As we approach the MLB Baseball July 31st trade deadline, teams will continue to evaluate themselves and decide whether they are buyers or sellers. Making trades at this time of the year can really make a difference. Most trades turn out good and help the team make the playoffs. Others ruin chemistry and destroy organizations for years to come as they give up prospects for a veteran that turn out to be a bust.
The St. Louis Cardinals, currently in a heated battle for 1st place in the NL Central, are in a position to make a move to help make the playoffs, and ultimately, win the World Series.
Should the Cardinals make a move? Where should they try to bolster their team? Should they look for another top line starter or a middle infield bat? Can they afford to move any of their highly touted prospects?
Lets take a look at some of the options the guys at Busch Stadium have.
It has been well documented that the Cardinals are in the bidding along with the Philadelphia Phillies for Roy Oswalt's services. Oswalt was terrible against the Reds on Saturday night lasting only 5 innings and giving up 6 runs on 9 hits, including 2 home runs. But this is certainly not the norm for this wily veteran.
Oswalt has been among the best in all of MLB Baseball throughout much of his career and most of 2010 has not been any different as Oswalt has a 3.42 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.
Oswalt would give the Cardinals a formidable punch at the top of the rotation adding to Carpenter, Wainwright, and Jamie Garcia. But he won't come cheap.
Oswalt is scheduled to make $16 million in 2011 and would like for anybody who trades for him to pick up his 2012 option for $16 million as well.
The Cardinals have the prospect the Astros covet to get this deal done in Shelby Miller. But if the Cardinals include Miller in any trade for Oswalt, they absolutely must get back at least $4 million per season to help pay for Oswalt's services and to compensate for Miller's cheaper labor.
You would think that Jon Jay and Blake Hawksworth would also be involved in any deal.
Oswalt would help, but the Birds better not make this trade unless money is coming back. We don't want to destroy the organization for years to come.
Rumors have circulated about the Cardinals trying to trade for Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Kelly Johnson, but I think his double-play partner in the desert would be a better fit!
Drew is a top talent. Just like his brother, he plays the game with such ease and has all of the tools with speed, power, and defense. He has been a solid player for Arizona since he broke into the big leagues out of Florida State, but he never has put together that stand out season that everyone was expecting (also like his brother!)
Rumors out of Arizona are rightfully centered around Dan Haren, but little has been mentioned about the D-Backs shopping their middle infielders.
The Cardinals bats at 2b and SS have been pathetic to say the least and the offense could use upgrade in these spots.
Brendan Ryan and Fernando Salas would certainly be a good starting point for conversations with the Astros. Some other mid level prospects and possibly Jason Motte may also be on the table.
Trading for Drew could be great for the organization not on for the rest of 2010, but for 2011 and 2012 as well as he would be under the Cardinals control. Drew would look really good in the 2nd spot in order in front of Pujols.
Carmona represents an interesting case for the St. Louis Cardinals. Carmona is wicked talented as he has probably the best sinker in the entire league. But he is wild, partly because that sinker moves so much, and thus he allows a lot of base runners and a lot of runs.
But he is a horse. Carmona throws a lot of pitches and goes deep into ball games, which is exactly what the St. Louis lumbering back end of the rotation desperately needs.
What to trade for Carmona would be tricky. I would think that the Cardinals could use Hawksworth as a nice swap of salaries and age, but the Indians already have Justin Masterson, who has similar stuff to Hawksworth. If the Cardinals can throw in Allen Craig and C/Util Bryan Anderson, the Indians may bite.
Roy Oswalt, Stephen Drew and Fausto Carmona represent the 3 best trade options for the St. Louis Cardinals as the trade deadline approaches. Shelby Miller better only be in any trade for Oswalt and $4 million per season better be coming back our way.
If I had my way, I'd see what could be done to get Stephen Drew from the Diamondbacks. This would be my first option. Choice two would involve Oswalt, but again, only if $4 million per year is coming back, especially if Shelby Miller is involved in the trade. Finally, Carmona could be a good fit too. He would be an even better fit since he could be had without giving up our only real chip in Shelby Miller.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 6 days.
Who would you like to see the Cardinals trade for? Who would you give up? Discuss any trade ideas here at the www.themanspeak.com !
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