St. Louis Cardinals 2022

#1,951      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Besides starting pitching, Phillies defense and bullpen were also better than Cardinals

Cardinals had only one extra-base hit in two games of the wild-card series, and ragged defense leads to more runs for Phillies than Cardinals scored, total.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Rick Hummel


Any pre-series analysis of the Cardinals’ wild-card round set with the Philadelphia Phillies dealt, in large part, with starting pitching at the top of the rotation. The Phillies, in a short series, were presumed to have the edge because of right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.
They didn’t disappoint.
Wheeler, who didn’t allow a run to the Cardinals in 14 regular-season innings, didn’t permit any in 6 1/3 innings in Game 1 either. Nola, 5-3 with a 2.69 career earned run average against the Cardinals, was scoreless for 6 2/3 innings on Saturday night in the clinching Game 2.
“They pitched pretty good,” said retiring catcher Yadier Molina. “We didn’t hit that good. But that’s part of the game. They pitched really good.”

The Cardinals starters weren’t bad. Jose Quintana pitched scoreless ball for 5 1/3 innings on Friday and Miles Mikolas gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings.
But the Cardinals figured to make it up with a deeper bullpen and on defense. And while the Cardinals played more solidly in the field on Saturday than they did on Friday, especially when they rubbed out two Phillies runners in the sixth inning when the Phils were a little too aggressive, the Phillies played the better brand of defense.
Cardinals Gold Glovers Tommy Edman and Nolan Arenado both got caught in between on plays they normally make in the six-run ninth inning for the Phillies on Friday. Meanwhile, Phils third baseman Alec Bohm played the position like Arenado
Nor was the Cardinals’ reconfigured bullpen an issue and, in fact, the Philadelphia bullpen outpitched a compromised Ryan Helsley, an All-Star, in Game 1 and held on for the final 2 1/3 innings on Saturday.
 
#1,952      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

BenFred: Postseason shrinkage continues for Cardinals offense in latest quick exit

A bad postseason trend continued as the biggest bats failed to come through in Game 2 against the Phillies
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Ben Frederickson


Lars Nootbaar led off the bottom of the first inning with a smoked single on an Aaron Nola fastball that sure looked more like a hard-earned double than a single and an error on Phillies centerfielder Brandon Marsh. Regardless, one of the fastest Cardinals was on second base first thing Saturday night, and the biggest postseason crowd in this stadium’s history was on its feet and whipping rally towels in a frenzy. Stranded.
Tommy Edman, who so rarely walks, worked a hard-earned one-out walk in the bottom of the third, clawing back from a 1-2 count in a seven-pitch showdown with Nola. Stranded.
Juan Yepez, after fouling off not one, not two, but three different Nola pitches — changeup, sinker, curveball — smacked the second sinker he saw to lead off the bottom of the fifth with a line-drive single to left field. Stranded.

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, with one out in the bottom of the sixth, fouled off Nola’s first three pitches – sinker, changeup, fastball – before pushing a curveball into left field. Stranded.
Corey Dickerson, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and facing an o-2 count, chased the excellent Nola from the game with a single to center. Stranded.
Nootbaar in the bottom of the eighth worked a one-out walk on a seven-pitch at-bat against high-velocity Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado to bring up Pujols as the tying run. Pujols, with the massive billboard congratulating him on passing 700 career home runs looming in the night out beyond the ballpark, smashed a single down the left-field line off Seranthony Dominguez, the Phillies reliever inserted to face him, before a pinch-runner took his place. Two on. One out. National League MVP candidates Paul Goldschmidt up with National League MVP candidate Nolan Arenado on deck. Cardinals fans clap-clap-clapping their hands. Stranded.
 
#1,953      

wpr

wpr
wpr
Tuesday Morning Reaction GIF by The Secret Life Of Pets
 
#1,955      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
It's behind a paywall but one of the ESPN.com writers said that these are the three questions for the Cardinals following their elimination:

-Will Arenado opt out?
-What is next for the Cardinals behind the plate?
-How do the Cardinals go from good to great?
 
#1,958      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
It's behind a paywall but one of the ESPN.com writers said that these are the three questions for the Cardinals following their elimination:

-Will Arenado opt out?
-What is next for the Cardinals behind the plate?
-How do the Cardinals go from good to great?
Click to expand...
Don't know about #1 but #2 & #3 are dependent on whether we want to spend or not. We go out and sign Contreras and Trea Turner, and a legit ace, then we're in business. We sign a journeyman veteran catcher, a utility infielder, a 1 WAR bench bat and a undervalued #4 pitcher then we'll get the same result next season. I think this season is proof that our front office and player development are good enough to turn the #12 payroll into a top 6-8 team, but not good enough to turn the #12 payroll into a legit contender. We still have work to do to compete with the really good teams.
 
#1,963      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
I'm okay with signing Contreras if the money is right.
Click to expand...
I think Contreras is aiming for a Realmuto contract - 5 years, $115mm - but will end up closer to Grandal’s contract with the Sox, 4 years, $73mm. However the apparent lack of interest in Contreras at the trade deadline might mean he ends up even less than that.

And, while it was never in any real doubt, the Cubs’ Hoyer did confirm today that the Cubs would be making the QO.
 
#1,964      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
It's behind a paywall but one of the ESPN.com writers said that these are the three questions for the Cardinals following their elimination:

-Will Arenado opt out?
-What is next for the Cardinals behind the plate?
-How do the Cardinals go from good to great?
Click to expand...
No
I can roll with the best in the farm system catcher, if....
They acquire 2 top of the rotation starters that are worthy of starting playoff games.

I understand Contreras is very good. I just worry about aging catchers. I would rather spend money/assets on the starters.

Edit: Anyone have a reasonable expectation about how much is coming off the payroll and arbitration guesses?
 
#1,965      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
2023 free agents

Odd they have Nolan as a possible opt out FA, but not Correa.

Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros ($25 million player option) Age: 39 | 2022 Salary: $25,000,000 | Market Value: $41,753,632

2 years high value.


Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $19,000,000 | Market Value: $37,961,027

A man can dream.

Trea Turner, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $21,000,000 | Market Value: $33,616,679

Again, a man can dream. (Same for Correa.)

Carlos Rodon, SP, San Francisco Giants ($22.5 million player option) Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $21,500,000 | Market Value: $31,642,069

Too injury prone?

Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers Age: 34 | 2022 Salary: $17,300,000 | Market Value: $31,314,740

A Dodger forever.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals ($35 million player option) Age: 31 | 2022 Salary: $35,000,000 | Market Value: $28,550,806

Might have to pony up a few more $$$.

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, New York Yankees ($16 million player option) Age: 33 | 2022 Salary: $16,000,000 | Market Value: $23,000,081

Would be an expensive DH/Fill in 1B

Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $10,000,000 | Market Value: $22,238,210

I would like this.

Chris Bassitt, SP, New York Mets ($19 million mutual option) Age: 33 | 2022 Salary: $8,650,000 | Market Value: $20,889,818

2nd pick for a starter after Verlander.

Josh Bell, 1B, San Diego Padres Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $10,000,000 | Market Value: $18,440,912

Nope

Trey Mancini, 1B, Houston Astros ($10 million mutual option) Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $7,500,000 | Market Value: $18,117,905

Nope

Andrew Benintendi, OF, New York Yankees Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $8,500,000 | Market Value: $17,397,505

Nope

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Boston Red Sox Age: 32 | 2022 Salary: $17,000,000 | Market Value: $16,733,880

Nope

Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $10,200,000 | Market Value: $16,121,033

Nope, not a huge upgrade.

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants Age: 34 | 2022 Salary: $18,400,000 | Market Value: $16,090,407

No fit

Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $9,625,000 | Market Value: $16,066,514

Would prefer Murphy in a trade or keep Knizner and make a bigger splash.

Noah Syndergaard, SP, Philadelphia Phillies Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $21,000,000 | Market Value: $15,287,228

Only if cheap 1/2 year bounce back sort of deal.

J.D. Martinez, DH/OF, Boston Red Sox Age: 35 | 2022 Salary: $19,350,000 | Market Value: $15,199,843

DH only. Too many $$$ for what he does now.

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Houston Astros Age: 38 | 2022 Salary: $8,000,000 | Market Value: $15,167,241

Not a fit.

Jurickson Profar, OF, San Diego Padres ($8.3 million player option) Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $6,500,000 | Market Value: $14,909,248

No! Remember when he was the next big thing?

Joc Pederson, OF, San Francisco Giants Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $6,000,000 | Market Value: $14,684,536

A cheap 3/4 OF.

Mitch Haniger, OF, Seattle Mariners Age: 31 | 2022 Salary: $7,750,000 | Market Value: $14,669,293

Maybe, depends on price.

Jameson Taillon, SP, New York Yankees Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $5,800,000 | Market Value: $14,596,995

Not really an upgrade. Need a 1 or at least a 2.

Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $7,000,000 | Market Value: $14,111,751

LH hitter, 5.0 WAR, nice choice for right price.

Kenley Jansen, RP, Atlanta Braves Age: 35 | 2022 Salary: $16,000,000 | Market Value: $13,884,487

Too many $$$

Taijuan Walker, SP, New York Mets ($6 million player option) Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $7,000,000 | Market Value: $13,828,802

Again, not really an upgrade.
 
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#1,966      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
jmwillini said:
2023 free agents

Odd they have Nolan as a possible opt out FA, but not Correa.

Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros ($25 million player option) Age: 39 | 2022 Salary: $25,000,000 | Market Value: $41,753,632

2 years high value.


Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $19,000,000 | Market Value: $37,961,027

A man can dream.

Trea Turner, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $21,000,000 | Market Value: $33,616,679

Again, a man can dream. (Same for Correa.)

Carlos Rodon, SP, San Francisco Giants ($22.5 million player option) Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $21,500,000 | Market Value: $31,642,069

Too injury prone?

Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers Age: 34 | 2022 Salary: $17,300,000 | Market Value: $31,314,740

A Dodger forever.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals ($35 million player option) Age: 31 | 2022 Salary: $35,000,000 | Market Value: $28,550,806

Might have to pony up a few more $$$.

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, New York Yankees ($16 million player option) Age: 33 | 2022 Salary: $16,000,000 | Market Value: $23,000,081

Would be an expensive DH/Fill in 1B

Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $10,000,000 | Market Value: $22,238,210

I would like this.

Chris Bassitt, SP, New York Mets ($19 million mutual option) Age: 33 | 2022 Salary: $8,650,000 | Market Value: $20,889,818

2nd pick for a starter after Verlander.

Josh Bell, 1B, San Diego Padres Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $10,000,000 | Market Value: $18,440,912

Nope

Trey Mancini, 1B, Houston Astros ($10 million mutual option) Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $7,500,000 | Market Value: $18,117,905

Nope

Andrew Benintendi, OF, New York Yankees Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $8,500,000 | Market Value: $17,397,505

Nope

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Boston Red Sox Age: 32 | 2022 Salary: $17,000,000 | Market Value: $16,733,880

Nope

Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets Age: 28 | 2022 Salary: $10,200,000 | Market Value: $16,121,033

Nope, not a huge upgrade.

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants Age: 34 | 2022 Salary: $18,400,000 | Market Value: $16,090,407

No fit

Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $9,625,000 | Market Value: $16,066,514

Would prefer Murphy in a trade or keep Knizner and make a bigger splash.

Noah Syndergaard, SP, Philadelphia Phillies Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $21,000,000 | Market Value: $15,287,228

Only if cheap 1/2 year bounce back sort of deal.

J.D. Martinez, DH/OF, Boston Red Sox Age: 35 | 2022 Salary: $19,350,000 | Market Value: $15,199,843

DH only. Too many $$$ for what he does now.

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Houston Astros Age: 38 | 2022 Salary: $8,000,000 | Market Value: $15,167,241

Not a fit.

Jurickson Profar, OF, San Diego Padres ($8.3 million player option) Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $6,500,000 | Market Value: $14,909,248

No! Remember when he was the next big thing?

Joc Pederson, OF, San Francisco Giants Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $6,000,000 | Market Value: $14,684,536

A cheap 3/4 OF.

Mitch Haniger, OF, Seattle Mariners Age: 31 | 2022 Salary: $7,750,000 | Market Value: $14,669,293

Maybe, depends on price.

Jameson Taillon, SP, New York Yankees Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $5,800,000 | Market Value: $14,596,995

Not really an upgrade. Need a 1 or at least a 2.

Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets Age: 29 | 2022 Salary: $7,000,000 | Market Value: $14,111,751

LH hitter, 5.0 WAR, nice choice for right price.

Kenley Jansen, RP, Atlanta Braves Age: 35 | 2022 Salary: $16,000,000 | Market Value: $13,884,487

Too many $$$

Taijuan Walker, SP, New York Mets ($6 million player option) Age: 30 | 2022 Salary: $7,000,000 | Market Value: $13,828,802

Again, not really an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Nice rundown!

I love Verlander, but man, he's gonna be 40. He's gonna be looking for $30-40 mil a year. He had an amazing season so no reason to think he can't still make that a good deal but it makes me nervous and I also just don't see it as the kind of deal the FO would go for. Think Rodon would be a great get. 2 consecutive 5+ WAR seasons. And he's 29.

For catcher, I too would prefer Murphy. Problem is the A's are going to ask a lot for him. Not Soto level, but any package would need to include at least a couple of the guys people didn't want to give up for Juan friggin Soto, so not sure what the appetite for that would be.

If I could add anyone on this list it would be Trae Turner. He'd fit such a huge need for us. Good OBP (.343) with elite speed and plenty of pop (21 hr this season, 28 in 2021). He'd be the perfect lead off batter. Swanson or Nimmo would be great adds too.
 
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#1,967      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

BenFred: Cardinals can’t ignore these numbers when analyzing another postseason flop

From lack of production at catcher, to the number of times shut out, now is the time for the Cardinals to audit some uncomfortable trends
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Ben Frederickson
It’s natural to feel like speeding past the pain of another early postseason ejection for the Cardinals and fast forward to free-agent shopping for 2023, but some examination of components that contributed to another October collapse should occur first.
Before fans whip themselves into a frenzy about which players the Cardinals should add — some will be realistic, some will not — their favorite team needs to take a long, hard look at how a regular season filled with history made and fun moments produced derailed immediately in the National League Wild Card round despite having the series at home.
Some uncomfortable numbers stand out ...
-1.4: There will be no objection here to the Cardinals benefiting from upgrading in the rotation, at shortstop and in the outfield, but overlooking catcher would be unwise.

Yadier Molina is not walking through that door again, and his performance had been dwindling in his final seasons. The internal options did not fill the growing void very well. This was supposed to be Andrew Knizner’s season to prove he could. He didn’t, not definitively, despite starting 78 games to Molina’s 71. His pitch-framing metrics are some of the worst among regular catchers, and his offense did not consistently show the benefit of increased playing time. He averaged .215 with a .301 on-base percentage and a .300 slugging percentage.
When the Cardinals rushed to try prospect Ivan Herrera, he did not look ready either. From the catcher position the Cardinals produced a wins above replacement value of minus -1.4, according to Baseball Reference. The Cardinals produced league-average WAR or better at every other defensive position. The position needs post-Molina assistance by addition.
 
#1,968      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Up and down 2022 season leaves Cardinals prospect Matthew Liberatore with new lessons

From spending time in the majors and minors, Matthew Liberatore feels growth in balancing the mental and physical aspects of pitching.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Daniel Guerrero


Moments after Matthew Liberatore walked back into the Memphis home dugout at AutoZone Park after a pregame throwing session for the Class AAA club, the 6-foot-4 left-hander could explain how his 2022 season went with just a few words.
“It’s been a lot of traveling, a lot of different cities, a lot of different faces,” Liberatore said during an interview in Memphis, Tennessee.
Liberatore, 22, began the year there and made his MLB debut for the Cardinals in Pittsburgh on May 21, and earned his first win the following week in St. Louis against the Brewers
Then, from mid-May to mid-July, his miles started piling up as he split time between the majors and minors. He pitched in four games with Memphis and seven for the Cardinals before spending the majority of August and September in developmental ball, only to return to start game 162 for the Cardinals.
The seemingly constant provided constant growth.
“A lot of learning, a lot of new experiences,” Liberatore added of his 2022 season.

Liberatore, who was five years younger than the average Class AAA player in the International League, rode the wave of success he strung together at the end 2021 into this year. In his first four starts of the season, he pitched to a 3.18 ERA and struck out 34 batters in his first 28⅓ innings with the Redbirds.
He ended April with back-to-back outings in which he threw seven scoreless innings — the first of which earned him recognition as the International League pitcher of the week. He posted a 31% strikeout rate and walked just six of the first 108 batters he faced.
 
#1,969      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
Jed Hoyer says Cubs will make qualifying offer to Wilson Contreras would Mo actually give a big enough contract and give up a draft pick?

Also was listening to the SCORE and they were talking the White Sox trading both Abreu and Anderson. Basically Cease is the only untouchable.
 
#1,970      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
jmwillini said:
Jed Hoyer says Cubs will make qualifying offer to Wilson Contreras would Mo actually give a big enough contract and give up a draft pick?

Also was listening to the SCORE and they were talking the White Sox trading both Abreu and Anderson. Basically Cease is the only untouchable.
Click to expand...
If we're being honest with ourselves, we're probably just going to sign Curt Casali or Tucker Barnhart or someone like that.
 
#1,971      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
the juiceman cometh said:
If we're being honest with ourselves, we're probably just going to sign Curt Casali or Tucker Barnhart or someone like that.
Click to expand...
Do you see Girsch, excuse me, Mo, making any real upgrades?

I'll admit that I can't figure the guy. Trades for Goldschmidt and Arenado were amazing.

Free agent signing have for the last 8 years inhaled violently with pursed lips. Leake, Fowler, Cecil, Holland Gregerson, Miller were all bad. Matz I will give an incomplete, though paid WAY TOO MUCH for, at best, a #4 starter. Mikolas good when healthy. Kim okay. So that is 1 good, 1 okay, 1 incomplete and 6 BAD.

Before then, Berkman, Beltran and Holiday were good to very good. Furcal/Peralta/Westbrook, at best mediocre.
 
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#1,972      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
Need a #1 or at minimum a #2 starter

Do you really see any Cardinal pitcher that would be a 1/2 on any of the other playoff teams?

1. Astros
Top starters: RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Framber Valdez, RHP Lance McCullers Jr.

2. Dodgers
Top starters: LHP Julio Urías, LHP Clayton Kershaw, LHP Tyler Anderson

3. Braves
Top starters: LHP Max Fried, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Kyle Wright

4. Guardians
Top starters: RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Triston McKenzie, RHP Cal Quantrill
​

5. Rays
Top starters: LHP Shane McClanahan, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Drew Rasmussen

6. Mets
Top starters: RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Jacob deGrom, RHP Chris Bassitt

7. Yankees
Top starters: RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Nestor Cortes, RHP Luis Severino

8. Mariners
Top starters: RHP Luis Castillo, LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Logan Gilbert

9. Cardinals
Top starters: RHP Miles Mikolas, LHP José Quintana, RHP Jack Flaherty

10. Phillies
Top starters: RHP Zack Wheeler, RHP Aaron Nola, LHP Ranger Suárez

11. Blue Jays
Top starters: RHP Alek Manoah, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Ross Stripling
 
#1,973      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Read the full transcript of baseball writer Derrick Goold's Monday Cardinals chat

Bring your Cards questions and comments to our 11 a.m. live chats on Mondays.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Bring your Cards questions and comments to our 11 a.m. live chats on Mondays.

Oct 10, 2022 11:05 AM
Greetings. The Phillies are in Atlanta for a workout day. The Cardinals are not. Their season came to a swift end this past weekend when they scored three runs, two on a homer from Juan Yepez, in 18 innings against the Phils, the third-place team in the National League East. It was not the ending imagined, not the ending expected, and not the ending promised by the 2022 Cardinals.

And now there's the beginning.

The Cardinals are now starting life after Molina and Pujols. You've got questions and I will do my best to answer them.

It's the chat wrap on the 2022 regular season. Onward.


Derrick Goold



  • Oct 10, 2022 11:15 AM
    Cards need new hitting coach.
    They need SS and catcher and figure out the OF. Add a veteran to the OF mix and pitching

    Ron


  • Oct 10, 2022 11:15 AM
    That's it?

    Derrick Goold
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    Lot's of good questions from many disappointed Cardinals fans......................


 
#1,974      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
jmwillini said:
Do you see Girsch, excuse me, Mo, making any real upgrades?

I'll admit that I can't figure the guy. Trades for Goldschmidt and Arenado were amazing.

Free agent signing have for the last 8 years inhaled violently with pursed lips. Leake, Fowler, Cecil, Holland Gregerson, Miller were all bad. Matz I will give an incomplete, though paid WAY TOO MUCH for, at best, a #4 starter. Mikolas good when healthy. Kim okay. So that is 1 good, 1 okay, 1 incomplete and 6 BAD.

Before then, Berkman, Beltran and Holiday were good to very good. Furcal/Peralta/Westbrook, at best mediocre.
Click to expand...
I think Mo does the best he can with the budget he's given. The club outperforms its payroll every year. The problem is that trying to find the best bang for buck can only get you so far. There is a certain talent level that you just can't attain without spending money. He was able to fit Goldy and Arenado into his budget but unless that budget increases it's hard to fit in the kinds of upgrades we need to complete with the best teams. Matz, Leake, Fowler, etc were all attempts to fill holes while staying within the budget. The Goldschmidt and Arenado trades happened because we had money available in the budget, neither was a bad deal as far as their contracts, and those teams were desperate to shed salary. I think there's a reason these big trades tend to happen for the Cardinals in the offseason instead of the trade deadline - because it doesn't blow the budget. The salaries taken on get factored in the same way a free agent signing would.

The eternal hope is that ownership sees we can't win a WS without more resources and sees fan discontent with the plateau we've hit, and opens the money spigot a bit. This is by the way a problem with every team in our division. I was talking with a friend of mine who's a Brewers fan and they have the same complaint. What sucks about that is that none of our divisional rivals are forcing us to become good enough to compete with the teams we end up facing in the playoffs.
 
#1,975      

wpr

wpr
wpr
jmwillini said:
Need a #1 or at minimum a #2 starter

Do you really see any Cardinal pitcher that would be a 1/2 on any of the other playoff teams?

1. Astros
Top starters: RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Framber Valdez, RHP Lance McCullers Jr.

2. Dodgers
Top starters: LHP Julio Urías, LHP Clayton Kershaw, LHP Tyler Anderson

3. Braves
Top starters: LHP Max Fried, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Kyle Wright

4. Guardians
Top starters: RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Triston McKenzie, RHP Cal Quantrill
​

5. Rays
Top starters: LHP Shane McClanahan, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Drew Rasmussen

6. Mets
Top starters: RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Jacob deGrom, RHP Chris Bassitt

7. Yankees
Top starters: RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Nestor Cortes, RHP Luis Severino

8. Mariners
Top starters: RHP Luis Castillo, LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Logan Gilbert

9. Cardinals
Top starters: RHP Miles Mikolas, LHP José Quintana, RHP Jack Flaherty

10. Phillies
Top starters: RHP Zack Wheeler, RHP Aaron Nola, LHP Ranger Suárez

11. Blue Jays
Top starters: RHP Alek Manoah, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Ross Stripling
Click to expand...
The Front Office and ownership has been more than happy to field a "playoff caliber" team that is decent in the regular season but not competitive against other playoff teams. Their hope is that *somehow* the stars align, every opposing team's chi is off, the Card's collective biorhythm is high while the other teams are at all time lows. In other words, "Let's get to the playoffs and 'Hey, something good MIGHT happen' ". They simply are not willing to "go all in" like LAD, NYY and others. To justify themselves they point to teams like NYM, Boston and ChiSox who spent money and either didn't make it or in the Met's case, were bounced in the Wild Card round. They fail to mention that Dodgers, Houston and others who willing spend the money are more consistently contenders not merely playoff pretenders. To be $100,000,000 behind the top spending teams is outrageous.
They are more interested in a 2.5 WAR player like Joey Wendle who hits .260/297/360 and steals 12 bases because he can play 3 positions than stacking the lineup with a couple more Arenado/Goldschmidts to create a real Murder's Row. Signing someone like Trea Turner and Carlos Correa would certainly help. Don't forget to get a couple of above average SP.