Execute the Plan (Part 2)

[Talkin' Baseball]

Should the Cardinals be sellers? Yes. The Cardinals have gotten a lot of things wrong in the past 10 years, but at the season-ending press conference when they announced the re-set, they actually diagnosed the problems and the direction correctly. It seems like they are doing a fantastic job of re-setting the front office. They did a good first step in re-setting the payroll. Now comes the hard part. It's time to re-set the roster. Stick with it guys! You've taken the public opinion beatings of lowering payroll and not signing anyone back. You've taken the financial beatings at the turnstiles. You are so close- finish the job! This is a decent team. It is more interesting, likeable, and fun to watch than teams fielded in quite a while- and they are pretty good in the process. Don't stay too long with these guys that are going to leave anyway. Plug holes, augment talent, and build depth by trading them.

They need to not only re-set the big-league roster, but the Memphis roster as well. Have you seen the lineups that get posted daily on the Minor League report? The AAA lineups are putrid. The AA lineups are more compelling than AAA. True contenders, like the ones that are aiming high and deal more in expectations than hope, have depth at AAA. Over time, I have faith that the new front office will do a reasonable job of developing players and depth in the minors. In the near term, there will be some promotions from Springfield that are helpful. We also need to do away with the model that allows for 27–28-year-old prospects. I remember reading about a promotion Colin Powell got in the military. He received a letter from his commanding officer congratulating him and telling him that if he hadn't received another promotion within two years, that his resignation letter was expected on the officer's desk. Similarly, a younger roster is needed at Memphis, and a player needs to earn an opportunity, or be moved on by age 25. We also could/should acquire some age-appropriate prospects through moves at the deadline.

The Cardinals should aim for bigger targets if they can. We are actually buying- but not for this year. They can shoot for bigger targets by bundling more than one player for a bigger return. They can shoot for bigger targets by offering some players with team control left that are available because of roster redundancies. They can shoot for bigger targets by not being willing to take back 3-4 minor prospects (lottery picks) for the players being traded.

The Cardinals should try to trade early if they can. Some feel like you leverage desperate buyers by holding out or trying to develop a bidding war. Instead, I think two other things happen, neither one of them helpful: 1) the market becomes saturated (more sellers emerge) and 2) the market becomes satisfied (needs get filled and you lose your leverage). I say try to move your big pieces as early as you can- waiting hurts you more than it helps you.

This team is talented, and a good deadline could set them up for seasons to come. Be brave.

[Futuregm2]

Should the Cardinals be sellers? Yes. The Cardinals have gotten a lot of things wrong in the past 10 years, but at the season-ending press conference when they announced the re-set, they actually diagnosed the problems and the direction correctly. It seems like they are doing a fantastic job of re-setting the front office. They did a good first step in re-setting the payroll. Now comes the hard part. It's time to re-set the roster. Stick with it guys! You've taken the public opinion beatings of lowering payroll and not signing anyone back. You've taken the financial beatings at the turnstiles. You are so close- finish the job! This is a decent team. It is more interesting, likeable, and fun to watch than teams fielded in quite a while- and they are pretty good in the process. Don't stay too long with these guys that are going to leave anyway. Plug holes, augment talent, and build depth by trading them.

They need to not only re-set the big-league roster, but the Memphis roster as well. Have you seen the lineups that get posted daily on the Minor League report? The AAA lineups are putrid. The AA lineups are more compelling than AAA. True contenders, like the ones that are aiming high and deal more in expectations than hope, have depth at AAA. Over time, I have faith that the new front office will do a reasonable job of developing players and depth in the minors. In the near term, there will be some promotions from Springfield that are helpful. We also need to do away with the model that allows for 27–28-year-old prospects. I remember reading about a promotion Colin Powell got in the military. He received a letter from his commanding officer congratulating him and telling him that if he hadn't received another promotion within two years, that his resignation letter was expected on the officer's desk. Similarly, a younger roster is needed at Memphis, and a player needs to earn an opportunity, or be moved on by age 25. We also could/should acquire some age-appropriate prospects through moves at the deadline.

The Cardinals should aim for bigger targets if they can. We are actually buying- but not for this year. They can shoot for bigger targets by bundling more than one player for a bigger return. They can shoot for bigger targets by offering some players with team control left that are available because of roster redundancies. They can shoot for bigger targets by not being willing to take back 3-4 minor prospects (lottery picks) for the players being traded.

The Cardinals should try to trade early if they can. Some feel like you leverage desperate buyers by holding out or trying to develop a bidding war. Instead, I think two other things happen, neither one of them helpful: 1) the market becomes saturated (more sellers emerge) and 2) the market becomes satisfied (needs get filled and you lose your leverage). I say try to move your big pieces as early as you can- waiting hurts you more than it helps you.

This team is talented, and a good deadline could set them up for seasons to come. Be brave.

AAA lineups typically are the more putrid ones than AA lineups. At AA you have players that are on the rise. At AAA you have players that are stuck. They have nowhere to go up but to the MLB club and most players aren’t at that talent level, so they get stuck in AAA.

Average age of AAA hitters: 26.6…. Memphis is 26.2
Average age of AAA pitchers: 27.5…. Memphis is 26.7


Atlanta AAA hitters are 29.0
NYY AAA hitters are 27.3
NYM AAA hitters are 28.9
PHI AAA hitters are 26.3
DET AAA hitters are 27.1
TB AAA hitters are 26.1
LAD AAA hitters are 27.0
SD AAA hitters are 28.4
SF AAA hitters are 26.8
AZ AAA hitters are 27.6

[Talkin' Baseball]

Your point is well-taken. That is interesting- I didn't know the age statistics you provided. Maybe we could be better than average?

[The Nard]

You make great points, especially about resetting the minors. I’ve always stressed “patience” when it comes to younger prospects, but surely you know what you’ve got by the time they’ve reached their mid-twenties. Many of the historic superstars reached and produced in the majors in their early twenties.

[renostl]

Should the Cardinals be sellers? Yes. The Cardinals have gotten a lot of things wrong in the past 10 years, but at the season-ending press conference when they announced the re-set, they actually diagnosed the problems and the direction correctly. It seems like they are doing a fantastic job of re-setting the front office. They did a good first step in re-setting the payroll. Now comes the hard part. It's time to re-set the roster. Stick with it guys! You've taken the public opinion beatings of lowering payroll and not signing anyone back. You've taken the financial beatings at the turnstiles. You are so close- finish the job! This is a decent team. It is more interesting, likeable, and fun to watch than teams fielded in quite a while- and they are pretty good in the process. Don't stay too long with these guys that are going to leave anyway. Plug holes, augment talent, and build depth by trading them.

They need to not only re-set the big-league roster, but the Memphis roster as well. Have you seen the lineups that get posted daily on the Minor League report? The AAA lineups are putrid. The AA lineups are more compelling than AAA. True contenders, like the ones that are aiming high and deal more in expectations than hope, have depth at AAA. Over time, I have faith that the new front office will do a reasonable job of developing players and depth in the minors. In the near term, there will be some promotions from Springfield that are helpful. We also need to do away with the model that allows for 27–28-year-old prospects. I remember reading about a promotion Colin Powell got in the military. He received a letter from his commanding officer congratulating him and telling him that if he hadn't received another promotion within two years, that his resignation letter was expected on the officer's desk. Similarly, a younger roster is needed at Memphis, and a player needs to earn an opportunity, or be moved on by age 25. We also could/should acquire some age-appropriate prospects through moves at the deadline.

The Cardinals should aim for bigger targets if they can. We are actually buying- but not for this year. They can shoot for bigger targets by bundling more than one player for a bigger return. They can shoot for bigger targets by offering some players with team control left that are available because of roster redundancies. They can shoot for bigger targets by not being willing to take back 3-4 minor prospects (lottery picks) for the players being traded.

The Cardinals should try to trade early if they can. Some feel like you leverage desperate buyers by holding out or trying to develop a bidding war. Instead, I think two other things happen, neither one of them helpful: 1) the market becomes saturated (more sellers emerge) and 2) the market becomes satisfied (needs get filled and you lose your leverage). I say try to move your big pieces as early as you can- waiting hurts you more than it helps you.

This team is talented, and a good deadline could set them up for seasons to come. Be brave.

Agreement. Waiting doesn't have to happen.
That said, there very well could be some different teams in the seller and buying windows and they
Don't deal until they are ready to deal. Atlanta? Arizona? for instance.

IF the team IDs what they need and as you say the AAA is vacant then why not attempt to
"buy" and get what you do not have? Attrition will quickly take care of the costlier contracts.

The position gets too binary I believe. The Cardinals have already dropped close to $40 million off the payroll
in 2025. They have more coming off in the next 2 seasons. IMO, you have enough information to Know the needs
they can get into that lane today there's nothing hindering that but a perception.

Worst case too many SP's or HR hitters. That won't happen. Giving away a player that later blossoms, doesn't matter
if your own team is better, rosters always turn over anyway.

[Futuregm2]

I will also say that this doesn’t appear to be a good deadline for buying premium talent.

Most of the likely sellers are pretty barren when it comes to elite talent or even above average talent.

The guys that could be moved are more likely to be viewed as “hope” or “projects”. Guys like Sandy Alcantara (7.89 ERA/1.58 WHIP/5.04 FIP) or Luis Robert Jr. (.177 avg/.553 OPS)

Would the A’s move Rooker?

The Braves are 11 back in the division and 6 back of a WC spot. Could they sell?

[Talkin' Baseball]

For the most part, I'm not buying what the A's. Diamondbacks, and Braves are selling. I'm wanting to buy what the Mariners, and Tigers, and Phillies are selling. They have good players in their farm systems and they know right now- today- that they are buyers. They are also bold front offices. It's no coincidence that they lead their divisions, have good farm systems and act boldly.

[scoutyjones2]

Jesus, bullet points no novels. No one on hear is worth reading that pile of [shirt]

[Talkin' Baseball]

Jesus, bullet points no novels. No one on hear is worth reading that pile of [shirt]

Move along and have a nice day.

[Futuregm2]

Jesus, bullet points no novels. No one on hear is worth reading that pile of [shirt]

Moran

[scoutyjones2]

Jesus, bullet points no novels. No one on hear is worth reading that pile of [shirt]

Moran

True, but the pony stands