St Louis Cardinals 2020 season

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#226      
I wasn't too upset about the Voit trade. He seemed to be blocked by Jose Martinez. In 2 seasons (2017 & 2018) he had about 800 AB, .300 avg, .350 OBP and .490 SLG. We also had Matt Adams. I hoped he would be the regular 1B but it never materialized.
Voit only had 11 AB with StL and didn't hit in very few chances he was given. Even NYY didn't acquire him to be their first baseman.
 
#229      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
Not much news coming out of StL. Living in Chicago, I see the Wht Sox are active. Is the league mostly in "wait and see" mode?
 
#230      
Not much news coming out of StL. Living in Chicago, I see the Wht Sox are active. Is the league mostly in "wait and see" mode?

Without knowing whether and to what extent teams are going to be able to have fans in the stands, it's pretty hard to set a budget. I know the Cubs' Hoyer made a comment on not having their budget set yet, and I'd assume most teams are in the same boat.

What deals have been done have been relatively small dollar. The Sox are only paying $8MM each for Eaton and Lynn, with neither having any team control after 2021. I think Mike Minor's 2 year/$18MM deal is the biggest free agent deal signed so far and there hasn't been a deal signed for more than 2 years.
 
#231      
Yeah. And teams like the Cardinals and Cubs who depend on fans and the money they generate in and around the ballpark are going to be hard pressed for money during the upcoming season. That's why I've previously said on here that I could see 2021 being an austerity year for the Cardinals.
 
#232      
Given the Cubs decision to trade away Darvish, and the Pirates trading away Josh Bell, what strategy do the Cardinals adopt?

I wish we would press our advantage and try to spend a little to improve the team, as we have a more open path to winning the division than we have in years, but I think we probably just use this to justify keeping payroll down. No matter what happens, that seems to be the answer.
 
#233      
Given the Cubs decision to trade away Darvish, and the Pirates trading away Josh Bell, what strategy do the Cardinals adopt?

I wish we would press our advantage and try to spend a little to improve the team, as we have a more open path to winning the division than we have in years, but I think we probably just use this to justify keeping payroll down. No matter what happens, that seems to be the answer.
The release of Wong and the slowness of resigning Waino and Yadi has shown us the Cardinal front office is more interested in a lower payroll than it running away with the division. If anything this allows them to double down on the budget slashing mode.
 
#234      
The release of Wong and the slowness of resigning Waino and Yadi has shown us the Cardinal front office is more interested in a lower payroll than it running away with the division. If anything this allows them to double down on the budget slashing mode.

My stance on the 2021 season has always been and will continue to be that it will be an austerity year for the franhcise. With all the money they lost, not only in the ballpark itself but across the street in Ballpark Village, with no fans due to the pandemic, it's not going to be easy to pay what they may need to for certain players. If fans are allowed back in the ballpark or Ballpark Village at some point in 2021, then I think things start to go back more towards normal as they plan for the 2022 season.
 
#235      
My stance on the 2021 season has always been and will continue to be that it will be an austerity year for the franhcise. With all the money they lost, not only in the ballpark itself but across the street in Ballpark Village, with no fans due to the pandemic, it's not going to be easy to pay what they may need to for certain players. If fans are allowed back in the ballpark or Ballpark Village at some point in 2021, then I think things start to go back more towards normal as they plan for the 2022 season.
The cynic in me says DeWitt was into austerity before COVID, and COVID made it easier to justify. I agree we're going to see an austerity approach. A bit concerned we may be looking at a new normal afterwards, where our payroll is more in line with other smaller market teams (despite likely generating more revenue than those clubs).
 
#236      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
Given the Cubs decision to trade away Darvish, and the Pirates trading away Josh Bell, what strategy do the Cardinals adopt?

I wish we would press our advantage and try to spend a little to improve the team, as we have a more open path to winning the division than we have in years, but I think we probably just use this to justify keeping payroll down. No matter what happens, that seems to be the answer.
As a fan, I agree. None of us know the real financial damage to the team last year. If we could pick up a couple of "bargains" this year, players that we could not get normally, signed for 3-4 years, and go for a breakeven 2021, knowing that getting these players below previous market price would pay off in 2022, 2023, etc. The team could set itself up for a nice run, as Fowler, Carp and Miller come off after next year.
 
#237      
Given the Cubs decision to trade away Darvish, and the Pirates trading away Josh Bell, what strategy do the Cardinals adopt?

I wish we would press our advantage and try to spend a little to improve the team, as we have a more open path to winning the division than we have in years, but I think we probably just use this to justify keeping payroll down. No matter what happens, that seems to be the answer.
Wong being Back too Back GG winner Best 2nd baseman in NL should have been signed at very least!!
Or am I the minority on this?
 
#238      
Wong being Back too Back GG winner Best 2nd baseman in NL should have been signed at very least!!
Or am I the minority on this?
Couldn't agree more. Think he was worth his option and then some and think letting him walk was a big mistake. Edman is fine, but him at 2nd full time means 1. Worse defense and 2. A lot more Carpenter at 3rd (which is bad bad bad).
 
#239      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
Wong being Back too Back GG winner Best 2nd baseman in NL should have been signed at very least!!
Or am I the minority on this?
I thought that they could let him know that they valued him, let him shop himself and that they would likely match. Or, offer something less, that they were comfortable with. $12.5M (I think that was right) this year, is not the same as last year or the year before. Free agents this year will have to take a pay cut and/or a years cut, or a vacation.
 
#240      
I think it was about a year ago that Dewitt made the comment about baseball not being very lucrative. It’s obvious that has only gotten worse in his mind. We all know that the value of the Cardinals has greatly appreciated through his ownership’s time. It’s disgusting that he won’t “reinvest” for the future while unique opportunities are present. I find it harder and harder to be loyal to a team who’s owners come off as cheap. White Sox are looking pretty fun. It’s awful when a Chicago team goes all in and the Cardinals are happy to roll with an offense that couldn’t compete in any division but a lousy NL Central.
 
#241      
I think it was about a year ago that Dewitt made the comment about baseball not being very lucrative. It’s obvious that has only gotten worse in his mind. We all know that the value of the Cardinals has greatly appreciated through his ownership’s time. It’s disgusting that he won’t “reinvest” for the future while unique opportunities are present. I find it harder and harder to be loyal to a team who’s owners come off as cheap. White Sox are looking pretty fun. It’s awful when a Chicago team goes all in and the Cardinals are happy to roll with an offense that couldn’t compete in any division but a lousy NL Central.
When I was a kid the Cardinals were in a bad place with bad ownership (90s, pre-McGwire). I loved the team then and will always love the team, but it's discouraging when ownership is as happy profiting off a losing team as they are profiting off a winning team. DeWitt wasn't like that at first, and I have no idea what happened, but I think that's where we're at.
 
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