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I have a hunch that major-league service time is a factor in some personnel decisions; rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy is an example. Despite his talent, McGreevy has appeared in only six games (four starts) for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. The brief time in the majors means (to this point) that McGreevy won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2028, and can’t become a free agent until 2031. If incoming president of baseball ops Chaim Bloom sees McGreevy as a potential rotation fixture, then it makes sense to take the long view of McGreevy’s service time. All major-league teams do these kinds of things.

-Bernie

only thing that makes sense

So this shows they are not concerned with winning this year if you don’t play your best players. Might as well start the selling sooner than later

The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

If Bernie has a hunch that Chaim Bloom might feel that way, well that's good enough for me.

Ensuring your top players have an extra year in the organization should be a very high priority! ESPECIALLY in a year that is considered a 'rebuild year'!

An Old Friend wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 14:29 pm The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

This is correct.

An Old Friend wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 14:29 pm The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

+1 its a dumb take. Number one you would think Bernie has seen how the cardinals operate over as many years as he has covered them he would know the contracts play. Mo doesnt ever dump a contract until at least past the half-way point. The second thing is Mcgreevy by all of the scouting reports is considered a middle to the back of the rotation arm. A team may manipulate their top prospects time but they arent going to manipulate middle to the back end of the rotation arms time and the third thing the cardinals have a long history of rushing players to the majors before they are ready not manipulating time. I like a lot of Bernies stuff but this is just a bad take no one is manipulating time here its a classic Mo letting the contracts play people on here should know how he operates by now

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 11:50 am

An Old Friend wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 14:29 pm The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

+1 its a dumb take. Number one you would think Bernie has seen how the cardinals operate over as many years as he has covered them he would know the contracts play. Mo doesnt ever dump a contract until at least past the half-way point. The second thing is Mcgreevy by all of the scouting reports is considered a middle to the back of the rotation arm. A team may manipulate their top prospects time but they arent going to manipulate middle to the back end of the rotation arms time and the third thing the cardinals have a long history of rushing players to the majors before they are ready not manipulating time. I like a lot of Bernies stuff but this is just a bad take no one is manipulating time here its a classic Mo letting the contracts play people on here should know how he operates by now

Many of these posts were made a month ago, and I'd imagine some may have changed their mind by now about there not being a spot available.
Three of the five starters have not shown they belong in a big league rotation. He is not getting blocked by some great or even above average pitching staff. It has been terrible at least 6 weeks. Fedde is expendable as either a trade for nothing or a DFA. They owe him about $3M the rest of the season. Mikolas is owed about $8M. More significant, sure, but if they're serious about competing for a WC berth, then they have to move him out of the rotation. Pallante has been really bad as well.
The reason McGreevy is not in the rotation is b/c it would be another indirect admission by Mo that Fedde didn't work out, and that he should have traded him in the offseason as many implored him to do.
I do agree that manipulating service time for a max middle rotation guy doesn't make a lot of sense. He's 25 of goodness sake

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 13:43 pm I have a hunch that major-league service time is a factor in some personnel decisions; rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy is an example. Despite his talent, McGreevy has appeared in only six games (four starts) for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. The brief time in the majors means (to this point) that McGreevy won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2028, and can’t become a free agent until 2031. If incoming president of baseball ops Chaim Bloom sees McGreevy as a potential rotation fixture, then it makes sense to take the long view of McGreevy’s service time. All major-league teams do these kinds of things.

-Bernie

They guy is already 25 years old. Why the heck would we want to delay his FA until he's 32? A lot of pitchers are out of baseball before 32 and if he proves to be good enough to be expensive beyond that point, then he deserves to get paid in his 30s.

How about some perspective here? I can see doing this with a 20 year old, but not a 25 yo. Good Grief.

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 17:22 pm

An Old Friend wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 14:29 pm The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

This is correct.

Agreed.
With one note.
The Mikolas contract is keeping McGreevy stuck in Memphis.
This is disgusting, but it is the truth.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 13:43 pm I have a hunch that major-league service time is a factor in some personnel decisions; rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy is an example. Despite his talent, McGreevy has appeared in only six games (four starts) for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. The brief time in the majors means (to this point) that McGreevy won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2028, and can’t become a free agent until 2031. If incoming president of baseball ops Chaim Bloom sees McGreevy as a potential rotation fixture, then it makes sense to take the long view of McGreevy’s service time. All major-league teams do these kinds of things.

-Bernie

Where'd you find Bernie's take? I miss reading him.

woofy25 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 12:48 pm

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 11:50 am

An Old Friend wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 14:29 pm The Cardinals are not manipulating anyone's service time. This has been demonstrated over and over again. McGreevy belongs in the rotation and until there is an injury or they move Pallante to the bullpen, opportunity isn't there.

+1 its a dumb take. Number one you would think Bernie has seen how the cardinals operate over as many years as he has covered them he would know the contracts play. Mo doesnt ever dump a contract until at least past the half-way point. The second thing is Mcgreevy by all of the scouting reports is considered a middle to the back of the rotation arm. A team may manipulate their top prospects time but they arent going to manipulate middle to the back end of the rotation arms time and the third thing the cardinals have a long history of rushing players to the majors before they are ready not manipulating time. I like a lot of Bernies stuff but this is just a bad take no one is manipulating time here its a classic Mo letting the contracts play people on here should know how he operates by now

Many of these posts were made a month ago, and I'd imagine some may have changed their mind by now about there not being a spot available.
Three of the five starters have not shown they belong in a big league rotation. He is not getting blocked by some great or even above average pitching staff. It has been terrible at least 6 weeks. Fedde is expendable as either a trade for nothing or a DFA. They owe him about $3M the rest of the season. Mikolas is owed about $8M. More significant, sure, but if they're serious about competing for a WC berth, then they have to move him out of the rotation. Pallante has been really bad as well.
The reason McGreevy is not in the rotation is b/c it would be another indirect admission by Mo that Fedde didn't work out, and that he should have traded him in the offseason as many implored him to do.
I do agree that manipulating service time for a max middle rotation guy doesn't make a lot of sense. He's 25 of goodness sake

Pallante has shown enough to stay in the back of the rotation. He got drilled his last start for 7 runs but the start before that he went 7 shut out innings the one before that 2 runs in 5 the one before that 6 shut out. His problem is he will mix in three or so good starts then get obliterated in a game. Which I think from a 5 isnt bad as long as strings together some solid starts in between. Mikolas its definitely the contract. You may be right about Fedde and why he hasnt been bounced out of the rotation. My point is they arent manipulating time they havent ever done it and they arent going to do it to a middle to the back of the rotation pitcher. The other possibility which I dont believe but its stupid enough to be true from Mo is on a pregame show the commentator suggested the reason they havent done it is because outside of McGreevy there is no depth in the organization at Memphis. They said Matthews is walking way too many batters to think he would succeed if called up, he said Roby they are really monitoring his innings and dont want to call him up and they dont want to put Matz into the rotation because it would put a hole in the bullpen and he hasnt been pitching as well lately as he did early in the season. I dont think lack of depth is a reason to not improve the rotation but who knows maybe he was right also.

mudpuppy37 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 13:38 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Jun 2025 13:43 pm I have a hunch that major-league service time is a factor in some personnel decisions; rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy is an example. Despite his talent, McGreevy has appeared in only six games (four starts) for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. The brief time in the majors means (to this point) that McGreevy won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2028, and can’t become a free agent until 2031. If incoming president of baseball ops Chaim Bloom sees McGreevy as a potential rotation fixture, then it makes sense to take the long view of McGreevy’s service time. All major-league teams do these kinds of things.

-Bernie

Where'd you find Bernie's take? I miss reading him.

He writes 4-5 columns a week mudpuppy:

https://www.stlsportscentral.com/

McGreevy has not pitched well his last 2 starts

Either way its about money.

Whether its service time or Mikolas' contract keeping him in the rotation.

I don't see McGreevy as anything but a 4 or 5 starter anyway so it probably doesn't matter when it comes to wins and losses.