Quote from MrPadre19 on May 6, 2021, 1:33 pm

I see your point but disagree.

Mateos versatility and speed IMO make him more valuable than Pujols's power.

Plus there is at least a small chance Mateo "figures it out" at the plate and improves.

Not gonna happen with Albert.

Veteran presence not withstanding I'd keep Mateo.

Now,I would have no issue swapping Mateos' speed out for someone else with a much better bat.

Plus the Cardinals are bound to find a way to bring Albert back.

Quote from fenn68 on May 6, 2021, 1:54 pm

Big no on Pujols. I will start with the LAA just putting him waivers ... a contending team in the AL where they do have the DH ... a team that has had him for years after the big commitment ... choose to move on mid season. Say a lot about the 2021 Pujols not being the Pujols of the past.

He really has not hit well for maybe 4 years and is no longer a good defensive 1B.

For any NL team that carries only 4 bench players (one a catcher) ... Pujols is the picture of who you don’t want with no defensive value and limiting the options for resting a position player, double switches, defensive replacements, and pinch running.

IF (and that is a big IF) it will be an AL team that signs him after he clears waivers.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 6, 2021, 2:24 pm

I spoke to a friend who is a huge Cards fan(matter of fact is at the game right now in  Stl. despite living in Fl.) and he says it’s just about a done deal,that they will find a way to bring him back.But I agree that with a short bench they will have to make some concessions and don’t know who’s roster spot they will give him.

The only one I can see other than running 1 reliever short would be Sosa,their  back up SS.

Which would leave them with only Carpenter to back up SS/2B/3B.

Seems unlikely  tbh.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 7, 2021, 11:05 am

OK, after a day, I'm now on the fence.  So much to consider, but briefly:

1. Angels decided that if a 30 MM player is no longer EVERY DAY guy, now is the time to move on with their roster/talent mix.  But doesn't preclude possibility "minimum salary" Pujols has some value in a lesser role.
2. Pujols 100% decides what happens now.  MAY desire to "not go out like that" & "prove the Angels wrong".  But also likely knows: A) this is his last year, B) he's not going to play full time on a contending team, C) Likely has zero interest in being a role model for the Pittsburgh Pirates players his last season.  Either going to a situation on a good team he wants to & feels like he can help, or riding off into the sunset.  BUT:  If he formally retired, would he lose prorated % of 30 MM?  Also lost almost 2/3 of salary last year.
3. The Cardinals & White Sox (LaRussa) are obvious choices, but neither is a good fit with their roster.
4. I'm guessing the Padres are 1 of about 5-6 possibilities....

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 7, 2021, 12:08 pm

...  the argument "can't" have Pujols on a 4 man NL bench makes the most sense... BUT

1. Jorge Mateo despite:  having a great ST, beating out O'Grady for last bench spot, only a 4-man bench, Pham off too an atrocious start, Grisham starting year on IL, Myers' knee issues, Tatis on IL, and Kim's offensive struggles....   has started 4 of 32 games so far.  He subbed in early (injury) in 2 others.   The vast majority of time he's being used as:  a PH because...
2. Mateo was a great pickup for 60 game season in 2020 as: PR and insurance against losing (i.e. a "poor man's") Profar to FA in '21.  But Profar returned, Pads doubled down by signing Kim, and Cronenworth continues to impress.  So Mateo is a massively redundant player.  B/C a "typical" bench is:  C, Kim (primary INF), Pham/Profar (primary OF)... Mateo = primary 1st PH.  This also subtracts his speed as a late game/extra innings factor.  Pads #1 in stolen bases @ 36... Mateo has 1.  2nd place is 25.  Don't "need" his speed as much as 29 other teams do.
3. Doesn't matter if LAA have no interest in Mateo; his DFA/trade could be a separate transaction.
4. What the bench lacks is a command respect power presence PH.
5. Pads 30 HR are 25th in MLB.  .672 OPS also 25th despite .316 OBP being 10th.  LAA 41 HR (5-Pujols) = T-4th
6. Pujols 5 HR = 2nd on Pads, 86 AB = T-6th... and only 13 K's.  Our top 9 by AB have:  19, 25, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26,21,25 K's!  BUT Pujols' 0 2B & only 3 BB = BAD OPS are extremely alarming.
7. Hosmer SO FAR in tiny sample has hit LHP well this year, but his typical struggles with it create more obvious starts for Pujols @ 1B then Mateo is seeing in OF.  More complementary to Pads needs "fit" as: 1) primary PH, 2) occasional starter, 3) DH @ AL games (only 7 of these), 4) Universally respected player & leader

IF the Pads could somehow ever manage to "get by" with "only" 7 RP's (including Craig Stamina > 100 IP pace), he'd be a bigger no brainer for a 5-man bench, and then I'd keep Mateo to be the late speed guy.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on May 8, 2021, 9:21 pm

Checking in on some of the guys we traded away.

Ty France .248/.348/.398

Taylor Trammell .160/.261/.346

Luis Torrens .214/.257/.329

Manuel Margot .245/.291/.392

Francisco Mejia .300/.348/.450

Luis Patino 1.17 ERA in 7.2 IP 10 Ks

Franmil Reyes .275/.330/.608

Josh Naylor .253/.288/.404

Austin Hedges .111/.179/.278

Logan Allen 9.19 ERA in 15.2 IP in 5 starts.

Cal Quantrill 2.25 ERA in 16 IP

Luis Urias .233/.343/.407

Eric Lauer 1.64 ERA in 11 IP in 2 starts

Zach Davies 6.30 ERA in 30 IP in 7 starts

David Bednar 2.31 ERA in 11.2 IP

Franchy Cordero .179/.236/.224

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on May 8, 2021, 11:08 pm

Outside of the Cardinals bringing him in for a 1 game send-off I don't know why any team that would consider bringing in Pujols wouldn't just sign Jedd Gyorko instead.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 10, 2021, 11:34 am

THAT was thorough Jeremy!  Thanks!

Way too early, but so far:

• Darvish trade looks beyond idiotic for Cubs.  They're paying Davies > 8.5 MM PLUS 3 MM of Darvish's salary.   Some outlets had Mena & especially Preciado in or near their top 10, but the overall consensus on the 4 prospects traded is the 15 -25 range  (very good system); all 4 years away from MLB.  Not enough for 3 yrs control of 1 of the best SP in MLB @ below market $.
• Bednar's Pitt homecoming going well, but the Musgrove trade was an instant win for us
• Milwaukee's not feeling AS bad about the Grisham / Davies trade...
• Hard for us to "win" Clevenger trade with the TJ, but what we lost in trade not a killer
• Seattle (Nola, A. Adams) trade is looking better for us
• But the Snell trade looks dicey...

Quote from fenn68 on May 11, 2021, 1:01 pm

Now that COVID is beginning to fade out ... MLB is kicking up the pressure on the City of Oakland. A report today that the City needs to finalize the plan for the new ballpark for the A's (sort of in the limbo are of planning / design but not getting approved) or MLB will begin entertaining a move of the A's out of Oakland .... Las Vegas a contender but other cities will get cranked up to bid. Oakland lost the Raiders .... Oakland lost the Warriors ... to sure they will be committed to meet the MLB demands.

I would expect similar pressure on TB given their stadium issues (unless they have resolved their plans).

MLB wants to clear those two stadium / city situations before pursuing expansion. Basically giving the two current ownership groups the first shots at the best "new cities".

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Side note: a couple of weeks ago Manfred said he "expected" any new franchise in expansion would have to pay a $2.2 BILLION franchise fee. So $4.4 BILLION divided among the 30 current franchises ... not a bad haul. The counter is that in the future the TV money will be split 32 ways not 30 ... so a future loss of revenue.

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Expect the usual set of arguments of why expansion is bad ... same one that were used around 1960 with baseball expanded from 16 teams.

However, if they go to 32 teams, a huge advantage in league design / alignment / scheduling and setting up playoffs.