firmly believe this franchise needs a total management purge from the POBO to the major league coaching staff to the minor league training and talent assessment staff.

The Cardinals have become really good at generating slow, sludgy, one-dimensional players who can’t field and for the most part, can’t hit, either. Something major needs to be changed.

[Goldfan]

IF the Cardinals can shed at least 50% of NADO's deal, then flipping that money for C. Bellinger/30 yrs old would be a move I'd do on a four year deal.

Bellinger (29 HR/87 RBI/.275 .331 .495 .826 ) plays a solid CF and would bring a MOTO bat and a MASSIVE offensive upgrade at a position that's been near the bottom of MLB for too many years.

It'll NEVER happens since BDWJr isn't going to put more than a few pennies into the 2026 team and won't raise payroll until there's clarity on the new CBA.

I was calling for Bellinger BEFORE he re-established himself…..Holliday was working with him and saying good tHingS….that was the time to sign him
But as with everything MO……way behind

[Rojo Johnson]

I think work Herrea in the OF in ST and sign Joc Pederson.

Why Pederson? Cheap as hell. He’s been DHing the last two years, but there’s no way he finds an mlb contract as a DH.

All other acquisitions are spent on pitching.

Have you looked at what he’s done this season? I forgot he was even on the Rangers and I live in Dallas. Stick a fork in him. He’s toast just like your brain.