Andy Behrens' take:

Olt is perhaps the most familiar name in fantasy circles, because he made a cameo appearance in the big leagues last season. He entered 2013 ranked by Baseball America as the game's No. 22 overall prospect, second only to Jurickson Profar in Texas' system. However, after having a terrific year in the Texas League in 2012 (28 HR, .288/.398/.579), Olt has struggled at Triple-A Round Rock. He's hitting just .213/.317/.422 with 11 homers and 89 Ks, although his difficulties can be partially attributed to an eye disorder for which he's received treatment.Olt has also been taking tips from Manny Ramirez, and he's homered in three of his last five games. The kid remains a legit prospect at a talent-scarce roster spot. If he puts together a few solid weeks, we'll see him in a Cubs uniform this season. Consider him a lottery ticket in the power cat's, certainly worth a bid in N.L.-only.

Edwards, 21, is having a phenomenal year in the Sally League — 8-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 122 Ks in 93.1 IP — and he hasn't allowed a home run in any of his 18 starts, an impressive feat at any level. And apparently he has giant hands, if you're into that sort of thing. Grimm has been lit up in the majors this season (6.37 ERA, 1.65 WHIP), and Triple-A hasn't been a picnic for him, either (career 4.29 ERA, 1.32 WHIP). His ceiling is probably No. 3 or 4 starter. Classic Cub.

Smart move by the cubs

artie_fufkin wrote:

APIAD wrote:

Smart move by the cubs

Interesting that the Cubs are picking up most of the salary. If they dump Soriano, the last two days will have worked out well for the Cardinals. They have nine games left against the Cubs, and nine games left against the Brewers.

maybe i read it wrong.  I thought the yankees were.  
 

"According to a person familiar with the talks, the Cubs will pay the bulk of what is left on Soriano’s contract. He makes $18 million this year and the same for next season.Like they did in the Vernon Wells deal, whatever the Yankees pay will be laid out for the little more than the $6 million remaining Soriano’s contract this season. That way the Yankees aren’t on the hook for money next year when they want to get the payroll to $189 million. Soriano has a no-trade clause, but he would not block a deal to put him back in Pinstripes.In return the Cubs will get a mid-level prospect."

i still domt understand this.  Cubs are on the hook for most of his salary this year but they yankees are paying 6mill and nothing next year?  What am i missing

APIAD wrote:

"According to a person familiar with the talks, the Cubs will pay the bulk of what is left on Soriano’s contract. He makes $18 million this year and the same for next season.Like they did in the Vernon Wells deal, whatever the Yankees pay will be laid out for the little more than the $6 million remaining Soriano’s contract this season. That way the Yankees aren’t on the hook for money next year when they want to get the payroll to $189 million. Soriano has a no-trade clause, but he would not block a deal to put him back in Pinstripes.In return the Cubs will get a mid-level prospect."

i still domt understand this.  Cubs are on the hook for most of his salary this year but they yankees are paying 6mill and nothing next year?  What am i missing

It isn't written as clearly as it could be.  Soriano makes $18M this year.  There's about 1/3 of the season left.  The Yankees will pay the rest of this year's salary--about $6M.  The Cubs pay all of next year's salary--$18M--or "a bulk" of the $24M left on the duration of Soriano's deal.

There are considerations with the luxury tax, the nuts and bolts of which I don't understand because it's never impacted the Cardinals. Apparently, the Yankees are willing to pay him this year because they're already over the luxury tax threshold, but they're trying to get under it next year. It doesn't seem to make much sense from the Cubs' perspective, unless they're really that desperate to be rid of him.

Last edited by artie_fufkin (7/23/2013 6:47 pm)

Ramirez's contract is an albatross. Unless the White Sox are going to throw in some cash, I wouldn't be interested, and even at that I'd still be reluctant to deal Martinez, for anything. Peavy's problem is it seems like he's always hurt. The bullpen seems pretty good for now. Unless a high-end closer becomes available on the cheap - and I'm talking really high-end like Papelbon or Soriano if the Nashnils decide they're out of it - the Choate/Siegrist/Mujica/Rosenthal/ManessTheStrikeThrower quintumverate is a decent enough option.

If Martinez is traded it's going to be for something much more significant that Alexei Ramirez. At least if the last few years of Cardinals baseball under Moz's watch have shown us anything.  Goold did a pretty good job of comparing the numbers of the 2 shortstops (Ramirez and Kozma). I can't see them taking on significant salary and giving up a top prospect for someone who doesn't represent an improvement.  What's more curious is whether the Cardinals proposed something like Ramirez for Joe Kelly. I could see  the Cardinals trying to pitch that, even though it doesn't change the fact that Ramirez may not be a significant upgrade. The Cardinals may think differently. 

Once again, Bernie Miklasz is stealing material from our board.

"The Cardinals are happy with their treasure trove of prospects, and they're adamant about protecting them. I wouldn't say that the Cardinals are hoarding prospects, but they aren't shopping them around. And Mozeliak — who certainly is rational, — wouldn't part with top prospects in a whimsical deal.

This isn't to say that the Cardinals would never move Martinez or any of their elite prospects. There's always a chance of the right deal coming along to inspire Mozeliak to make a dramatic move.

But that's the point; it would have to be something really special, a trade of significant magnitude. And even then Mozeliak would exercise caution before taking the leap.

This is the long way of saying that the Cardinals never offered Martinez for Ramirez.

This is confirmed."

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-bytes-cards-didn-t-offer-martinez/article_fa318b5a-7f4d-5286-a161-106f8e0e992b.html

I'd be perfectly happy if the Cardinals did nothing between now and Aug. 1. Sure, they could use another starter, but again, unless it's a guy who is mostly another team's salary dump for a mid-level prospect, I'm fine with Kelly as the fifth starter.
I don't want to jinx anything, but right now the Cardinals are looking at a starting trio in the playoffs of Waino and two out of Miller, Lynn and Westbrook. The only team thart might match up favorably with that is Dodgers.

APIAD wrote:

I actually think they are sitting on peavy waiting form the market to fold near the trade deadline.  If it does they may make a push.  if u can catch him healthy he is a game changer.  

The big issue with a guy like Peavy is do the Cardinals want to take on his $14.5M salary in 2014.

I'm not saying I agree with them, but the Cardinals will likely go into 2014 expecting Garcia to come back.  Assuming they view it that way, that fills 4 spots--Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Miller.  Sure Lynn may cough one of those up in the next couple of months, but it isn't likely to happen between now and the trade deadline.

With 4 spots filled, are they likely to trade for a highly paid pitcher who takes a roster spot away from Wacha or Martinez or whomever?  I don't think they will.

I agree that the 2013 team would benefit from an established starter.  But I really think they're going to largely stand pat at the deadline.  That may not be the best move for 2013, but I don't think Moz is looking at the picture that narrowly.

If they do make a move for a pitcher, I expect it to be for someone who doesn't cost them much in terms of prospect(s) and who won't be with the team in 2014. Just my opinion.
 

Last edited by forsberg_us (7/25/2013 9:42 am)

"Imo this is comparable to the 2004 and 2005 teams."

One of which lost the World Series and the other of which didn't even make the World Series.

I'm not arguing one way or the other--I just don't see Moz trading a major prospect for a rental/injury risk type player.  Miklasz took up this issue today in his article.  I think BM has a pretty good relationship with Moz, and I think he has a pretty good understanding of what Moz typically does/does not do in these situations.  Here's Bernie's take.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/cards-appear-unlikely-to-make-big-trade/article_904f5cb9-764c-5b00-a3a5-f0ebdb7c7047.html

 

I'd be reluctant to deal Wacha, Taveras, Jenkins and Martinez, probably in that order. Anyone else I'd at least give a good listen. You can probably add Wong to the list of almost untouchable prospects. Their silence on any sort of extension with Freese tells me the plan is to move Carpenter to third and play Wong at second, probably sooner than later.