CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 23:38 pm
Melville wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 22:31 pm
CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 22:19 pm
Melville wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 22:10 pm
CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 18:44 pm
Melville wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 17:28 pm
ecleme22 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 16:32 pm
CrazyForMyRedbirdsInLA wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 16:28 pm
I think it's refreshing a player wants to stay in StL so much. He's not hurting our budget since we're shedding massive budget once Nado and Gray are traded and Mikolas leaves, and we won't be spending on FA's, so who cares, let him stay and mentor. I think this is a good thing, makes me like him more
(Applause)
Indeed.
W/C says he wants to be a leader.
Exact opposite of what Goldschmidt and N/A said.
Zero question that is what the organization needs.
But there is a valid question.
How much is another team willing to give STL in exchange?
Another team would let them dump his salary on them because as you (and only you!) correctly pointed out lol, his contract is actually a bargain.
No good prospect return though, unless the team wants to cover a significant portion of his salary, effectively buying a better prospect.
Only two factions will see this as a bad development, those who love nothing more than BDW saving money and those suffering from Burly fever.
He has more value than most think.
Not only does his remaining AAV have appeal, but the limited 2-year commitment is exactly what a lot of teams will covet.
He will cost a small fraction of what middle order FA bats Tucker, Schwarber, and Bellinger will command - who are all LH.
Outside of Suarez, there's not much to pick from among RH bats.
There could not be a better time for STL to shop him - and the return would be significant.
Not advocating that he be traded.
Simply providing 100% accurate, agenda-free, bias-free analysis.
Lol…I’d expect nothing less! You do raise a good point in the 2 year contract length. I forgot about that which does make him more appealing for a team looking for a good bridge player. Same logic could applied in the case for the Cardinals retaining him too.
There is indeed an argument in favor of keeping him.
If Bloom's goal is to aim for 85-86 wins next year, while simultaneously building a foundation for something better long-term, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION would be to keep Contreras for at least one more season and possibly for both.
On the other hand, if STL simply wants to dump contract and dollars, they will find it easier to trade Contreras than Gray and could go in that direction.
Since I could easily fix the organization in 30 days or less and therefore see no reason to forfeit next season, I would retain him - unless the trade offer was overwhelming with starting pitching talent.
Your 30 day claim is quite bold, but luckily your consulting skills won’t be required as the organization is already fixed. Mo is retiring.
One question though, why would any GM “aim for 85-86 wins”? I have argued against those who say a wildcard is worthless, in that I think it is natural evolution to experience at least a short phase of mediocrity on the road back to contention. Not to mention fighting your way back to the top is an invaluable experience to young players.
But I do agree that you don’t “build for a wildcard” either. You sensibly use all resources available and exhaust all avenues to improve, then turn the revised roster loose and let the chips fall where they may, as opposed to any form of tanking. Would that have fit your 30 day plan?
Bloom has 2 options.
Conclude the team cannot compete in the near term and therefore do a complete reset in necessary (meaning no expectation of competing for a W/C next year).
Or conclude the team currently has the resources to play +.500 ball and needs just a few changes to do so in the short term - while building a higher ceiling pipeline for the long term (this approach would produce an expectation of winning 85-86 wins as soon as next season).
The CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is the latter.
(Of course, one important factor either way is whatever DeWitt has already shared internally as to the 3-5 year payroll budget.)
With the latter choice being the 100% correct analysis, then yes, the organization can quite easily be fixed in 30 days or less.
As I was first and best to understand and explain - and as has been widely accepted here over time as others have heeded my advice to keep reading and keep learning - the actions required are clear and obvious.
1. Fire The Marmot and his staff - and replace with an experienced battle proven crew.
2. Retain Gray, Liberatore, and McGreevy - while adding two very solid starting pitchers (acknowledging risk of injury to pitchers can upset any well made plan).
3. Acquire a ASG quality middle order RH hitting corner outfielder.
Very, very easily accomplished in a 30-day window from late November through late December, through trade and FA opportunities.
Expendable pieces to accomplish this would include, but not limited to, Bernal, Mathews, Crooks, Padilla, Hence, C. Davis, Mootbaar (as I alone correctly advised in each of the past 4 years), Donovan (I would not want to see that, but the return could make it worth considering), Herrera (most won't like to see his name listed but unless the team moves him to LF it is the right thing to do), Saggese (though he does profile well as a super-utility), Prieto (time is up), Gorman (a popular choice for many but trading him would almost certainly quickly prove to be a strategic blunder), Scott, and Walker (again, some risk but I think the organization is ready to move on).
There is a lot of redundancy to work from - particularly with Wetherholt, Doyle, Joshua Baez, and maybe even Henderson showing progress and perhaps not far from contributing at the MLB level and backfilling for some of those who depart.
Plenty of pieces to mix-n-match to acquire what is needed.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.
