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Derrick Goold
@dgoold

In weeks leading up to these meetings in Las Vegas, Chaim Bloom & the #Cardinals had contact with 28 of the other 29 teams.

The one they didn't, well, didn't have a front office boss in place until this weekend.

One would think that every MLB FO has contacted their counterparts to see talent availability. Of course history has shown Cardinal fans that "we like this team" was to follow after failing to obtain needed talent or a successful dumpster dive.

Bloom has Cardinal fans attention. He cannot afford a MO Ran or WC Fields "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull". 26 may in fact be a "throw away" season, but they need to field an exciting team that fans will want to see and support. 25 season was dull and preordained the results were predictable.

I'm excited. I expect us to be active, but I don't expect us to spend the biggest bucks on free agents. The real talent this offseason is going to come in trades.

The bar is in hell, but it's nice to see that we've got a plan, and we've got guys committed to working through the plan. As opposed to Mo doing his half-measures before Thanksgiving and calling it a day.

I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

I think multi year deals are going to be hard to come by with the looming work stoppage. Going to be a lot of 1 year deals, except for premium FA's.

But I wouldn't be opposed to what you said, May 3/30 could work out well.

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

His nickname is Big Red; sounds like a perfect fit to me.

ggnoobs wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:02 pm

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

I think multi year deals are going to be hard to come by with the looming work stoppage. Going to be a lot of 1 year deals, except for premium FA's.

But I wouldn't be opposed to what you said, May 3/30 could work out well.

+1

I think Bloom could get a guy like May, coming off an injury, on a one year "prove it" deal.

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

I am all for giving Dustin May a shot. I am completely against a 3 year deal. The guy has never been healthy. A 1 year deal with an option for 27 makes more sense. Something like $2-4M plus a $1-2M option at $15-16M for the option year based on innings say, 130. If 2027 is a year the Cards are ready to contend again, then he could be a huge 1-2 punch with Doyle.

The reason why the Cards might not do it, they need certainty from the free agent pitcher(s) they sign this offseason. May is the opposite of certainty.

ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:38 pm

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

I am all for giving Dustin May a shot. I am completely against a 3 year deal. The guy has never been healthy. A 1 year deal with an option for 27 makes more sense. Something like $2-4M plus a $1-2M option at $15-16M for the option year based on innings say, 130. If 2027 is a year the Cards are ready to contend again, then he could be a huge 1-2 punch with Doyle.

The reason why the Cards might not do it, they need certainty from the free agent pitcher(s) they sign this offseason. May is the opposite of certainty.

May could be a good mentor, too. He's also a flamethrower, isn't he?

I am completely on board with signing Dustin May.

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:43 pm May could be a good mentor, too. He's also a flamethrower, isn't he?

His four seamer dropped from 97.3 mph in 2023 to 95.4 mph in 2025.

But he could regain some velocity in 2026 when he's fully healthy.

He's been my early choice if Bloom goes after a starter coming off an injury (I think he likely will) on a one year deal.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 13:01 pm

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:43 pm May could be a good mentor, too. He's also a flamethrower, isn't he?

His four seamer dropped from 97.3 mph in 2023 to 95.4 mph in 2025.

But he could regain some velocity in 2026 when he's fully healthy.

He's been my early choice if Bloom goes after a starter coming off an injury (I think he likely will) on a one year deal.

Really nice upside, and on when he's on, but rely on him like you would rely on Tink Hence. If you get 20 starts out of him in any season, you did well.

ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:38 pm

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 11:55 am I know NO ONE will agree with this. But, I'd sign Dustin May to like a 3 year, $30 million because nobody is going to offer him a multi-year deal...so by taking a chance on a longer term deal, we get a much cheaper AAV

I am all for giving Dustin May a shot. I am completely against a 3 year deal. The guy has never been healthy. A 1 year deal with an option for 27 makes more sense. Something like $2-4M plus a $1-2M option at $15-16M for the option year based on innings say, 130. If 2027 is a year the Cards are ready to contend again, then he could be a huge 1-2 punch with Doyle.

The reason why the Cards might not do it, they need certainty from the free agent pitcher(s) they sign this offseason. May is the opposite of certainty.

I agree that this would be the preferable and more protected route for the Cards. I was just suggesting the more unorthodox high risk, high reward angle...knowing full well it could blow up on us

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 13:06 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 13:01 pm

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 12:43 pm May could be a good mentor, too. He's also a flamethrower, isn't he?

His four seamer dropped from 97.3 mph in 2023 to 95.4 mph in 2025.

But he could regain some velocity in 2026 when he's fully healthy.

He's been my early choice if Bloom goes after a starter coming off an injury (I think he likely will) on a one year deal.

Really nice upside, and on when he's on, but rely on him like you would rely on Tink Hence. If you get 20 starts out of him in any season, you did well.

Yep

Why I'd only give him a one year deal.

Said another way, there are going to be a TON of teams willing to and wanting to give him a 1 year deal. It'll come down to who pays the most for that one year and who has the best shot of winning. We won't be either of those, hence, we offer two to three guaranteed years to "Godfather" our offer

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑12 Nov 2025 14:18 pm Said another way, there are going to be a TON of teams willing to and wanting to give him a 1 year deal. It'll come down to who pays the most for that one year and who has the best shot of winning. We won't be either of those, hence, we offer two to three guaranteed years to "Godfather" our offer

It could also come down to the opportunity to pitch.