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rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:59 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:58 am All-in-all, it sounds like the Cardinals get the kind of ML-ready, higher floor/if lower ceiling prospect (Fitts) that I thought they would get for Gray, and a somewhat lower floor/higher ceiling prospect (Clarke) who is maybe a couple of years away.

I like it overall.

On the surface appears to be an outstanding potential return + salary relief!

Just the kind of prospect I was hoping for when Bloom dealt Gray.

Now lets get another one, maybe even a major league starter w/years of control left, for Donny.

They should definitely get more value for Donovan, whatever form that value comes in.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:06 am FWIW - BTV grades this as 23.7 in value to the Cardinals vs. 10.6 in value (with the $20M thrown in) to Boston.

Kids got some KO power potential!

This is a great deal in my opinion. Fitts will be better than most people think. I wouldn't be surprised (if healthy) that Fitts puts up about equal numbers to Sonny in 2026.

PLUS a great pitching prospect.

PLUS shedding money.

I love it.

zoiks wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:52 am Clarke has had more major arm injuries and trouble staying healthy than even Tink Hence. He’s never reached 40 IP in a minor league season. He’s had huge K/9 numbers though, so he’s the typical boom or bust prospect teams get back in a salary dump trade.

He's no even reached 40!innings across 4 years.

Turns 23.

This is a lottery pick.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:07 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:59 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:58 am All-in-all, it sounds like the Cardinals get the kind of ML-ready, higher floor/if lower ceiling prospect (Fitts) that I thought they would get for Gray, and a somewhat lower floor/higher ceiling prospect (Clarke) who is maybe a couple of years away.

I like it overall.

On the surface appears to be an outstanding potential return + salary relief!

Just the kind of prospect I was hoping for when Bloom dealt Gray.

Now lets get another one, maybe even a major league starter w/years of control left, for Donny.

They should definitely get more value for Donovan, whatever form that value comes in.

Absolutely

Either a young starting pitcher with one or two years of MLB experience and big upside or a top prospect who finished last season at AA or AAA who's major league ready no later than 2027.

cardinalsfever44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:40 am Per Jeff Passan:

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Boston Red Sox receive: Sonny Gray and cash

St. Louis Cardinals receive: LHP Brandon Clarke and RHP Richard Fitts

I can't believe we got Clarke

There must've been a small bidding war going on to land Clarke. Just outside most Top 100 prospect lists. LHP strike out machine....60 K's in 38 IP last year...kept the walks acceptable

Clark should land 5th or 7th on our Top 10 list....this will be interesting where all the pundits put him.

Color me excited about this one....unless I"m missing something with some sort of new injury.

I don't know anything about Fitts.

Per BTV:

Gray: -9.4
Cash: 20
Total: 10.6

Fitts: 7.5
Carke: 16.2
Total: 23.7


Basically buying younger assets and offloading incremental salary. Makes sense.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:07 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:59 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:58 am All-in-all, it sounds like the Cardinals get the kind of ML-ready, higher floor/if lower ceiling prospect (Fitts) that I thought they would get for Gray, and a somewhat lower floor/higher ceiling prospect (Clarke) who is maybe a couple of years away.

I like it overall.

On the surface appears to be an outstanding potential return + salary relief!

Just the kind of prospect I was hoping for when Bloom dealt Gray.

Now lets get another one, maybe even a major league starter w/years of control left, for Donny.

They should definitely get more value for Donovan, whatever form that value comes in.

I’d be preferable to a major league starter with years of control.

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:09 am

zoiks wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:52 am Clarke has had more major arm injuries and trouble staying healthy than even Tink Hence. He’s never reached 40 IP in a minor league season. He’s had huge K/9 numbers though, so he’s the typical boom or bust prospect teams get back in a salary dump trade.

He's no even reached 40!innings across 4 years.

Turns 23.

This is a lottery pick.

Agreed and as expected but this kid could have big upside

BUT

There could also be $15M ????? in payroll space savings, hopefully BDWJr let's Bloom re-invest it!

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:09 am

zoiks wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:52 am Clarke has had more major arm injuries and trouble staying healthy than even Tink Hence. He’s never reached 40 IP in a minor league season. He’s had huge K/9 numbers though, so he’s the typical boom or bust prospect teams get back in a salary dump trade.

He's no even reached 40!innings across 4 years.

Turns 23.

This is a lottery pick.

What are people looking at? FG says Clarke was drafted in 2024.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:13 am

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:09 am

zoiks wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:52 am Clarke has had more major arm injuries and trouble staying healthy than even Tink Hence. He’s never reached 40 IP in a minor league season. He’s had huge K/9 numbers though, so he’s the typical boom or bust prospect teams get back in a salary dump trade.

He's no even reached 40!innings across 4 years.

Turns 23.

This is a lottery pick.

What are people looking at? FG says Clarke was drafted in 2024.

I have him drafted out of Virginia in 2024 aswell....Juco, Alabama, then Virgina. Or some mix of that These transfer portals/Musical Chairs makes it hard to keep up these days

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:13 am

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:09 am

zoiks wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:52 am Clarke has had more major arm injuries and trouble staying healthy than even Tink Hence. He’s never reached 40 IP in a minor league season. He’s had huge K/9 numbers though, so he’s the typical boom or bust prospect teams get back in a salary dump trade.

He's no even reached 40!innings across 4 years.

Turns 23.

This is a lottery pick.

What are people looking at? FG says Clarke was drafted in 2024.

They're looking at his college career too, 27 2/3 innings 2022/2023

cardinalsfever44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:06 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:06 am FWIW - BTV grades this as 23.7 in value to the Cardinals vs. 10.6 in value (with the $20M thrown in) to Boston.

Well I certainly like that return!

I think that's about the best we could've realistically hoped for.

It's good to get someone who might be a stud in Clarke, but it's nice to get a MLB ready piece in Fitts.

So if I were to guess at this point right now our rotation would be...in no particular order...:

Liberatore
McGreevy
Fitts
Leahy
Pallante

I have to assume that we'll get a decent starter for Donovan who pushes Pallante out.

Banner29 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:12 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:07 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:59 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:58 am All-in-all, it sounds like the Cardinals get the kind of ML-ready, higher floor/if lower ceiling prospect (Fitts) that I thought they would get for Gray, and a somewhat lower floor/higher ceiling prospect (Clarke) who is maybe a couple of years away.

I like it overall.

On the surface appears to be an outstanding potential return + salary relief!

Just the kind of prospect I was hoping for when Bloom dealt Gray.

Now lets get another one, maybe even a major league starter w/years of control left, for Donny.

They should definitely get more value for Donovan, whatever form that value comes in.

I’d be preferable to a major league starter with years of control.

My "wish list" is Nolan McLean from the Mets.

craviduce wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:11 am

cardinalsfever44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:40 am Per Jeff Passan:

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Boston Red Sox receive: Sonny Gray and cash

St. Louis Cardinals receive: LHP Brandon Clarke and RHP Richard Fitts

I can't believe we got Clarke

There must've been a small bidding war going on to land Clarke. Just outside most Top 100 prospect lists. LHP strike out machine....60 K's in 38 IP last year...kept the walks acceptable

Clark should land 5th or 7th on our Top 10 list....this will be interesting where all the pundits put him.

Color me excited about this one....unless I"m missing something with some sort of new injury.

I don't know anything about Fitts.

27 walks in 38 innings is acceptable? That is problematic.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:15 am

Banner29 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:12 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 11:07 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:59 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 10:58 am All-in-all, it sounds like the Cardinals get the kind of ML-ready, higher floor/if lower ceiling prospect (Fitts) that I thought they would get for Gray, and a somewhat lower floor/higher ceiling prospect (Clarke) who is maybe a couple of years away.

I like it overall.

On the surface appears to be an outstanding potential return + salary relief!

Just the kind of prospect I was hoping for when Bloom dealt Gray.

Now lets get another one, maybe even a major league starter w/years of control left, for Donny.

They should definitely get more value for Donovan, whatever form that value comes in.

I’d be preferable to a major league starter with years of control.

My "wish list" is Nolan McLean from the Mets.

I have seen Noah Cameron mentioned as well.