He's right, and I think the Cardinals should be going after Adams.

It's good to see that they are at least targeting starting pitching. I don't think they'd be interested in Liriano. Kuroda would be an interesting name. Oakland would make for a very interesting trade partner.

Off the top of my head: Jay/Rasmus + Sanchez + Minor Leaguer (Joe Kelly? Jordan Swaggerty?) for Trevor Cahill and Brad Ziegler.

Without going back through the chat, I think the name that was brought up was Gio Gonzalez.  In contract terms, he's in exactly the same spot as Rasmus--arbitration eligible next year.

forsberg_us wrote:

Without going back through the chat, I think the name that was brought up was Gio Gonzalez.  In contract terms, he's in exactly the same spot as Rasmus--arbitration eligible next year.

I think you're right. I'd do Rasmus for Gonzalez in a minute. The variable is who else would be involved. The A's would probably want prospects in exchange for taking on a contract like Willingham or (gulp) Fuentes.

"they'd have to bring someone up that can play center field."

Someone asked Strauss in the chat if Holliday can play center. The question was worded respectfully, so his reply was respectful, but you know he was pining to write back something like "Are you nuts? ..."

artie_fufkin wrote:

or (gulp) Fuentes.

when you mentioned the over-priced veteran duncan rehab project my mind leapt to fuentes.  supposably they coveted him for the closer role as recently as a year or two back.  A big deal that sent gonzalez and fuentes our way, and sent something like rasmus and mcclellan their way might work.  the card might try to hang on to mcclellan, and send one of the one young relievers, with plans to send mcclellan back to the pen to pitch the 8th, where he has done well, or even give him the ninth at the first opportunity to claim that salas is 'faltering' and needs to build experience pitching the 8th before becoming the full-time closer.

Last edited by Max (7/14/2011 12:52 pm)

Maybe in a separate deal. Anything that involves trading Jay, Craig or Rasmus better be a home run deal.

Max wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Are you nuts? ..."

Exactly ...

"supposably they coveted him for the closer role as recently as a year or two back."

As always, anything I write having to rely on my memory comes with a caveat, but I think there was more clamoring from the fans than there was interest from the Cardinals' FO. Fuentes was kind of a neat fit at the time - not the top-of-the-line but best available so therefore reasonably-priced (by baseball standards anyway) at a position of immediate need.
Ultimately, the Cardinals decided to - and stop me if you've heard this one before - get creative with their in-house assets rather than consider an option outside the organization.
Despite Franklin's ultimate downfall, it turned out to be a wiser decision.

Max wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

Maybe in a separate deal. Anything that involves trading Jay, Craig or Rasmus better be a home run deal.

How the mighty have fallen.  I would say anything equating Rasmus's value with that of Jay or Craig prematurely announces the death of Rasmus as potential star in this league. 

My hunch is that Craig slots into a similar value as, say, Sanchez, and Jay as a useful filler, but maybe I am way off on those estimates.

If this thread had been started on May 15 and not July 15, we'd be expecting the Cardinals to be asking for a king's ransom for Rasmus, even if they asked at all. If I'm an opposing GM, the guy I want is Rasmus.