APIAD wrote:

Rumor mill stated the cardinals were not interested in a miller for hardy trade.

I read a version of that, but the article didn't indicate whether the trade offer was made during the season or within the past few days. At this point, I'd have a hard time giving up Miller for just one guaranteed year of Hardy. 
 

APIAD wrote:

also Jed Lowrie is an interesting option. 

I just read an article saying that's a potential trading target for the Cardinals too, and looking at his numbers and age... I'm totally on board. Depends on the cost I guess. It doesn't leave the A's with much at Shortstop until and if their 19 year old prospect pans out, but he's a year away from the bigs I think still at least. Means we'd probably have to really make them a nice offer, but it would be a much better SS option than what's on the FA market.


 

There are rumors circulating that the Cardinals are in discussion with the Yankees about a trade involving David Freese.

forsberg_us wrote:

There are rumors circulating that the Cardinals are in discussion with the Yankees about a trade involving David Freese.

The thought of the Cardinals trading Freese to the Yankees for ARod straight up flashed across my brain long enough for me to start sweating.
 

forsberg_us wrote:

Strauss was on the radio tonight. Made it sound like they are moving Freese to save him the embarrassment of being non-tendered. He didn't come out and say Freese was drinking again, but he referred to "ancillary off-field issues." He also said the team concluded Freese's bat speed had slowed to the point of being ineffective and they don't expect it to come back.

Too bad for him. He had the world by the balls in the 2011 postseason, and we won't forget that.

forsberg_us wrote:

Strauss was on the radio tonight. Made it sound like they are moving Freese to save him the embarrassment of being non-tendered. He didn't come out and say Freese was drinking again, but he referred to "ancillary off-field issues."  He also said the team concluded Freese's bat speed had slowed to the point of  being ineffective and they don't expect it to come back.

If strauss knows that then likely so does the buyer.  Freese is likely a give away.  How smooth would it have been to deal him after the 2011 season. 
 

artie_fufkin wrote:

Interesting story about SS defense, and confirms my suspicions that Jed Lowrie isn't the guy the Cardinals should covet.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bird-bytes-a-closer-look-at-shortstop-defense/article_ecaf99a0-73af-5d89-8d98-9a2057250108.html

Jed Lowrie is about the brightest option from the heap that's there. I'm not saying he's an amazing prize, but if you have to upgrade SS/3B/CF, he might be one of the options you look hard at.

Or you can deal with Kozma, who was good defensively. Acts like he's batting with a spaghetti noodle in his hands, but he can play D. Unless it's game one of the World Series, then maybe he can't.

At this point, I'm prepared to run with Descalso at 3B... Freese isn't an option unless you want someone to bat 9th behind the pitcher....

CF doesn't look that bountiful either without a big trade...

So I guess we're kind of dumpster diving for upgrades and there aren't many. So who do you covet at SS/3B/CF Artie? Nothing really stands out except trying to go after Tulo or ... meh I don't know.

Alz, why are you want to roll with delscalso for 3b.  By all accounts carp is the 2014 3b.  My current hopes is that they can swing a hardy for lynn trade and take care of ss for another year.  Kind of sucks it is a won year fix but the cards have been good at resign people they trade for.  Cf i am u sure of.  I doubt they even address cf.  My guess is that it is another year of jay with taverez mixed in.

"So who do you covet at SS/3B/CF Artie?"

I'd almost be OK if they didn't do anything, if it means they'll be able to keep all their pitching. Move Carpenter to third, make Wong the second baseman and stick with Koz at short and Jay in center. There are concerns, of course. You're not going to get any offense from Koz, and you have to hope Wong is the guy who moved through the system in two years, not the guy we saw in St. Louis who couldn't hit. I don't know what to make of Jay now. Is he the guy who hit ~.300 in 2011-12, or will be be what he was last year? Defensively, I know what the metrics indicate, but I see a guy with above-average range, albeit with a below-average arm, and below-average is probably being kind.
There's another issue of what happens with the 1B/RF situation. I've seen enough of Adams to think he's an every day player, but what happens if you move Craig to RF? You've already got a below-average defender in LF. I don't know if you can sustain an OF with Jay/Craig/Holliday over an entire season.
To be clear, I'm not thrilled with Koz, but I'd prefer to keep him over say, trading 3-4 players for Tulo or signing Lowrie to a hefty contract. From reading what Moz has had to say about the shortstop position, it's almost certain they're going to try to upgrade. If that's the plan, I'd keep kicking the tires on Profar, and I might even be willing to include Miller in a deal (but I'd offer Lynn first).  
And it almost pains me to say Freese has no value other than as a nostalgic reminder of the 2011 World Series. His defense was never all that good and it's gotten worse, and I fear the skeptics are right about his declining offense. It looked to me the only thing he was capable of doing last year was hitting off-speed mistakes.
Of course, I've been wrong - frequently - about such things.  

APIAD wrote:

Alz, why are you want to roll with delscalso for 3b. By all accounts carp is the 2014 3b.

I somehow missed that knowledge piece. So 3b isn't the issue, 2b is?

I'm not thrilled with Wong either though, but it's still got hope unlike Freese.
 

Matheny extended through 2017 . Carpenter retires...

Fielder for Kinsler

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/tigers-to-acquire-prince-fielder-for-ian-kinsler.html

forsberg_us wrote:

don.rob11 wrote:

Fielder for Kinsler

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/tigers-to-acquire-prince-fielder-for-ian-kinsler.html

Was just coming to post this. I guess Andrus and Profar are no longer available.

Seems that way , still early,  but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mo do nothing , unless it's a heck of a deal for the Cards . Don't give away the house ... (please Mo, no Wiggy solution)