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Good morning.

I struggle to thread a suitable topic. Maybe this will work.

Given: Cardinal Infield will be Willy-JJ-Winn.

Are we a better team with Nolan’s top five defensive effort combined with Scott up the middle.

He may not hit, but that can be found in a corner outfield. Need two corners with power. That would offset his lack of power.

Donovan. I feel he takes third if they trade Arenado. That would suffice, minus the great play often. Does he makes us better with Nolan at third.

So I ask- one simple question. Are we better with Arenado at third.

Enjoy.

The question isn't that simple.

1. What is Nolan's OPS?
2. In a trade, what's the Cards' return?
3. How do the Cards spend the money they get for Arenado?

Yes. And I want the team to put the best players on the field

But I sense that it’s time to move on. Play wetherholt at 3rd? Donovan again? Who’s the better defender there? (I hope Gorman’s gone).

They should try for the best return they can get for him.

The Nard wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:05 am Yes. And I want the team to put the best players on the field

But I sense that it’s time to move on. Play wetherholt at 3rd? Donovan again? Who’s the better defender there? (I hope Gorman’s gone).

They should try for the best return they can get for him.

In my world I’d try Donovan at second, JJ at third. I’m thinking George Brett here. That’s solves the power outage at third. Puts a GG at second.

JJ may not make the Arenado play, but league better with offense would work.

If not this or Donovan at third, I think the better deepened and comfort to pitchers is Arenado at third.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:09 am

The Nard wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:05 am Yes. And I want the team to put the best players on the field

But I sense that it’s time to move on. Play wetherholt at 3rd? Donovan again? Who’s the better defender there? (I hope Gorman’s gone).

They should try for the best return they can get for him.

In my world I’d try Donovan at second, JJ at third. I’m thinking George Brett here. That’s solves the power outage at third. Puts a GG at second.

JJ may not make the Arenado play, but league better with offense would work.

If not this or Donovan at third, I think the better deepened and comfort to pitchers is Arenado at third.

Arenado and BD are probably both gone.
JJ has been playing 2b and you probably want to keep him there.

Who cares if if there’s a power outage at 3b when there’s potentially more power than expected at 2b?

ecleme22 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 07:59 am The question isn't that simple.

1. What is Nolan's OPS?
2. In a trade, what's the Cards' return?
3. How do the Cards spend the money they get for Arenado?

I’m thinking purely as a defensive player. Are we better- how to measure better is up to the board.

In a trade, would we get enough offense? Would it suffice for lesser defense.

Money spent after trading Arenado would benefit the org but will it help the current team on the field.

Agree would not fool with JJ playing third for fear it would affect his hitting if he struggled there.

If Arenado is here:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 2B
Arenado - 3B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

If Arenado is traded:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 3B
Saggese - 2B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

It feels like it's time to part ways with NA. I was fired up when we got him and loved watching him play, but it seems to have run its course.

ecleme22 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 07:59 am The question isn't that simple.

1. What is Nolan's OPS?
2. In a trade, what's the Cards' return?
3. How do the Cards spend the money they get for Arenado?

This will mean a bunch.

My position is with Arenado on third, with the other three mentioned, that infield ranks top five or better.

That works directly with our pitching. Would require a strong pen, as many games could be close.

As for hitting. You’d need JJ to have a Herr like year/ career, Walker to wake up, and Herrera to develop at DH.

The bigger issue is clearing out the infield glut. As an aging player he has to go. Do we replace his defense? Not totally but certainly close enough. Do we replace his offense? Yes.

He does not fit in the rebuild.

Arenado makes the team better, as they don't have a replacement, but it's necessary to trade him for many reasons -- and eat as much salary as is necessary.
That said, Donovan is the logical replacement at this point. JJW has the least experience at 3b and had 0 errors at 2b last year in 167 innings. Having him at 2b could boost the middle infield defense considerably. And 3b is Donny's best defensive position per stats and the eye test. Sagesse is a backup, no more.
Donny's career defensive stats-
Baseball Ref - 2b = -5 Def Runs Above Avg; - LF = -1, 3b = +6
Fangraphs -- 2b = -5 Def Runs Saved; ---- LF = 0, 3b = +6
Statcast -----2b = +3 Outs Above Avg; --- LF = -2, 3b = +3

ecleme22 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:21 am

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:09 am

The Nard wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:05 am Yes. And I want the team to put the best players on the field

But I sense that it’s time to move on. Play wetherholt at 3rd? Donovan again? Who’s the better defender there? (I hope Gorman’s gone).

They should try for the best return they can get for him.

In my world I’d try Donovan at second, JJ at third. I’m thinking George Brett here. That’s solves the power outage at third. Puts a GG at second.

JJ may not make the Arenado play, but league better with offense would work.

If not this or Donovan at third, I think the better deepened and comfort to pitchers is Arenado at third.

Arenado and BD are probably both gone.
JJ has been playing 2b and you probably want to keep him there.

Who cares if if there’s a power outage at 3b when there’s potentially more power than expected at 2b?

Because you have no 3b. I would trade Hurdy

rage-STL wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:28 am If Arenado is here:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 2B
Arenado - 3B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

If Arenado is traded:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 3B
Saggese - 2B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

It feels like it's time to part ways with NA. I was fired up when we got him and loved watching him play, but it seems to have run its course.

LoL...JW in RF...no. Herrera at Catcher? [fork] no!

scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 09:37 am

rage-STL wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 08:28 am If Arenado is here:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 2B
Arenado - 3B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

If Arenado is traded:

Donovan - LF
Herrera - C
Burly - DH
Contreras - 1B
Weatherholt - 3B
Saggese - 2B
Winn - SS
Walker - RF
Scott - CF

It feels like it's time to part ways with NA. I was fired up when we got him and loved watching him play, but it seems to have run its course.

LoL...JW in RF...no. Herrera at Catcher? [fork] no!

Right, both of them, along with Burleson, should be the full-time DH!!

ecleme22 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2025 07:59 am The question isn't that simple.

1. What is Nolan's OPS?
2. In a trade, what's the Cards' return?
3. How do the Cards spend the money they get for Arenado?

What “money” do you think the Cardinals will receive?