Oswalt, Jackson or another bat

There has been a lot of press regarding the acquisition of Oswalt; of course that means too many pitchers, those being Lohse and Westbrok. So now they are considering Edwin Jackson, still another arm. Instead they should be looking for a bat with some punch, considering no one seems to have any interest in either Lohse and Westbrook. However, if they can peddle one of their pitchers, that is a different story. I don't think anything is going to happen until the end of Spring Training. 

No such thing as having too many pitchers.  According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the Cardinals have been shopping Kyle McClellan.   McClellan's 2012 salary is $2.5 million while the Cardinals offer to Roy Oswalt was in the $7.5 million range but Oswalt's asking price is in the neighborhood of $10 million.  Subtracting McClellan's salary would make up the difference.  

Ognir,

If Oswalt is asking $10 for a one-year deal, that is not going to happen. I still thiink they need another bat with some pop. Perhaps I am missing someone, but I really don't know who that would be.  

Instead they should be looking for a bat with some punch

I don't know if there's a free agent bat out there that has punch.  


I'm pretty sure Edwin Jackson isn't coming here.  He has 3 year offers out there from a couple teams (including the Red Sox).  He's even said he's take a single year contract for the chance to play with Boston.


I'm not against Oswalt, but he'll be 7-9 million, and we don't really have a place for them.  If you get rid of Westbrook, I think it's a great move, but I think I'd rather have Lohse this year than Oswalt.  I think a lot of fans still have a bad taste in their mouth from Lohse's 2010 season, but when you rationally look at his 2011 season you get: 3.39 ERA, .636 W%, 1.168 WHIP, only 2 BB/9.  He played well.


Oswalt had somewhat similar numbers, but had a bad back for a chunck of the season.  I don't see the benefit of losing Lohse and gaining Oswalt, unless you just get a great piece for Lohse. 

Hope they don't sign Oswalt. He's too brittle anymore. I'd rather see us go with some young talent.

The Cards could take a chance on Yoenis Cesped, an outfielder. He is supposed to have all the tools. However, he still has to get all of his papers in order. I think he is in his mid twenties. It maybe a moot point anyway if another team signs him, which I am hearing could happen. 

The Cards could take a chance on Yoenis Cesped, an outfielder.

All kinds of teams are in on him.  He has finally become a DR citizen.  The problem with these Cuban hitters is that they always are spoken about highly, but their great games rarely transfer to the MLB game.  Here's a list of Cuban hitters who were hyped as can't miss: Yonder Alonso, Yunel Escobar, Eli Marrero, Kendrys Morales, Rafael Palmiero, Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo.  Really out of these guys, the only one who's lived up to the hype is Palmiero, and he was steroid assisted.  Alonso and Viciedo haven't had a chance to be stars yet, but the rest haven't lived up to the sizeable hype they received.  


Cespedes is looking like he's going to cost close to $9 million a year.  That's a lot from a guy who you just don't have much info on.  He played in Cuban winter ball recently (which is somewhat close to US AAA ball) and he hit .143 with a HR, 10 K's, in 35 AB's.  I'd rather save that money and put it towards a known commodity next year or in a trade.

Echele112

Based on your post it doesn't appear that there is any reason to pursue Cespedes, but it doesn't cost anything to make an inquire. I still think the Cards still need one more out fielder. 

The timing doesn't seem right to acquire Oswalt.  Next year Lohse will be gone, and we'll have some salary to work with.

We'll also have a pretty good read on Lynn, McClellen, and maybe even S. Miller.

Based on your post it doesn't appear that there is any reason to pursue Cespedes, but it doesn't cost anything to make an inquire. I still think the Cards still need one more out fielder. 

I agree, but the rumors are he's going to be expensive.  Maybe I'm a little old school, but I'd rather work on getting a guy we have a book on in instead of a guy we have a page or two on.


I also agree we need to look for an outfielder.  Beltran won't be around after next year, Jay may, or may not be a legit CFer, and I'm not sure if Craig is going to be an everyday guy, or if his success comes from his ability to be plugged in here and there.  I just don't think there's an OFer out there right now that is really worth it.


After this season, here's the list of OFers who may be available (extensions are still possible, but they're scheduled to be a FA): Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young, Shane Victorino, Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Andre Ethier, Ichiro Suzuki, and Nick Swisher.  Some of those guys aren't going to work out due to money (Hamilton, most likely will be looking for 20+ million/year, which I wouldn't feel comfortable paying for him).  Other guys available are Stephen Drew, Matt Cain, Greinke, Anibal Sanchez... there's plenty next year to go after (we'll need a pitcher with Lohse and Westbrook gone... likely one of them will be replaced with Shelby Miller).   

A three-year deal for Oswalt (is that what he is asking?) is too much for a guy who is clearly in decline, and I don't think anyone else is going to give it to him. I agree that it would be much more prudent to wait for next year which appears to be a bumper crop. Than again, if Oswalt would settle for a one-year deal (which is not likely) it would be make more sense.

Now I am hearing that the Cards no longer have any interest in Oswalt. However, In the event there are no takers at his asking price, I would guess Oswalt will reconsider. 

Holliday, Beltran, Jay, Craig, Schumaker, and probably even some Berkman.

Thats 6 guys on the roster who are either everyday players, or what you would consider to be frontline reserves (guys who will get regular playing time) that can play OF, 3 of which have the ability to play CF, and all of whom possess the ability to hit in the .280-.320 range.  I doubt the team gets in the market for another outfielder.

We all thought the rotation and bullpen was pretty much set, so all the talk about Oswalt the past few days has been interesting.  Will be interesting to see what they do with Westbrook and McClellan if it is all true.  If it happens i see K-Mac going bye bye to make room only because he is more tradeable than Westbrook due to Jake's salary.

With Oswalt:
1.Waino
2.Carp
3.Garcia
4.Lohse
5.Oswalt

5.5. Westbrook for spot starts and long relief

Thats a pretty dang good rotation right there

And look at this potential opening day lineup:
S Furcal
R Greene
S Beltran
R Holliday
S Berkman
R Freese
R Molina
L Jay
Pitcher

Talk about a matchup nightmare for opposing managers trying to use their bullpens late in the game

forgot to mention that you have a left handed option at 2B in Skip and a right handed option in CF in Craig.

Matheny is going to have some fun with this lineup

forgot to mention that you have a left handed option at 2B in Skip and a right handed option in CF in Craig.

The problem at second is that we don't really have a right handed option.  Schumacker and Descalso are left handed.  I hope Green can get his bat to improve, b/c I think he could definitely be key for this team defensively.  He'd be a right handed 2nd baseman, a great replacement, defensively, for those games you know that Furcal will end up missing, and if Freese has injuries or needs time off, him and Descalso can play there and be great defensive replacements. 


While Craig is a righty, center field is not where I'd want him to play often.  He's more of a guy who can play center, but you hope it doesn't come to that.  An OF of Holliday, Craig, and Beltran is a defensive nightmare (as far as range is concerned).  


I'm still trying to figure out the whole Oswalt thing out.  It's apparently between us and the Rangers (kind of ironic).  My only guess is that we'd trade McClellan, and move Westbrook to the long relief spot.  I really wish we'd forget about Oswalt and focus on Jackson.  Oswalt is a one year signing.  His health would scare me for any more than that.  Next year we lose Lohse and Westbrook.   So then if all goes perfectly, we replace one with Shelby Miller.  So now we have 4 starters.  After 2013 we could lose two more pitchers (Carpenter, and Wainwright).  It would be nice if you could sign Edwin Jackson to a 4/32 million or something like that.  


 

I say forget old Roy ..Go with what they have and dont trade K-mac. Jackson did help the team out last year, but there's a reason he hasnt been picked up yet and Roy is too damn old and to pricey for the risk...A healthy Carp,Waino,Garcia and Lohse will go a long way

As for help this year and beyond look no further than Memphis, pitchers Brandon Dickson and Adam Ottavino will be coming up this year if we lose a starter.In the outfield Adron Chambers,Daryl Jones and Andrew Brown could come up and Matt Carpenter and Pete Kozma can play infield posistions. The plan will always be the same with MO, go with the farm and I expect they will do just that

This team should have the Cardinals right back in the Series and if anyone goes down the team has a ton of talent in the system

the way Mo is talking, 2B is Tyler Greene's to lose.

I have no prob with Craig in CF, just not every day obviously.  He has played a few games there last season, and says he like it.  Plus, our pitchers are ground ball pitchers anyway.

Just my thoughts;


Descalso will start at 2nd, but will not get 100 starts.

Craig will play just about every day, but will not get 100 starts.

Oswalt will eventually sign with the Cards once they are able to get rid of Westbrook, which will be before they break camp.

Jay will start in center, but will not get 100 starts.

Greene will get more starts at short than hoped due to the need to rest Furcal. 

The pitching will turn out to be much deeper than anticipated and play a big role in winning another championship. 

It now apears that the Cards won't get either Oswalt or Jackson. Who knows, when the teams start cutting players to get to the max they might pick up some body. 

Maybe they will give Lynn a few starts?  The no. 5 slot is probably his to lose this Spring....