You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Cardinals Outlook '23
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Anthony Franco
2:58
I threw out a few speculative names in the post that seem the most likely to me. Could add one of the Cleveland guys -- Bieber, Cal Quantrill -- to the mix. I could see the Angels dealing Patrick Sandoval if Ohtani walks and they decide to rebuild
Kevin
2:58
Everybody knows the Cards must add pitching. Their offense is in trouble as well. They were killed by the Padres in the playoffs last year Any chance the Cards revisit an acquisition for a big bat...possibly MLB proven lefty bat like Soto or Bellinger or will the Cards take a conservative route to their current efforts at rebuilding?
Anthony Franco
3:00
Adding the big bat is more the Cardinals traditional way of doing things, but bolstering the pitching is a much more direct way of adding to the roster. Could they sign Bellinger and flip Nootbaar for a starter? I guess, but it's more expensive than signing a starter and I'm not sure how much better they'd project Bellinger to perform than Nootbaar anyways
3:01
Could kick Noot to left field too, but O'Neill's not going to bring back much and they're still searching for starting pitching
Kellen
3:02
We always hear about how the Cards and Mariners are obvious trade partners considering each club’s needs… but are there any less obvious clubs out there that you think could possibly align with the cards in their pursuit of multiple starters?
Anthony Franco
3:02
Detroit and Miami
Nolan Arenado
3:02
What would a realistic Arenado trade package from the Dodgers look like?
Anthony Franco
3:03
I don't think there's a realistic trade package from anyone for Arenado this winter. I'd really be shocked if they traded him
Cardinals fan
3:04
I really like Palacios, will he get some more at bats next year or is he also potential trade bait?
Anthony Franco
3:05
There's still not much trade value -- he's a 26-year-old rookie who was acquired for cash three months ago -- but he has hit well enough to at least play his way onto the radar for a platoon/bench role out of the gate next year
3:07
He's an interesting player. Typically a pretty good hitter during his time in Cleveland's minor league system, but he's limited to a corner and it's more solid than overwhelming power. It's a tough profile to pull off
Wachto26
3:07
The Cards have said they wanted a young and controllable starter.  they've also expressed a need for more swing and miss from the rotation.  Sounds crazy but would Skubal be available?  He definitely fits the bill.  Does Donovan, Carlson, and one of their AAA arms get it done?  Would Herrera be needed as well?
Anthony Franco
3:08
Skubal feels like the guy the Tigers would take off the table. It's time for them to come out of the rebuild, he looks like a burgeoning ace. Much as Donovan would help them, I can't see it
Jarek
3:08
Is Sonny gray a possibility? And what type of contract do you see him getting?
Anthony Franco
3:10
Yeah I think Gray could work, similar spot as Nola. I like him at four years and around $75-80MM. Steve Adams loves Gray and thinks he's getting nine figures.
Rodger
3:10
Do the changes in Chicago make it more or less likely that the Cease gets traded? What would the Cardinals have to give up to get him?
Anthony Franco
3:12
Yeah I could see Cease being out there. Seems like they at least legitimately considered it at the deadline. I'm not sure how much the front office changes affect the Sox's view of the organization -- they fired their top execs and immediately promoted their #3 guy -- but he's down to two seasons of arbitration control and there's an argument for them to take a step back in the short term
3:14
That's one where I could see Gorman being involved that makes sense for both sides. Cards balance the rotation, get a better pitcher (albeit one with lesser control) than, say Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo
White Sox get a controllable middle-of-the-order bat
Kellen
3:14
Producing pitching used to be such a strength of this organization, but now it seems to be the biggest reason for this recent decline. In your opinion, what are some of the most significant factors that have contributed to this inability to produce quality pitching at the big league level? Is it the organization’s outdated pitch to contact philosophy? The scouting department? Talent development? Yafo retiring even? Thanks
Anthony Franco
3:15
I'd guess Molina's retirement is a small part of it. I think catcher defense is the thing we're still least equipped to understand with any kind of outside metric
3:17
But the biggest thing is the ground-ball philosophy you mentioned. They were built around their infield defense for the longest time. It wasn't as productive this year, which left them in a lot of trouble when the pitching staff consists of a ton of sinker/slider guys
3:18
Waino's collapse is obviously a part of this too. That Liberatore, Woodford, etc. weren't good wouldn't be as big an issue if they weren't counted on for consistent rotation roles at different parts of the season. Wainwright went from seemingly ageless command specialist who could throw up mid-rotation results at will to arguably the worst starter in the majors in one offseason
Bradygrg
3:19
Thoughts on a Goldy extension versus a mid season trade?
Anthony Franco
3:20
I'd keep my options open this offseason in case the team doesn't bounce back in the first half. An extension for a first baseman beginning in his age-37 season wouldn't make much sense if they do need to retool or rebuild
3:23
If they did talk extension, I'd expect Goldy to get something like 4/75. José Abreu got 3/58 last winter as a free agent. He was a year younger but he's not as good a defender and is a little less accomplished offensively. I think Goldy would beat that
AaronB4Mizzou
3:23
Good Afternoon Anthony, considering the '23 season is only the Card's 2cd last place finish since 1918, do you think it will be enough to generate some real change in the Card's front office?  I don't think they have a problem drafting talent, that's proven to be a positive, but they sure seem to lack an understanding of how to get the most out of that talent while also being able to identify quality ML pitching.  I really hope they figure something out or else the franchise will go into a pre-Herzog 1970's type of run.  That was filled with good players, like Ted Simmons, but no sense of direction or understanding of how to actually win.
Anthony Franco
3:25
Mozeliak has been pretty open about the front office overrating the rotation going into the season and the need for a higher-strikeout pitching staff this time around. That doesn't excuse it -- it's not like the downside for the rotation was that hard to see before the year -- but I buy that they're going to approach things differently this winter
Adam in STL
3:26
Is Luken Baker a AAAA guy or will he be able to make that kind of contact at the MLB level? What a ridiculous video game-esque stat line at AAA this year.
Anthony Franco
3:27
Probably a Quad-A guy -- there's a lot of swing-and-miss and zero defensive value -- but I hope someone gives him a shot to see if he's more than that. Can't say he hasn't earned it
3:28
I'd rather see the Nationals trade a fringe prospect to give Baker 300 MLB plate appearances than re-sign Dominic Smith, as an example
Retain Smith, I should say. He's arbitration eligible
Paul Dewgong
3:28
Could Alex Manoah be a project for the cardinals? Maybe the 3rd starter they get?
Anthony Franco
3:30
Manoah could work for any team that needs pitching really -- he's young, controllable and has flashed huge upside -- but the Cardinals are one of the teams that could take that shot, sure
Bradygrg
3:30
Montgomery reunion for 4 / 85 with an option year sound about right?
Anthony Franco
3:30
Way higher
3:31
That's about the range I would've pegged if they tried to extend him preseason. I think the $120MM range is the floor at this point and it's probably closer to 140-150
3:32
Alright that's all I've got time for today
3:33
I'm doing another chat exclusive to Front Office subscribers in a half hour, so I have to call this one here
That's a general league chat but I could take more Cardinals questions there if you're a Front Office member
Connecting…