Page 2 of 2

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 3:46 pm
by cardsfan04
Agreed. I heard Freese for Bourjos rumors yesterday and was ok, but not excited by it. Adding in Grichuk to the deal makes me love it. We basically went from Jay/Freese to Wong/Bourjos which is younger/cheaper and comparable (if not better) talent while adding a really solid prospect. That's really really good IMO.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 3:57 pm
by dmiles2186
Exactly. That's the best way to describe it. I had a chat on Twitter with someone I know, and they weren't as excited. I get that 'upside' might never be filled. But this trade doesn't hurt the Cardinals at all. You've added more OF depth, give Wong his shot at 2B, move Carp back to his natural position, and you get a prospect that could be the best out of them all. Freese isn't getting younger, Salas won't recapture his early career form (most likely, but if he does, so be it), and Bourjos is a whale of a defender.

All hail Mo.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 8:37 am
by cardsfan04
Signed Peralta to a 4/53 deal. Mixed feelings, but generally positive.

I hate the idea of somebody getting a 53 mil contract fresh off of a PED suspension. Absolutely hate it. If you cheat, you shouldn't get a huge contract.

But, the system is what it is. If it wasn't us, it would have been somebody else. He should be a significant upgrade at our biggest hole, with money we have the flexibility to spend, and it doesn't cost us any prospects. The last part makes what Mo has done this offseason pretty amazing IMO. Addressed our 3 biggest holes without raising payroll or losing any prospects.

BTW, here is a good writeup on this deal from VEB. http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2013/11/24/ ... ltas-value

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 9:58 am
by dmiles2186
The amount and term makes me nervous for the Peralta signing, but with losing Beltran, gaining a little flexibility after trading Freese and losing Carp to retirement, we've got some money to make that move. And to my knowledge, we don't have to make any large re-signings like Waino and Yadi last offseason.

I'm with you on not liking that Peralta gets rewarded for a PED suspension. Brad Ziegler, a pitcher for the D-backs wasn't happy, and even as a Cards fan, I'm happy he spoke up. It's sending the wrong message. When I first saw the numbers for the Peralta deal floating around, I thought it was a joke. His numbers have been really good over his career, but I just couldn't believe that was the market for him.

[tweet][/tweet]

That said, Mo is a wizard. Dude fills his two biggest holes without giving up prospects or a draft pick for signing Peralta. Best GM in baseball.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:36 am
by cardsfan04
I saw Ziegler's comment and liked it too. It's pretty messed up that somebody gets so much money off of a suspension like that. I really hope they change the system to prevent it and to deter even more. I don't know if I've mentioned it here or not, but I'd be a fan of a lifetime league minimum cap for strike one and lifetime ban for strike two.

That said, I don't blame the Cardinals for this. Their top priority is, and should be, to create the best team within the system in place. I'm pissed that he's getting it, but not pissed that it's us giving it to him.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 7:53 pm
by dmiles2186
Pending the actual deal goes through, I love the Ellis signing at first glance. I'd read he would only accept a starting role, but he's great insurance if Wong doesn't pan out, and the defensive numbers I saw on the interwebs today are outstanding. Our depth is really starting to stack up well. We've got another team (on paper) that should contend for a Series title.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:45 pm
by cardsfan04
I like the deal a lot too. He is tremendous defensively, he hits lefties well (which is great since Wong hits righties better than lefties), and he's a good, veteran clubhouse presence.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:02 am
by cardsfan04
Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday along with seemingly the majority of our position players on the 40 man roster arriving early.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:50 pm
by cardsfan04
I think Garcia is done with the Cardinals. They sent him back to St. Louis because he's not ready to start the season yet (shoulder injury from last year). If he doesn't make the rotation out of ST, I don't see how he ever gets back in it. We have way too much young talented depth for him to come back IMO.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 4:03 pm
by glen a richter
I have a couple of Cardinals on my fantasy team this year... Matt Carpenter and Holliday. If both put up numbers like last year, I'll be satisfied.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:29 pm
by cardsfan04
I think Holliday will have his standard year more or less. I'll be interested to see what mCarp does though. He was amazing last year, and he'll be a steal with 2B eligibility even if he plays 3B this year. It'll be interesting to see how he follows last year up though. I think he'll continue to be good, but I somewhat expect a small dropoff.

Re: Offseason Thread

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 8:10 am
by dmiles2186
I'm interested to see what Carp does as well.

Holliday is one of those guys that you watch every day and can get frustrated with him. Then at the end of the season you look at his numbers and wondered where they all came from. They end up being some of the best among NL outfielders every year.