Even considering a trade for Florida’s Dan Uggla would require a major change in strategy for the St. Louis Cardinals, but it has been done before.
30-year-old Dan Uggla and the Florida Marlins are preparing for a divorce. The All-Star second baseman is one season away from free agency and wants more than the reported four-year, $48 million contract the Fish offered.
The St. Louis Cardinals don’t appear to be a fit. They say they aren’t in the market for a second baseman, apparently content with keeping converted outfielder Skip Schumaker there. Indications are that the club’s major expenditure this winter will be on a starting pitcher, Jake Westbrook or his replacement, along with a less-splashy upgrade at shortstop.
Perhaps the Cardinals should reconsider how they allocate their available cash.
The team has a history of acquiring impact offensive players who were looking for a change, only to later convince then to re-sign with the club. Some arrived via trades during the season, such as Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen and Matt Holliday. Others were dealt to St. Louis in the off-season, including Edgar Renteria and Jim Edmonds.
Another notable winter addition was made on December 20, 1999 when the Cardinals acquired then-30-year-old second baseman Fernando Vina from the Milwaukee Brewers.
In return, St. Louis yielded one established major leaguer and two prospects – pitchers Juan Acevedo and Matt Parker and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo. Acevedo had started and closed for St. Louis. Alfonzo eventually reached the majors as a reserve while Parker never panned out.
Acquiring Vina not only gave the Cardinals an All-Star second baseman and leadoff hitter, it also allowed them to displace scrappy, fan-favorite Joe McEwing, better as a utility man. “Super Joe” had been miscast as the regular second sacker in 1999 prior to Vina’s arrival. The trade also freed up second base prospect Adam Kennedy, a key component in the subsequent acquisition of Edmonds from the Angels.
As an aside, albeit an interesting one, note the similarities between McEwing’s 1999 season while starting at second base and Schumaker’s 2010. Super Joe actually showed more pop with the bat and had better basic defensive metrics, yet was still replaced by a superior player the next season.
| 2B | Year | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | Fld % | RF/9 |
| McEwing | 1999 | 152 | 513 | 65 | 141 | 28 | 4 | 9 | 44 | 7 | 41 | 87 | 0.275 | 0.333 | 0.398 | 0.730 | 84 | 0.980 | 5.40 |
| Schumaker | 2010 | 137 | 476 | 66 | 126 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 42 | 5 | 43 | 64 | 0.265 | 0.328 | 0.338 | 0.667 | 83 | 0.973 | 5.05 |
As Vina and the Cardinals mutually enjoyed the relationship, they cemented the marriage, keeping the second baseman off the free agent market. Vina signed a $15 million deal in 2000 covering the next three seasons.
Vina batted .300 his first two years, topped the league in fielding percentage and won a pair of Gold Gloves in his four seasons with St. Louis. The club averaged 95 wins in his first three campaigns, reaching the playoffs each year including the NLCS twice, territory the Cardinals haven’t seen since 2006. Vina departed as a free agent following an injury-plagued 2003 season during which he later admitted having used HGH.
To put Vina’s $5 million average annual value deal into perspective, it represented approximately 6.4 percent of the Cardinals’ payroll in the 2001-03 seasons.
It was clearly a different time, but the contract was noteworthy because before and since, the club used second base as a low-salaried, transient spot. Vina demonstrated that spending more on the position could be a good decision.
Back to the here and now, Uggla is a different kind of player than Vina and is a considerably more expensive option, too. He might fetch $10 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, which if so, would work out to nine or ten percent of the Cardinals’ projected 2011 player budget.
It would also mean the Cardinals would have to get comfortable with an in-house fifth starting pitcher for 2011, perhaps Kyle McClellan. They could bring in several make-good, bounceback types as insurance but would be forced to give up on signing Westbrook or comparable.
It all gets down to belief or lack of belief in the organization’s current strategy, first illustrated this past summer with the Ryan Ludwick-Westbrook trade. Looking back at how to best improve upon the 2010 Cardinals, does the club need to add more offense or more starting pitching?
Having averaged 31 home runs per season over his five-year Marlins career, Uggla would bring a proven power bat to the Cardinals lineup. With Florida, he produced while batting second and fifth. In St. Louis, Colby Rasmus could be placed in the other spot with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in between.
This is certainly not a no-brainer. There are plenty of reasons to write off the idea without even exploring it first. The uncertainty of Pujols’ long-term contract situation alone could make the front office uncomfortable over the prospect of taking on another high-salaried player.
There would be an immediate acquisition cost for Uggla in terms of players lost that may be steep, but there could also be some recovery down the line. If he didn’t work out, the Cardinals could either deal him again next summer or if he later chose not to re-sign, take a pair of compensatory picks in the 2012 draft.
Making such a bold move would require substantial risk-taking, but there is also considerable upside. The current core of Cardinals will not be in their prime years that much longer. This would be a “win-now” type of action.
The formula has worked before. Why not consider it again?
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
Who would Florida want for Uggla? Shelby Miller should not be on the table.Marlins need a catcher,3B when Helms leaves,Closer?
I actually would love this move as far as the improvement the offense would experience goes but I’m not sure the Cardinals could begin to compete with the other suitors, who would have more quality available for a trade.
I believe you have a better chance of walking out of your house and being struck by lightening that the cardinals acquiring Uggla.
Who would you see as the other suitors? The deepest-pocketed teams like the Yanks and Red Sox are set at second base.
The Braves need a RH bat in the worst way and have hard throwing arms stacked up all the way back to High A. The downfall of this thought is that the Marlins and the Braves play in the same division so the Marlins may be hesitant to move Uggla withing the division.
The Blue Jays have the arms available as well and may be willing to take him for a year and let him walk and take the two draft picks. I believe I read somewhere that the Jays could put Uggla at 3rd.
I think RCW is close on this one.Cards are a longshot at the very best IMO.Watch out for Seattle with Uggla……………they cut their 2B and are in dire need of offense.
The Cards won’t go after Uggla because it would complicate things with regard to TLR keeping his precious Skip at 2B. I think it would be a terrific move, in fact I have said it is my fantasy move, but it won’t happen.
As to who to give them, I would start with Jon Jay and then go from there depending on what they need. We have Anderson, Greene, Boggs or Motte if they want another reliever, and/or a minor league prospect if we have one they are interested in (other than Shelby Miller)
In a non Mo/TLR world I think it could be done. Unfortunately we don’t live in that world.
Crdswmn you simply forget the salary involved don`t you.Do the Cards really want to add 10 million dollars for a single player this season.Cards already have 80 plus on 9 players now.Thre Marlins would want only cheap players in return.Like Brian says getting Uggla would mean a lesser FA pitcher for the rotation.
Great stuff everyone………..you…………..never……………know……………maybe the ghost of baseball past will visit BD………..
Like I have stated earlier. What you saw last year is gonna be what you see this year for the most part unless Mo decides to pull off a couple of trades.
I doubt you will see Westbrook……maybe a Garland or some other pitcher down in the , a little more mediocre range.
Uribe, Renteria, or some other types in that mold would be a good fit for this team imo as far as budget and platoonability goes.
I doubt you will see a Drew type on the market….too valuable.
So the cards will undoubtedly downgrade defensively by dumping Brendan but will hopefyully upgrade offensively with Uribe.
I don’t forget salary BW. The Cards want to compete they need to raise payroll. They have the money, spend it. Like I said, another world.
Where are the Cardinals going to dump Brendan after they have trashed him in the media? Dumb move if they want to trade him. Wait, what am I saying? Dumb move? Cardinals 101.
This is the shame of it. Mark was hired, so Brendan just trashed his hitting style and went full in on Mark’s linear philosophy. Working his butt off to show TLR that he will do anything to make him happy. Skip also went full in last winter. Trying to be TLR team guys.
Both had to bail on that stuff before they were relegated to the sunday beer leagues.
Brendan hit .292 or thereabouts the year prior. Thats why you had better be careful about changing how you hit. You’ll find yourself on the outside looking in when its all said and done. Subtle changes are ok, but going from rotational to linear is tough. I’ve watched a bunch of people teach that but few have success in the younger player. Its a long process to learn.
And better yet, make sure the person you are taking hitting lessons from can show you an example of success from at least one of their clients. If not………..RUN from that guy cause he is using you as a test tube for his hitting philosophy.
I’m afraid thats what happened last year. Mark will be better this year because you learn from failure and his two main pupils failed miserably. Hopefully he learned something about keeping hitters in their honey hole.
I believe you have a better chance of walking out of your house and being struck by lightning tha[n of] the cardinals acquiring Uggla.
RC — You forgot to mention winning the lottery simultaneously…
I was really expecting someone would have suggested by now that the org was just talking Ryan down so they could try to keep his salary lower in arbitration.
As has been noted by multiple posters, what perhaps should happen and what will happen may be quite different and varies depending on with whom you are communicating.
i’ve wanted kyle in the rotation since ST, so deciding whether to spend 8mil per on westbrook, or 10mil on uggla is easy for me. fix the offense, or expect a replay of 2010.
You know Brian, that was going to be my next comment.
Brian — Interesting but impractical idea. The cost is prohibitive, both in terms of money and players. The team would have to crumble up the that paper their 2011 plan is recorded on, throw it in the trash, and start from scratch.
Not exactly a fair comparison of ‘Super Joe’s’ ONE full season with the Cards and Skip’s worst season. And why no mention of Uggla’s defense? He made 18 errors last year, 2 more than Skip, and his .976 FPCT isn’t much different that Skip’s .973. I didn’t check range factor but from limited observations, I don’t think he’d be a significant improvement there either.
No doubt those 33 HR and 105 RBI he had last year would look nice stacked #2 or #5 as you noted, but the 150 strike outs would put him in competition with young Colby for the dubious distinction of being the team’s K king.
HB—You neglected to mention that Uggla played in 159 games and Schumaker only 137. Error comparison skewed somewhat by that. Uggla would not be a substantial upgrade at 2B but he would be an upgrade. Offensively, there is no comparison. It’s a plus no matter how you look at it.
crdswmn — True on games played, that’s why I gave both total errors and FPCT. Agree that it would be a serious upgrade on offense. On defense… not so much.
HB—-Can we agree that Skip is a better OFer than 2B? Skip in OF, Uggla at 2B, & Ryan at SS is a win/win.
But how does Skip rate compared to other OF options? Not good i’m afraid!
CC—-I am being a realist. TLR is determined to start Skip. This way makes that happen.
News digest…
Buster Posey wins NL ROY award. Neftali Feliz wins in the AL. Heyward was 2nd in the NL and Jamie Garcia 3rd, by a wide margin. He got 1 vote each for 1st and 2nd place and 16 votes for 3rd place.
Ryne Sandberg leaves the Cubbies MiLB system to manage the Phils 3A team, Lehigh Valley, after being passed over for the big job in Chicago.
Clint Hurdle takes the manager’s job in Pittsburgh, as Brian reported he might.
Anthony Reyes signs a minor league deal with the Indians, after briefly being a free agent.
The Fish have received calls showing interest in Uggla from the Tigers and two unnamed NL teams.
crdswmn — I think it’s fair to say Skip’s a better OF than second baseman. However, he has only 2 year’s experience there, and as I’ve said repeatedly, his bat is not a good fit for a corner OF position.
Another factor is that he would have to go to RF, taking playing time from Jay/Craig or vice versa, and that would still leave Ryan’s .223 batting average in the lineup. All three of the RF candidates in your scenario hit better than Ryan last year… Jay .300, Skip .265 (.292 career), and Craig .248.
Obviously, Skip isn’t going to displace Holliday in or Colby in CF for playing time. And it’s just as obvious that Uggla, who just turned down a 4 year/$48M offer, isn’t likely coming to StL.
Holliday in LF, that is… and BTW, Brendan is a career .259 hitter.
My scenario was a fantasy world scenario HB and I don’t buy the power slot theory, too many holes as I have already pointed out. In my scenario. Jay would be in the trade package for Uggla so no problem there. Brendan’s BA will improve. With Uggla for offense and Brendan for defense, it is a win/win because TLR gets to start his puppydog.
HB–agree, skip fits nowhere, not at 2B or corner outfield. he fits best on tony’s lap, yet he keeps finding his way into the lineup (imagine that). rather disgusting evaluation on tony’s part, but i guess i have gotten used to it after watching chris duncan.
HBT wrote, “No doubt those 33 HR and 105 RBI he had last year would look nice stacked #2 or #5 as you noted, but the 150 strike outs would put him in competition with young Colby for the dubious distinction of being the team’s K king.”
And if he hits 33 jacks with that many RBI’s nobody should give a big ol crap. Ludwick had similar K numbers in his big year. Big deal say I.
Its an easy fix for Colby’s K numbers. All you got to tell him is you don’t want to see those K’s and he will cut them down by 30 or 40 easy….maybe even 50. But the Walks will go down right along with them. The key is not letting yourself get in too many 2 strike counts. I can fix that for you with a phone call.
You can’t take pitches if you aren’t a good hitter with 2 strikes.
Buster Olney tweets:
“Other clubs perceive the Marlins are absolutely intent on moving Uggla ASAP, and they are not asking for a high rate of return — a couple of decent guys, no A-plus prospects necessary. They know Uggla’s salary and impending free agency precludes them from getting the top-of-the-line prospects.”
“Heard this: Two rival executives cast Toronto as the favorite to land Dan Uggla, assuming the Marlins follow through on trade talks.”
It’s been said all along Toronto was the favorite. I have no doubt of it. No the Cardinals are content on shooting themselves in the knee by dumping one of their best defensive weapons and replacing him with so-so ho-hum, [insert name of your favorite aging mediocre vet here].
Uggla may hit 50 bombs in Toronto. Dude will be in heaven compared to playing in Miami.
BD and Mo have always said they are willing to put out the $$$ for the right player — of course I never believed them
Even if the Cardinals bring in a shortstop, that doesn’t mean that they will trade Brendan Ryan. I doubt that he’s in line for a boat load of money in arbitration following his 2010 performance at the plate.
Those HRs and RBIs wouldn’t look any better off Uggla’s bat than Ludwick’s and the Cards didn’t want to pay Luddy $8M or thereabouts, so they are not going to pay Uggla $10M for the same production. Unless there was some other factor we don’t know about.
Brian’s point is a good one about the Brendan critique to limit arb value. What kind of scrooge’s would do that.
On the other hand, if you were looking to trade a guy who is no great shakes, you would sound optimistic, talk about his career avg., probability of bouncing back, planning to stay with him, blah, blah, blah, to the point of stretching credibility. Hmm. Perhaps a misdirection ploy. Is Mo that clever and devious?
Uggla wants Toronto? Its not about the money………… He is leaving 48 large. He is slow. Carpet is fast.
A sad truth……….. he is a worse second baseman that Skip. On a ground ball hitting team? He has one year to play with………….wouldn’t he be a perfect enticement to convince Albert to lower his price. Wouldn’t he fit right in with Holiday……………… wouldn’t he solve so many problems?
You all seem to loose track of the AP “stage”. This isn’t about baseball……..its about the logic and appearance of being concerned with baseball……….while your trying to make number look good…..
I know that there is a major con job going on here………….. Waino, Carp, and Lohse are all leaking oil. They’ve set a price on Westbrook that will be beaten…………they need depth and yet are playing around………..
Brendan Ryan is seen differently by other organizations……………….. his skill are known……people have opinions about his offensive impediments……………….. they pitch to him……..they pitch to Colby………..they pitch to Pujols……………….
Cardinal pitching is top notch……….the rest is crap………….. everyone in the league scouts us….they know what we have………..
DeWitt knows what he will offer AP……….. Lozano knows what is coming……..as BD knows whats coming from him………………….any discussions are really moot……except for the competitive posture we are suppose to be worried about….that could become a talking point during the stalling that will go on……………………if I though for 1 second that BD was just offing AP so that we might compete as a mid market team……….I would applaud him…….. He isn’t………….. he has a plan. He is not a victim of this free market system……… people should stay within their class designation……………. All Billy D’s off shore money is doing fine, bouncing around world money market speculations………… with Repubs now chairing the investigative committee’s, Oil has already started to move………….energy prices will absorb any progress by the economic stimulus………..right through to 2012 and beyond……………… he could pay Albert, get anyone he wanted……………..it isn’t about that………..he is a political activist. His has an agenda. ………… He is not a handsome man……………… he is in charge here though, and his goals aren’t baseball related. Enjoy.
During the season when there is plenty going on it usually takes a couple minutes to read the comments. Now, when nothing is happening, I can’t keep up.
RC…………Sarah Palin takes her family right op to the mother Grizz with two cubs…………..
She grabs her kid and pull him close for protection……….15…20 feet away there is trouble. An invisible screen stands between her and the bear……………………….. 458 Weatherby shouldered in the camera boat…….
A real environmentalist…………………
bip — I ain’t buying what you and others are selling on Skip. He’s in the lineup because he’s a career .292 hitter and one of only three guys on this team who’ve hit .300+ in two of the last three years. The other two are Albert and Matt.
The team is willing to give up some defense to get his bat in the lineup, a bat that fits better at 2B than corner outfield.
That’s ok HB. We’re not buying what you are selling either.
HB–you’ve mentioned errors, fld%, K’s and BA…… like reading the back of a baseball card eh?
i’m not of that camp, i know better, but i do get a i chuckle at your metrics of choice. you have yourself convinced, that should be all you need
HB – I agree that was the idea. Time to reevaluate. Skip’s defense is no longer improving (getting worse?), his OPS has declined for 3 straight years. On some team he might be a good fit. But a team that actually builds itself and its pitching staff around infield defense needs a better defender or a heck of a lot more offense.
Mo trying to do PR regarding Uggla. If BD wanted a PR guy, he chose the wrong man.
http://mlb.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/11/uggla_to_cards_a_long_shot_–.html
Re CC’s link. The fact that M. Leach would contact his ‘source’ about Uggla means he isn’t sold on the upgrade Brendan not Skip position. He would have gotten the memo cerainly. That’s encouraging.
Westy, if the Weatherby was her idea she’s smarter than I thought.
Rolen, Edmonds, Vina, Renteria were two way players, good with the glove as well as the bat. Uggla is a one dimensional player. The Cards are unlikely to shell out big money to a one dimensional guy.
At least he has one dimension jumbo.
bb — Been reading Matt Leach a long time. It’s safe to say he’s a Ryan supporter, though not necessarily in the context of picking Ryan over Schumaker. While the PD & Brian have written articles on the topic, Matt has not and has not expressed a preference on the subject either way, to my knowledge.
CC — When it come down to it, our opinions here aren’t the ones that count. It’s the opinions of the GM and manager that do matter and both have spoken clearly about their preference regarding any upgrades at 2B/SS.
I see both sides of the argument and I’ve said all along that if the team wants to upgrade on offense, then it makes sense to replace Brendan. If the team wants to upgrade defense, then Skip would be the odd man out. Looks to me like they’re tilting toward offense.
Would I like to see Uggla instead of Skip at 2B? Sure, I just don’t think it will happen. Uggla just turned down $12M a year from Florida. If recent attitudes toward 2B hold, no way the Cards devote that kind of money to 2B.
I’m thinking if Descalso shows anything, he’ll get a shot there late in 2011 and certainly in 2012.
Speaking of $12 million, that is what the Dodgers just committed to one more year of Hiroki Kuroda. Plus another half-million in incentives and a full no-trade clause, too. On top of the Ted Lilly deal, LA is dropping big coin on pitching while driving up the market for Mr. Westbrook.
Upgrading offense does not require an either/or between Skip and Brendan. That has been my point all along. The rest has been beaten to death.
I wouldn’t read anything into Matthew Leach’s suspected motivations. He is in Orlando at the GM Meetings. The main news right now is Uggla. He asked the questions and reported the answers given. I see no personal bias.
Pretty clear the Cards are trying to keep down the heat, though. The ultimate answer will be in seeing what Florida gets from whatever team wins Uggla. If it turns out to be a low price in terms of players given up, some major segment of Cardinals fans will wail.
Garland , Vasquez, or Pavano. Those are 3 low hanging raisins that Mo may be able to pick up on. Westbrook is out the door.
If Mo spends the money on Uggla, we might end up with Bartolo Colon. I see where he pitched 5 innings without hurting himself. Don’t stand between me and the ticket booth.
Ha Ha.
My guess is most cardinal fans will be underwhelmed with the upgrades.
Westbrook was never going to happen. Spend the money on Uggla and go with Kmac.
Can underwhelmed be an understatement?
Garland or Vazquez perhaps, but not Pavano. The latter is a Type A free agent and is not worth giving up the first round pick for. Maybe later, the Twins won’t offer arbitration and he will come more cheaply.
I think the Cards already had Big Bart. He was going by the name Sir Sidney at the time.
LA is miffed that SF won the World Series. That’s motivating the coin droppage. I lived in the Bay Area for 6+ years… SF-LA is the west coast equivilent of Cubs-Cards and Yanks-Sox. Brutal….
Re Garland – he turned down $6.5 large, he is expecting more – doesn’t sound much cheaper than Westbrook.
Re Povano — is Minni expected to offer arbitration? Heard he wants to come back but they aren’t interested. No arby means no draft picks.
Brian re #50 – STL fans should be upset if it doesnt cost a lot of prospects to get Uggla. If for no other reason than the leak to Leach. More BS?
Brian, re #48 — I am not convinced that one team overpaying gives Westbrook (or any FA) more bargaining power. It raises their expectations but if other teams stick to their budgets it really changes nothing.
Tweet from Rosenthal:
“Cardinals growing more optimistic on signing Westbrook. A week ago, team thought odds were only 50-50.”
CC, until Minnesota declines to offer arb (if that is their plan), any team that signs Pavano will forfeit their 1st rounder just as if he had been offered.
On contracts, a rising tide lifts all boats…
#1 Realize that about Pavano and draft picks but so do Cards, deadline is only a few days away.
#2 That doesn’t fit any rational economic model I studied. OF course I’ve never thought most ML GM’s were very rational.
Penny is in the best shape of his life…………he will get a paycheck somewhere…………..
Johnnie Garland is a perfect boys club candidate………….. Duncan would find that easy work…… He is a fastball/ slider arm who would benefit from better tactical planning………he will get 2/17 at least.
If its looking good for Westbrook………………its because they are talking option year with a performance activator………………… innings would be a good guess………….you can bet that its 180+ and 9/10 million.
Let me play Westie for a minute.
Will Carp see signing a veteran for a large multi-year contract as an affront as it may very well mean his option wont get picked up? How will that affect his performance, his relationship with his teammates – particularly the new guy?
Carpenter is one of the most secure athletes you could hope for………… If he wants to pitch, some one will pay him well………….. shoulder inflammation makes the year long……….throwing so many curves to stay within a run one way or another will shorten his career by two years……..
Cardinals…………whether they want AP or not, have to make a few splashy signings….along with the trade, as a preliminary to any plan they have……………… Westbrook health is what is slowing them down……………BD’s finances the whole package including insurance………. Westbrooke has a history. Takes the price up against any return investment………….
Quotes
Timing is important,” Mozeliak said. “We don’t want it to drag out this winter. I wouldn’t say it’s at a critical juncture right now, but I’d like to think between now and the Christmas holiday we’d start addressing it.”
(He sees the negotiation as a “drag out” affair?????????
Those negotiations failed to take off last winter after only one spring training dinner meeting between Mozeliak and Pujols’ agent, Dan Lozano.
(What do you suppose has changed??????????
Mozeliak indicated “next month may be a critical time, but standing here right now I don’t want to get too far ahead of things. I still have to talk to Dan, and I want to remain respectful of the sensitivity of the issue.”
(The sensitivity??????????? for AP injured self esteem??????? an appeal for sympathy from AP……to not take offense………..by their need to trade him…….. if they can’t (won’t) satisfy his demands??????? Critical timing………before all the other teams have blown their dough of prospects?????
“Mozeliak characterizes Pujols’ status as “independent” of the team’s plans this winter. Since Pujols will earn the same salary in 2011 as in 2010, his salary does not impact the short-term projections. However, Mozeliak acknowledges an extension would impact the club going forward. The issue appears largely moot for now, according to Mozeliak, because the club is not making a long-term commitment within this winter’s free agent market.
(Independent????????? he isn’t going to be bribed by “signings” maybe……………no long range signings…?????? Still waiting to “try and win something”??????
This looks very much like what has been predicted here……… its impossible to say whether they are shepherding him away at this point…………..but this article tells Lozano what the game is………now the contest for him is to get Albert to man up, and not just run at the low bid……….you can fully expect a response from Lozano on this article……..which by the way was also intended to inform and alert other GM of the ground rules……………. and likely outcome.
I don’t see any baseball coming our way………..
Oh yeah…………..no matter what happens……….Lozano will play now for “opt out clauses” if he can’t control a fearful AP…………… It will defiantly be one of the issues that “drags things out’……….
When Carlos Lee was a free agent, the Cards did not bid. He was a basher, but not a gazelle in LF. Lee was not the kind of guy DeWitt wants to invest in, on a long-term deal. Despite his infamous drop versus the Dodgers, Holliday is a better all around player and has a body more suited to a long term deal than the bad bodied Lee.
Uggla is a fine hitter. He will land a big deal. He has earned it. He is best at 2B. I doubt he could play 3B any better than Brett Wallace. If Uggla has to move off 2B, he probably goes to 1B or LF.
The Cards might be better off seeking an extra 3Bman from Billie Beane, versus bidding for Uggla.