Your Cardinals questions, comments, and criticism, answered during a real-time chat held all day Monday at .
While the live chat appears as it happened in the window below, a transcription of the chat is also provided in chronological order so that it's easier to read it chronologically on your mobile phone, tablet, or desktop.
Questions are not edited for spelling or grammar.
Answers hopefully are, of course.
Derrick Goold: Salutations. Welcome to the final Cardinals chat of January, the final month before the return of official baseball activities. That's right, we're only a fortnight away from the first Cardinals chat from Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals remain in talks with at least a few free-agent relievers as this chat begins and spring training nears, and we'll if that means movement today toward any deal. If so, I'll do my best to share it here in the chat.
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As always, you can follow the chat in real time here in this window, where questions will appear first, or in the transcription below that is more mobile and desktop friendly.
You've got questions, I'll do my best to provide answers. At the least, I'll type fast and maybe even lapse into a filibuster or seven. Away we go ...
(It's interesting that the default color for the text in here is red, like City Connect-level red. It feels a bit angry, so I'm going to go with a cooler shade of blue.)
Hot Rod: I know a lot of fans are upset that the Cards didn't do more in the off-season but we've seen this script before; p/u what you can during the off-season, maybe pull a trade during spring trading, evaluate the team until the trade deadline and make tardes then.
DG: That's standard M.O. for all teams, not just Mo teams. Rosters are continual under construction, with the only real dead period being October, if a team does not make it into the tournament. So, congrats on getting a break, but it's not the holiday you wanted. Not at all. That said, if fans are frustrated perhaps it's because the Cardinals had made necessary moves but just shifted the questions. Now, they do still want to add some certainty to the bullpen, so maybe this changes, but as of right now the Cardinals have gone from trusting starters to emerge internally last season to now trusting the leverage relievers to emerge via trade/internally this year. It's a different spot on the roster, same question. They have added what was needed on the starting front, and that does come at a greater price than the relief front. But answer a question in one area of the roster only to move that same question to another area is something fans pick up on and give the fan base a sense of alright here they go again, same lesson, different year. And, yes, that is an approach the Cardinals have taken before. They toggle the strengths and depth of a roster. They go for the big bats at the cost of defense, they shift to going for defense at the cost of at-bats for upside hitters, and so on and so on. That is the nature of how the roster has been run, and the Cardinals are not alone in that approach.
jm: when do players report for aaspring training
DG: The first official workout will be Feb. 14 for Cardinals pitchers and catchers. They have to "report" that they are in Jupiter, Fla. the day before. But most will be there on site already by Feb. 13.
JoJo Disco: To exit a 91-loss season with sights set on vastly improving the team, only to conclude the offseason by signing a washed up Matt Carpenter really is uninspiring.
DG: And here we go. Now the chat is really off and running. I forgot that this is the first chat for me since the Cardinals signed Matt Carpenter. Well, some of the regular chatters will be pleased to have their target of angst so early in the season.
They did do other moves, just FYI. I'm not sure if that matters much. It was a real contrast the other day when the Dodgers sign T.J. McFarland and the Cardinals signed Josh James and the reaction was ... interesting.
Taguchi99: Hey Derrick, I have followed and loved your writing for years. I am a huge fan, but I don't know how you can vote for Carlos Beltran for the HOF. The blatant cheating he did with the trashcan in Houston seems right on par with the steroid users, gamblers and so on. What about his case makes it different for you? Appreciate the transparency with your ballot each year.
DG: Thank you for the kind words. I completely understand where you're coming from on this. As you noticed, I have not voted for players who were suspended for testing positive for PEDs. There were rules. There were tests. The tests and the rules had teeth with suspensions, and Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez violated those rules and served suspensions for testing positive. And they did so twice. Carlos Beltran, as a result of the Astros' sign-stealing caper, lost his job as manager of the Mets. And he has not had a second chance to be a manager. The other managers involved returned to their dugouts. To me, I think it is an important part of the story that when it came to MLB's investigation Beltran was the only player alleged to be involved who was also a former player. That left him vulnerable while other players were protected, reportedly, by the union. This inconsistency stands out. Regardless, he had a remarkable career, was one of the best players in the game for a good stretch, and is among the best switch-hitting center fielders ever to play the game. I weighed all of that -- the career, the circumstances of the accusations, the punishment he received, and so on. Candidly, if I had 13 players for 10 spots, I would have to use something to trim the number down for my vote. In the past, that was why I did not vote for Bonds or Clemens. I had to trim down to 10 somehow, and the Hall gives me a tool to do that with the sportsmanship clause. When I did not have 10 candidates and there was room for both Bonds and Clemens, I did not need that tool. I voted for both then.
1Mordain: I see that Peralta, Hand, Maton, and Stanek seem to be the highlighted bullpen help that is left in FA. Are there any specific names that the FO is interested in that you know of whether in FA or trade? If not specific players, any teams in rumor mill?
DG: I can only stick with the previous reports from the Post-Dispatch, ones that I've put in the paper previously because I've had sources confirm the Cardinals interest to the level required for reporting in the PD. The Cardinals have had ongoing talks with Maton, an Illinois native, and they are one of several teams that has engaged in talks for right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier. The Cardinals did have talks with John Brebbia, according to sources, but that did not generate a reunion as the right-hander went to the Chicago White Sox. I have mentioned Stanek as a match because he fits the profile of the relievers the Cardinals were shopping for, according to sources, but the level of interest in him I have not been able to pin down.
I do my best to avoid the rumor mill so that you can rely on me to provide reports. I know that isn't always entertaining, but that is the role of reporter, and there are other places you can get plenty of rumors. Sometimes rumors come true, sometimes they're deleted if they don't. Reports come with accountability, as you know.
BR: Is it true that contracts only include the regular season? So spring training is kinda voluntary?
DG: It is true that players are paid their salaries during the regular season. Calling spring training "voluntary" is incorrect. Spring training is collectively bargained. There is a mandatory report date. It's later in March, usually. Greinke used to come to camp on that day, for example. Players ARE COMPENSATED during spring training. They get a per diem. It's big-league per diem. So for minor-leaguers that money is real, and for some who never reach the majors it can be something to save. That is also one of the reasons why there are teams that have fewer NRIs and smaller camps -- it's a way to keep costs down because of the per diem. (Also, some teams time their cuts ahead of the payday, and some teams -- and the Cardinals have been one of these teams -- time their cuts for AFTER the per diem has been paid for the week/period.) The Marlins had a shockingly small camp roster a decade or so ago, and it was cost related. So, that's right, players are not paid their salaries during spring training. They are compensated. And when they must be there is collectively bargained.
TomBruno23: Have you ever considered crashing the set of Ten Hochman and smashing Benjamin across the back with a metal folding chair?
DG: I have not considered turning heel, no.
Bill Will: If the team wanted veteran leadership, why not hire Carpenter as a coach?
DG: He currently works for the Angels in a role that suits his family schedule. It's similar to the role he had with the Cardinals before the staff downsizing during the pandemic, and yes it was his departure that was brought up during the rupture between Shildt and the Cardinals -- a description we've gone over before. The Cardinals loss was the Angels' gain and remains so. Is there a time when Carpenter becomes a coach, takes on a more full-time or even larger role? Perhaps. That hasn't been of interest to him when I've asked in the past year or so.
TomBruno23: Chris Carpenter as a pitching consultant for the Angels is about as weird as the time Lou Brock was a baserunning coach for the Montral Expos in 1993.
DG: Or Dale Murphy as a guest coach at Cardinals spring training, in uniform and everything.
Hot Rod: Could you write and article on Shildt's firing? Seems like more and more bits and pieces keep coming out and to have it all in one article would be great. Thanks
DG: I never quite know how often we should repeat coverage. Revisit, perhaps. But how much should we just reprint or rewrite past stories because, yes, the audience is new or there is so much content that it's hard to keep track. I get that. I don't have an answer for it.
It think these "bits and pieces" you reference coming out because since his hiring in San Diego people are going back to read the coverage at the time and following weeks that appeared in the Post-Dispatch, and readers are revisiting what was reported, not what was assumed. The noise and speculation has cleared and there's more interest in what led to the move and not just how the team explained it, or rather did not explain it.
Bryan C: I try to remember as long as Mo sales 3 million or more tickets this type of off season will not change. Am I right Mr. Goold?
DG: That is not correct. There were seasons when they budgeted for 3.2 million tickets sold, or years when they targeted 3.4 million tickets sold. And, there was the season that the Cardinals did not sell out a playoff game and ownership took note and pushed for a different outcome, and so on. So, no, that is not correct. There's more to it.
That said, consumer activism is a valuable tool for fans. You show support with your financial support. That is true for any business, from newspaper subscriptions to the nearby hamburger stand to season tickets for the Local nine. Spend your entertainment dollars elsewhere, and the team will take note.Â
Ryan: Re: the HoF vote, why doesn't the Hall of Fame tighten up their voter pool. I feel bad for voters that put some time into it, do homework and then you have folks not vote for Beltre and others in the past who were no doubters. There are 384 voters, 5 didn't send anything in. I would trim that down to say 150-200. There's has to be folks in there that are out of touch with the game. Or maybe make your voting term 20 years long and then your out. So 10 years in the BBWA in order to get a vote, 20 years of voting, then your done.
DG: The National Baseball Hall of Fame has already enacted some of your recommendations to reduce the voting body and to assure that, as you suggest, "touch with the game." The Hall did this many years ago, and it brought some backlash from voters. It was done in response to some activity on social media that highlighted voters who had not been baseball writers for many years. There is now a registration process, one that requires the voter to show that they are active members of the BBWAA and remain engaged in covering the game. So, that's already in play and already done, and the voting body has been reduced significantly. As for the 20-year period. That's ... an interesting one. I'd have a decade left. The late and great Rick Hummel would have had 20 fewer years as a voter. I'm not any of us, as baseball fans and believers in Cooperstown as the highest honor in the game, want one of the most knowledgeable baseball writers we've ever read to vote less. That doesn't make sense to me.
Trent: The Cardinals appear to have a solid #1 starter in Sonny Gray, and then 4 #4/#5 starters…. But I get the sense that isn’t how the FO views things. Are Mo and company oblivious to the lack of quality SPs? Or are they aware and just not publicly admitting they still don’t have a strong enough rotation to compete for a World Series?
DG: There is a third alternative: They don't agree with your assessment. They have a different opinion of their rotation than you, are more optimistic than the vocal critics, and that is OK. They put their money where their opinion is. That really is the most revealing thing they could do to tell you, the fans, how they feel about a player. You can't have both ways, in other words: If you feel the Cardinals are miserly and hesitant to spend money, then when they do spend money they expect a return on it. And sometimes they get it, here recently they have not. That is the beauty of the game. We'll get to see on the field if you're right or the team is. There will be results in a few months to validate either your view or theirs.
DEK: Good morning. Subscriber from southwest Mo. I attended the Cardinal's Caravan in Joplin a couple or so Saturdays ago. On the caravan was former player Ryan Ludwick. He was well spoken and interesting in his answers to questions sent his way. I was particularly struck by his remarks on being a guide and willing participant on helping Cardinal players navigate life both on and off the field. My question is what former players, current team executives and others associated with the team have you in particular noticed as taking "big brother" and helpful hands to Cardinal players .Not just the ins and out of playing baseball, but navigating life itself?
DG: Interesting question. The list is long. And Ludwick is part of the group that grew from the Cardinals Core group. I'll share a link to a story about that program below, but it's no longer in place like it was. Some of its leaders are still around. That includes Ludwick and also Braden Looper. He would definitely be an answer for your question, too. Bernard Gilkey is one of the Cardinals' coaches in the lower minor-leagues and he's been part of that support for young players, too. It's also worth noting that the Major League Baseball Players' Association has gatherings for young players to speak with them about this. An invited group of young players go to DC for a convention, and it's life off the field that is a big topic there for players to hear about and, as importantly, ask about. Closer to the Cardinals, there are times and players when Ozzie Smith contributes. Like I said, the list is long, and there are probably many individual examples that I would miss or don't yet know. Active players take a part, too. I've also seen some of the former players who are coaches, like David Bell and Skip Schumaker, being available in those regards. Now, I'm going to go find the link.
Tackleberry: Would you agree that the job Mo was hired for in 2007, a job that his skill set fit very well and afforded him great success as a result, is not the same job he has overseen the last 6+ years and that is why he hasn’t been as successful? Mo is a white glove GM and DeWitt has pivoted to a blue collar ownership style, looking for more with less resources.
DG: I would not agree with that. Mozeliak was hired to mend, fortify, and enhance the connection between contending in the majors and developing more players to do so from the minors. There was an heavy emphasis on drafting, development, and analytics, and DeWitt wanted his front office to be at the cutting edge of maximizing those facets of a team because he believed -- and you've seen it -- that the cost of free agents was soaring, and the return on pitching, specifically, was going to be volatile. Better to develop that talent and keep it cost controlled before spending high dollars and dealing with the risk of injury. That was the model that Mozeliak had been a part of as assistant general manager, and he had been there as a scout, working with analytics, all of it, and during his month as interim GM he mended ruptures, and in DeWitt's view got the groups going and working in the same direction. Synergy, if you want buzzwords. Bottom-to-top structure, I believe, is the phrase Mozeliak said. In the years since, he has seen the size of the analytics department grown exponentially and piloted the front office through a federal investigation for hacking and their slip off the leading edge of player development. He also, you may recall, was a leader in bringing together the minor league affiliates, driving the purchase of Class AAA Memphis from a difficult ownership structure and then selling it, all while keeping that a stable part of the tight-knit, geographically-centralized affiliate group. So, I do not agree. I don't think the job has changed or ownership has pivoted in that time. The pivot happened before 2004. The reckoning happened in 2007. This is still that era.
Bryan C: Are the 2024 Cardinals any better then the 2023 Cardinals?
DG: They are. They have a starting rotation that appears ready to provide innings and avoid the crater that appeared last season and they never could escape. That is a good place to start. For me to say otherwise would be unfair given the past three, four years when I've brought up over and over and over and over and over again how the Cardinals could not cover the innings and were risking a pothole. Well, they addressed it. They're better for it.
South City Steve: Derrick - do you really feel good about this starting rotation? I know the Cards are trying to spin it like a Waino 12-6, but this rotation is not good enough to win anything outside of a weak Central. And there is a higher probability that it will be DOA before Memorial Day than there is it making it to the trade deadline with this team playing over .500.
DG: It sounds like you've made up your mind, and there is no answer that you'll accept other than the one you've given. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.
chico: My question concerns the tshirts,hats,etc sold during the year? How is it divided up? They say Cardinals gear is up there in sales,do they get to keep it?
DG: Merchandise sales is shared revenue for all the teams, and players also get a cut of it as negotiated with the union and its licensing deal. So, the Cardinals get a cut of all the Ohtani Dodgers jerseys. That doesn't all go to the Dodgers.
When Albert Pujols signed with the Angels and there were No. 5 jerseys galore at the holidays in Orange County, well the Cardinals got a cut of that, too.
TomBruno23: Or the thought of Don Mattingly playing 1B for the 1997 Cardinals as he said in the MLB Documentary that after sitting out 1996 he was contacted by TLR and Bob Boone (Royals) about coming back.
DG: That's a deep cut. Mattingly playing for the Cardinals -- imagine the crowds coming over from Indiana to see him play. Hard to imagine which seemed more unlikely ... Mattingly as a Cardinal, or Will Clark.
Jim S: Derrick, good day sir, and thank you for doing these chats! They are "must read" for me. A few thoughts and a question. The Cards have traded for/plucked from the Rule 5 bin a handful of relievers that fit their stated quest for more "swing and miss" stuff. They all sound like there is upside to them, but what concerns me is that the K rates being touted are against, primarily, minor leaguers, with Kittredge being the lone exception. And, while a small sample size hopefully indicates he may be back to pre-injury form, there is still the same finger-crossing with Kittredge that was had with Flaherty and Hudson last year-and that didn't turn out too well for either. Mo has stated often since the Winter Meetings that he was wanted to concentrate on the bullpen-and technically, he has. But with, essentially, minor leaguers. With Hader signed, and now Neris gone, is Mo still going to add a MLB proven arm to the bullpen? A guy that can strike out a major leaguer? Please say yes, because it sure seems like a lot of wishin' and hoping is getting baked in to the bullpen for this coming year. Thanks again!
DG: Yes. Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the Cardinals are still involved in talks with at least a few relievers, and they have interest in making a bid on at least one. I am, of course, trying to pin down which one while answer questions here. But, I do know -- and this has been consistent -- that the Cardinals remain interested in signing a free-agent reliever for the bullpen. That hasn't changed. As you'd expect, they want to do so at the right price and right length of contract for them. Here we are, waiting for that to happen, or for the Cardinals bid to get better. I opened the chat with some details on that. And, might I turn you toward the article in Sunday's paper on this subject?
(That article.)
JKB: Do the Cardinals have any interest in Brandon Woodruff?
DG: Has not come up as a starter that I've been able to connect to them. That could be that I have not made the right connection with sources. Let's look at the situation, too. A costlier, Carpenter-like move, right? They'd commit now high dollars on the chance he'd give them a return on the investment once healthy. Not really getting much of a sense for his market, and that could be because he wants to choose what's right for him too and is willing to show health to get the better deal, not the readily available one.
Simple.10: DG - I would like to hear your opinion of the Cards starting staff. I find MO’s comments about innings refreshing - and telling. They promised a re-look at their philosophy, and I think we’re seeing it. Innings from starters make the bullpen better. Thanks for your well informed words.
DG: Bingo. I want to remain consistent year to year, and year after year I asked them where they were going to get the innings from. And a few years they had to scramble to get them at the trade deadline just to survive, and a few times that turned out that they thrived, and away they went to brief playoff appearance. This past year, it all caught up with them. They could not pay their innings debt. It gave way beneath them. They've addressed that. They have changed -- somewhat to meet the cost of the market with their spending on these specific starters. They did get the flexibility of short-term deals, too, in a way to stick to some of their former model, too. Sonny Gray is the first pitcher to sign who has a chance to make $100 million from the Cardinals, so there's an example of that trade.
Dan O’Day: Greetings from North Carolina. I’m disappointed in gripes about the front office. Not to pander to them, has the franchise been profitable during and after pandemic? In addition, isn’t the uncertainty of the Bally’s mess the major reason why Gibson & Lynn’s contract is for 1 year( with options) and Gray’s is so backloaded?
DG: Yes to the length of those contracts, at least according to two people I spoke with and specifically mentioned that the length of those deals gives the Cardinals flexibility to move on from contracts if the broadcast rights purse changes. As for Gray's backloaded contract, that does appear to be more similar to Contreras'. Contreras signed a backloaded deal that freed up more spending in the immediate year for players to be added, raises given, arbitration settlements, etc. It gave the Cardinals basically 12 months to adjust to his higher salary. Gray does the same here and gives them more immediate money at a time when Contreras' salary goes up, Edman's salary goes up, and there are holes that had to be filled with the rotation and, still, the bullpen. It appears less related to the broadcast situation and more related to the immediate, this-year spending.
Scott Stewart: The Cardinals both this year and last have made rule 5 pickups a significant part of their improvement plan. I can only remember 1 significant rule 5 pickup in my life, Belliard. What is your estimate on the probability that a rule 5 player becomes a significant contributor when drafted by a non tanking team?
DG: Belliard? I don't recall Belliard, honestly, who was a Rule 5 pick. Hector Luna was a Rule 5 pick up. Matt Bowman was a valuable and strong Rule 5 pick up. Heck, the Rule 5 draft is a chance for teams to take a low-risk, potentially rewarding move and all it costs is a spot on the roster and some cash for a few months. If it doesn't work out, then the player goes back and status quo is restored. If it does work out, then the team added depth, added a contributor, and did all of that at a lower cost, and also gave the player an opportunity he was not going to get with his original club. I'm bullish on taking players in the Rule 5 draft because what is the harm? It's all upside. It's a lottery ticket you find on the ground. Why not scratch it off? What's the harm?
DT: Have you considered using AI to help you with answers to chat questions? Answers to some of these questions that chatters constantly ask about "what you've heard" or the "rumor mill" could easily be a copy and paste job.
DG: I have not. I will not. No chance. I would prefer to keep my job and I believe that readers and subscribers deserve more respect than that, and also they should expect higher quality than that.
JuniorGM: Derrick - Do you think the Cards will miss Knizner? In the clubhouse? In the pitchers meetings?
DG: Yes. He will be missed. That is not some commentary on the talent taking over that spot. Herrera and Pages have great upside. That is clear. Knizner's absence will be felt in the clubhouse, and it will be interesting to see how, if at all, that presence is filled.
Andrew in CT: Taking a break from complaining about a season that has yet to start, I have a Q for you. Could (not did) the Angels have stipulated in their contract with Pujols that, when he is inducted to the HOF, he has a an Angels cap on?
DG: I don't believe they could, no. There is precedent that they could not and would find resistance from the Hall of Fame. I did try to pin that down definitively and ask, and that was in large part because I knew he would be an Angels employee when he is voted into the Hall, and -- if you're a long-time chatter -- I've pointed out that part of the discussion. Every explanation I've received is that they could not do that, did not do that, and that one of the reasons for that is because the National Baseball Hall of Fame holds the final decision. Wade Boggs attempted such a thing with the Rays, you may recall, and that is part of the reason why the Hall is more active and has final say in the decision.
AG: DG - is your reaction to the Matt Carpenter signing similar to BenFred's? That it shouldn't be taken as anything more than a risk-free pseudo-player-bench coach signing? It sounds like he won't get much playing time, and the role he's taking basically ensures there are no valuable pieces wasting away on the bench never getting a shot. Fair enough. But how much sway can a non-playing player have on team culture?
DG: I'll answer your last question: That depends entirely on the player. I've seen it work both ways. Adam Wainwright is widely complimented and raved about for his role with the 2011 World Series championship team, and all that he said and did behind the scenes with that group, especially as it struggled and did not find itself until the late-season kick. He did not throw a pitch that year. And yet he's given a lot of credit for contributing to the culture. There are other players who have a harder time being that outspoken leader when they're struggling. Nolan Arenado spoke about that this past season -- about he felt he had to get his game going, his performance going, before he could really speak to others about theirs. There is nothing wrong with that. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. Paul Goldschmidt spoke with me toward the end of the season about how he evaluating how he led and looking to increase his presence, but he also realized that he was a positive leader, one who encouraged, not criticized or scolded, and that he wanted to find his voice as a supportive leader. There are as many styles of leadership as there are personalities. It depends on the person and the presence for how they lead and what they feel they need to do on the field or in their career or around the club to have a strong footing as a leader. It is possible for a part-time player to be a strong leader. Chase Utley was that for the Dodgers, you'll recall. Just as it's possible for a young player to emerge as a louder voice than maybe you'd expect. Brendan Donovan is already doing that.
I was not in ºüÀêÊÓƵ (or really online or on the grid at all) at the time of Carpenter's signing, and my colleagues -- Ben Frederickson, Lynn Worthy, and Daniel Guerrero -- did an excellent job of exploring, reporting, and discussing that move.
MDCardfan: Randy Flores has received a lot of love for his drafts, but we're not really seeing it on the pitching front. Is that a development issue?
DG: To me, there are three prongs to every player's movement toward the majors and arrival in the majors. There is the draft, there is the debut, and there is the development. The draft gets a lot of attention. The debut gets a lot of fanfare. But it's the development where the work happens, where injuries can cost a career, lack of opportunity can shape a career, coaches can enhance or unlock a career. And so on. I find it fascinating that a player can get a lot of attention for where he was drafted and when he debuted, and in between is so much more of that player's career and what shapes it. And that goes for the players who need a change of scenery or a different opportunity to really maximize or discover their talent. Development does not get discussed enough, and that makes it always the answer, to me.
Hot Rod: So if Pujols doesn't go in the HOF with an Angles halo what logo will he go, with, L.A. ?
DG: We could go to his baseball card for guidance on this subject. Let's look at games played.
Dodgers -- 85 games
Angels -- 1,181 games
Cardinals -- 1,814 games
If games, aren't the best barometer for logo on the cap, I suppose we could look at where he hit most of those 700+ homers that put him in the rarest of classes there in Cooperstown. Here are his total homers at each stop:
Dodgers -- 12
Angels -- 222
Cardinals -- 469
Perhaps, neither of those metrics is your favorite, and you prefer WAR as the gauge and something of a measure of where the most productive years of a player's career came. Well, let's look at WAR:
Dodgers -- 0.0
Angels -- 12.8
Cardinals -- 88.8
It's worth noting that Pujols does not crack the Top 24 for WAR in franchise history for either the Dodgers or the Angels with those totals. For the Cardinals? His WAR is the fourth-highest in club history.
Brian: Hi Derrick, has Brandon Woodruff been on the Cards' radar this offseason? I know he's expected to miss most (if not all) the 2024 season, but seems like he'd be a worthwhile gamble to take on a 2-3 year deal that could result in the second "ace" at a non-exorbitant cost that this rotation could sorely use, whether late this season or heading into next.
DG: I did not have Brandon Woodruff on the BINGO card for today's topic du jour. This was discussed earlier.
Scott Stewart: You are right. I was thinking of Luna, the second base man on the 2011 team I think. Nothing wrong with picking up a lottery ticket. I think the approach is closer to counting on every lottery ticket being a winner and not having what is needed if it is not a winner.
DG: Hector Luna was a part of the 2004 Cardinals, a Rule 5 pick that year, and he also played often for the 2005 team. So he was a contributor on back-to-back 100-win teams. If there's a chance of getting a contributor, all teams will take it. Or should, right?
A Rule 5 pick takes a spot on the 40-man roster until opening day, and then takes a spot on the 26-man roster. But until that day it is highly unlikely that a Rule 5 pick is getting in the way of the team making a move for a better player. It's just using a roster spot on the chance of getting a breakout player. Every team should look for that kind of player.
Dave: Hi Derrick, in your opinion, do you think the Cardinals have done enough to win the division? Let's say as of today. Where would you rank them?
DG: The Cardinals have addressed and paved over the pothole that kept from contending last year, and at the same time the leaders in the division have seen their rosters regress this winter. It is still possible for the Brewers or Cubs to make a move that vaults them ahead in the division, and the Reds have made subtle, savvy moves to get better. Currently, the Cardinals are atop the division on paper. With more time left this winter ... The Cubs can surpass them. The Reds can catch them.
Rodger: Is it possible the Cardinals bullpen addition could be Stephen Matz, after another starter is added?
DG: That would be one way the roster would shift, but it's not been one that the Cardinals have given any indication of chasing. Mozeliak has repeatedly said that he is not pursuing a free-agent starter. That could always change with a phone call, for sure. But their actions, their comments, all of it has been pretty consistent here, despite the wishcasting of some fans.
JKB: I guess with Woodruff we're trying to sniff out a Cardinals type move that could be a real needle-mover with this rotation going forward.
DG: There are some corners of this chat where signing Sonny Gray didn't move the needle. Hard to know what moves the needle any more, other than anger -- anger does, honestly. You likely nailed it. In both cases, it's a matter of what's next, what's next, what's next, what's next, and that is a recipe to be perpetually disappointed because what's next is often going to be not what you wanted. That's true for execs and fans, I imagine.
Andrew: It seems odd that I didn't hear the "lack of leadership" uttered one time in the midst of the 91 loss campaign, I'm sure it would have been reported if it was so obvious, seems to me, the Cards like to "excuse" their failures often
DG: It's possible that the stories did not appear under the banner of "leadership" or with that word in caps, but they were there all season -- about a manager being thrust into a different role with his players, about the absence of a catcher, about frustration percolating between the pitchers who were frustrated and the catcher who was trying to connect with them. Throughout the season there was coverage about this subject and how the Cardinals were searching for it.
Ken: Hi Derrick belated Happy New Year. It sure seems drafting pitchers has got to be tough. Reyes was can’t miss ! So many things have to go right from health, control and as you have stated : major league players are very good . So which team (s) are the best drafter -developer ?
DG: The Rays have earned the reputation. The Dodgers have a strong pitcher development. The Cardinals still have a good reputation in the industry for identifying and drafting pitchers, and that is earned and there are still examples of that. And the Cubs are lightyears better than they were.
Jerry K: How much do we miss coaches like Mike Maddox and Dave Duncan when it comes to pitching development
DG: They were major-league coaches, so if we keep it in the theme of the above answer ... they were about deployment. Brent Strom is the pitching coach you may be thinking of who was heavily involved in shaping and enhancing the Cardinals' pitching development. He left to take a major-league job in Houston and in the decade since has earned the reputation as one of the top pitching coaches in the industry, joining Maddux and Duncan in that heralded group. Dusty Blake is more involved in that regard and probably is more comparable to Jeff Albert and his role shaping an organizational approach to hitting and tech and all of it. Tim Leveque has been heavily involved in the development of pitchers for the Cardinals, and he has been able to continue and add to a lot of what Strom set up. They worked closely together before Strom's departure.
Mike in KC: How do you think Hicks will fare as a starter? He's always been a bit "effectively wild" which has led to walks... I'm guessing bringing the velocity down somewhat to help tame the wildness will be part of his transition?
DG: A lot will be based on what he's able to do with the four-seam fastball. That's a key pitch for him as a starter. He's got the overpowering sinker, but even overpowering sinkers still get put in play, and if there's runners on base from walks, then those grounders get through and problems emerge. Having that four-seam fastball could create a pitch that gets more swings and misses, and also then forces hitters to do something else with the sinker. That pitch, if effective and something he can use consistently, will help him as a starter. I'm real eager to see what the Giants expect from him innings-wise. Is he going to be a starter in the sense of two-times-through, five innings, four? Could be fascinating, and it could be creative, and it could leave the Cardinals wondering if they could have tried that route, too.
Andrew: I guess Lack of Leadership would be too damning of a comment in the midst of their worst season in forever, there's a lot of revisionist history going on at Clark St., and i understand your job is to provide the club's perspective, it just seems a little odd after the fact...i have nothing against Matt Carpenter, but to bring him in under those pretenses, sure seems like an indictment on a lot of players, coaches and manager, not all the problems walked out the door :)
DG: I don't want to confuse the coverage of the team with the comments from the team. Those are different things. The coverage is there, in real-time during the season. There was a lot of discussion about how early in the season, specifically with the Tyler O'Neill baserunning kerfuffle, how the manager had to do what usually is handled by players. There were many times that was discussed -- in print, in podcast, in chat, on radio. And it's OK if you missed that. That doesn't mean it did not exist at the time, and that questions about the Cardinals' decisions were happening in real time. Early in the season, the Cardinals visited San Francisco, and I asked Mozeliak why so many of the moves the team was making and decisions seemed so "chaotic" and "uncharacteristic." He agreed to a certain extent, and I wrote that they were acting like a team that was not used to losing and had no idea how to stop it. Same was true with my colleagues, who wrote often about the clubhouse during the Willson Contreras catching question. Again, it was all there for people to read, and I feel it's important to separate the coverage of the team from the comments made by the team. They are not the same. My job is to provide readers perspective. Sometimes that means explaining the club's perspective. It always means reporting to vet that perspective or show the other side, too.
Ryan: I found it interesting that the Cards didn't buy into some of Edman's free agent years. Just the 2 Arb years. See and hear that he's a " core " player. Wonder why?
DG:Â Tommy Edman and his agent had a say, too. It is entirely possible that they did not want to discuss that deal, just as years ago Lance Lynn did not want to discuss a deal that gave up free agent years, either. Those cost more. Team has to elevate its offer to meet an open market, not a predictable arb-model market. It takes two sides to give up those years.
Ben: Hi Derrick! Thank you as always for these chats and for the amazing coverage you and the PD team provide. Any insight as to when tickets to the June 20 game at Ricketts might be made available? I'm hoping to make the trip to see the game!
DG: Thanks for the compliment. Great question. I wish I had a specific date for you. At last check, the description was ... soon. That usually means sometime in spring training so they can create a promotion for it and attention, and all of that. I don't imagine they'll need to do much of that. Should be a remarkable game, and what a great, great venue. Back in 2012, I had a chance to take my son there as part of an important road trip we took together. The people there were kind enough to let him run the bases, and we stood in left field, and walked around and I just the chance to tell him all about the history of Rickwood and its importance. What a day to treasure it will be for you and all the people who get to see a game there.
CJ: Do the Cardinals still believe Liberatore has the potential to be a top of the rotation arm? If not, what do they see as his potential at this point in his (still young) career?
DG: They're having him come to spring training as a starter so that he'll get the chance to show what he did at times this past year and what they had him work on in the offseason connects and gets him on that track. He had a remarkable start in Tampa Bay. If that's possible, how do they make it happen consistently? That was something that Liberatore had to ask himself, too, and then set out to find an answer with his work and his preparation this winter. He's in a good spot. He's going to get the chance to show where he improved and how he can still improve as a starter, and if there is a need for a reliever, he's in the mix there because of how intriguing his stuff was in that role to the Cardinals. The team still sees a starter in his upside. Please keep in mind: Need will play a part in how they see him for immediate use.
Ifo Suspense: In 2023 the Cards finished last for the 2nd time in more than 100 years. Despite actually being *favored* to win their division, and despite not having a slew of extenuating circumstances go against them, i.e., not a ton of injuries. So how much was (1)bad luck, (2)players, and (3)Marmol? I say 10%, 20%, and 70%, respectively. Marmol showed poor leadership overall, and more importantly did a consistently poor job with defensive alignments and batting orders. So, Derrick. Are YOU willing and able to critique Marmol?
DG: I am willing and able, if I can prove it.
Columnists are paid to provide their opinions. Beat writers are assigned a different task -- they have a different role, and that is true regardless of the beat or section of the paper. Critics are closer to columnists. For example, the Post-Dispatch's recent Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Messenger is a columnist, and he offers opinions on the news and city and all matter of things. He commented on a court case involving a bounty hunter, and news writer Katie Kull, a beat writer, covered it. Same is true in sports. Benjamin Hochman, Ben Frederickson and Jeff Gordon are columnists -- that is why you see Gordon do his grades on the Cardinals and offer his opinion. That really isn't the arena of a beat writer. Beat writer offers analysis, reporting, features, transactions, granular details, game details, and issues.
So, yeah, I'm willing and able to write what my reporting and research can prove.
And I always have been.
For example, getting fewer than 40 innings from an All-Star closer and a 7 ERA from an essential starter would seem to qualify as significant injury issues, not mention a Gold Glove outfielder missing weeks at a time due to a variety of injuries and thus throwing the defense in disarray, too. Injuries did happen. They weren't 10% or 70%, but they also weren't zero. Pitching is what plummeted the Cardinals to last place.
Forrest: In my opinion this team needs Stanek who is a bulldog what say you
DG: Definitely a fit based on what the Cardinals have said they want to add. I've not been able to confirm an offer or direct contact. But that's more on my end than on the team's pursuits.
South City Steve: I heard you mention to Bernie last week that Cardinals had been considered by many baseball insiders to be prohibitive favorites at the outset of the Yamamoto sweepstakes. Fans see this floating on social media too. Yamamoto’s price went through the roof and the Cardinals bailed, I’m fine with that. But that’s it? Getting a second elite pitcher wasn’t an off-season luxury item, it was a bright flashing, glaring need. There is no plan B for a rotation that currently has Mikolas penciled in as their #2 and their POBO is saying they want to make a deep playoff run? Again, actions not matching the words with this club.
DG: I don't know what to do with this comment/question, honestly. Let's begin here. That's not what I said. I did not use the word "prohibitive," and I detailed how if you asked around at the GM meetings and polled agents and other teams, the Cardinals would have been listed high as one of the favorites to sign Yamamoto. They were perceived as a real contender to sign him by others in the industry. That is what I said and that informed the coverage at the time.
And then the price went up.
I would hope that whatever you were reading on social media was based on reporting by media outlets and not random speculation that caught fire based on likes and retweets. I hope that's the case. I worry that it's not.
Finally, and you're not going to like this, teams don't look at free-agent pursuits as if/then propositions. They think of it as target/cost propositions. Consider the Dodgers. There is zero to suggest that if they did not sign Shohei Ohtani that they would then pivot to spend $700 million on other free agents. Heck, there is not reason to believe if Ohtani signed elsewhere that the Dodgers would then pivot to the second-best hitter available on the market. They wanted Ohtani. Full stop. If they didn't get Ohtani, then they adjust -- and it might not be a Plan B that you recognize or like because it's not Ohtani. Same thing with the Cardinals (and every other team). The Cardinals saw Yamamoto as a rarity when it came to talent, age, and availability. No other pitcher available had that mix. And we all saw how that drove his price up, up, up, up, up. If's the target that they wanted to add as that high price, it's entirely likely that he was hit, and that they don't then pivot to say well, um, Blake Snell could hold the same spot on the roster because they're interest in Blake Snell is not at the level, he's not of that age, and they don't like the cost. So they pivot, the budget shifts, the choices change, the trades happen, etc. The offseason is a complex organization, not a series of light switches that are either off or on or an if/then flowchart.
Please let me make this clear: That is an explanation to your question, not an excuse for the Cardinals. They could have done more, sure. They chose not to do more. That is the case. But the reasoning you gave is not the reason they could.
Ed AuBuchon: The essential starter with a 7era was Wainwright I assume. Maybe counting on a 42 year old pitcher was a bad idea.
DG: Counting on a 40 and 41 year got them 398 innings the previous two seasons and one of the most reliable starters in the game. That is what they needed from him.
BD: I have no issue with the Carpenter signing. It was a surprise, but I can see the low risk and potential benefits. 1) min salary. 2) not guarantee after ST. 3) the players are supportive and see his addition as adding stability to the bench. 4) he comes in knowing and accepting his role as bench player. 5) can add leadership to the clubhouse and mentorship to the younger players. 6) he can play all infield positions and 7) maybe he readjusts his swing to be a more effective PHer. Low risk, low cost.
DG: That is a solid outline of what the Cardinals saw, too. Also, it gives the writers several angles to write -- on the coaching staff now is Oliver Marmol's first double-play partner in the minors and on the team now is one of his early roommates in the minors.
BrenFed: Does the team see Thompson or Libratore (or currently minor league guys) as likely in the rotation to start 2025?
DG: They have not outlined those plans because the focus has been, as you can imagine, the 2024 season. They do have flexibility to clear a spot in the rotation if they see either there to take the spot. They'll both get the chance this spring to position themselves on the depth chart -- but, let's be honest, it will be the performance of the rotation and their performance in whatever starts/role they get that will shape the 2025. The Cardinals would welcome both of them in the rotation that year, for sure. Are they counting on it? They don't have to now, so they'll see how it develops.
South City Steve: Great explanation on Yamamoto! Thank you! Doesn't make me feel better about the rotation for '24 or the fact that the team tells us they want to make a deep playoff run, BUT your job is to report not give warm and fuzzies. I still believe their actions do not support what they are telling fans. I don't believe I am alone or wrong about that.
DG: Thank you. I just want to stress there is a difference between the coverage of the team and the comments from the team. Whatever you think about those two things is fine -- believe one, don't believe the other -- but they are not the same thing. The accountability is different. What does the team face from fans if they mislead with their comments? Mad online? Lack of ticket sales? Because you and I both know what happens if I mislead with the coverage of the team.
Kevin in DC: Derrick, doesn’t Carpenter block Sargesse and Prieto, or are they still too far from the majors?
DG: Not really. Not at all. Wouldn't you want those young players ... playing and not sitting sitting sitting, going days or weeks without a start? That's the role. Sargesse should be playing and playing a lot and getting ready to be a regular in the majors, not being used every so often to give a starter a rest one day a week. That's not a good use of his development time. Same with Prieto. Plus, Saggese is right-handed, so different assignments too. Young players should play, not rust.
TomBruno23: Carpenter blocks no one (except perhaps Burleson in the short term). He is pretty much a glorified NRI since Atlanta pays the salary. All that being said, I hope he comes in and hits 25 to get to that magical 200 mark. This club loves the round numbers in a farewell campaign.
DG: Exactly. Alec Burleson is a different question. There is a direct line there between the role Carpenter fits and the one Burleson had this past season, just with different positions (outfield vs. third base, both play first).
Paul Dewgong: can you explain from a strategy perspective picking up rivas, carpenter and jared young, in addition to burleson? - feels like this team needs more middle infield depth than fake-it corner OF/INF
DG: Part of the answer is they have needs at Class AAA Memphis for that lineup. That is something that explains a few of the recent moves. It's depth. It's also filling out a complete lineup.
Kevin in DC: Do you think Beltran has been hurt in his HOF quest because of the Astros cheating scandal? How did he become everybody’s scapegoat?
DG: Yes.
Paul Dewgong: i saw on twitter that pallante was learning a new "death" ball grip? any idea what that is or if you've reported on it
AG: DG - I appreciate this outline, thank you for it! It does leave one question though - and that is the budget. Okay, so we COULD stretch the budget significantly for Yamamoto because he would be an exceptional value for the cost we wanted him at. He's gone, and the team still needs the value he would have brought, but no options currently offer that value or similar at an attractive price. BUT as the offseason drags on, contract values for remaining FAs go down. Maybe that value proposition changes? Sure we don't want Snell for top of market. But if he comes down to mid-market?
DG: Sure. If things change, so will the Cardinals approach and so will other teams. But there's no evidence at the moment that they've changed at all. We see this all the time. The Cardinals did not have much interest in Kyle Lohse as a free agent all those years ago, and then all of sudden in the middle of spring training they needed to address a lack of depth and Lohse was willing to take a one-year deal, and the market pushed them together. That market did not exist on Jan. 29 or Nov. 29 for either of them. Things change. And teams adjust. If the cost of investment drops for any of the free agents then you'll see more teams interested, too. I guess the question becomes when the Cardinals get involved and what that price is. What we do know is it's not the same as Yamamoto. You saw this play out in real time several times for the Cardinals. When Jason Heyward signed with the Cubs or when David Price signed with the Red Sox, the Cardinals didn't pivot to spend that same amount of money elsewhere. They just went in a different direction, had a different willingness to spend, because the players were different. I would imagine you have the same approach with your budget based on the buy you think you're getting or how badly you want one specific item, not any item of the same type.
MD: Hello - have you covered STL cactus league games? Wondering if they have played there before for spring games.
DG: I have not. Not in the past 20 years. I do mean to look into whether they've played one. I have not been able to find any, but I have not yet finished going over every year.
David: Hey Derrick, do you think a trade for Alek Manoah is still a possibility? I know there were rumors a couple of months back.
DG: It's always possible. Toronto has a lot of years of control and a lot invested so far, so they set a high price. There wasn't going to be a move for an untapped or struggling talent, not for an opportunist team. And then the price gets high enough that the interested team is going to want to see more certainty in the return. That's the tug of war. Watch it play out during spring and the season.
Forrest: How many teams have agreed to the Amazon pitch it’s a readily accessible platform so it’s easy for their fans…Cards have one problem trying to start their own steaming service and it’s called distribution, their other problem is advertising rates, they can’t charge Coastal rates for Midwestern eyes
DG: There were/are five teams that have their streaming rights owned by Diamond Sports and thus are compelled to be a part of that agreement. The Cardinals, while one of the 11 teams who have broadcast contracts with DSG, are not one of the teams in the streaming package. I don't see the problems you mention, not at all. Streaming is actually a way to circumvent the distribution because it's considered a direct-to-consumer product -- it does not have the intermediary of a cable company, and that has been the distribution issue that teams run into. So, going streaming is the way around the problem you suggest. As for the other problem you mention, the audience would be ... by design ... not limited to the Midwest. It would be the world of streaming. The advertising would reflect that. But the goal would be to have subscriptions and naming rights drive the revenue not advertising.
Midwestern eyes can take Coastal ads. We're good. The Midwest his hip now. Taylor Swift spends a lot of time just down the road from here.
Capstone: I know it will not happen -- self-imposed budget, risk of injury, yad yada, yada -- but bringing back Montgomery vaults the Cards' rotation. The first several weeks of the season is a killer.
DG: The first several weeks of the season is definitely a grind. And we saw what happened when the Cardinals ran into that in 2023 ...
Things came apart, and fast.
Goold's biggest fan!!: MLB just put Sonny Gray in the top 10 of today's starting pitching. I am surprised by this. Knowing that Miles is probably our number two...Mo seems to have done a Great job with the pitching. I am confused with the logjam in the middle infield. It will be hard to get at bats for players coming up. Do you think their is a situation that most of this is surrounding whether Goldy and Arenado will be here in the future. Possibly seeing Walker come in to 3rd and one of these extra infielders playing first?
DG: Sonny Gray is an excellent pitcher. He's really become one of the best, standout starters -- and even in a classic way, one willing to push deeper into games than some of the modern approaches allow. Throwback? We'll see. But it does seem that he's underrated.
I don't see the same logjam, honestly. Donovan can play second base. Gorman DH. Winn at shortstop. And Tommy Edman handles center field. Saggese arrives and the best bat plays, and things shift for the better production and the right mix of defense. As always. It's worth noting that when Jordan Walker played third base in the minors, there were coaches and evaluators who believed his future in the majors was going to be as a corner outfielder. That even came up when he was drafted. This idea of returning him to 3B is interesting -- but back when he was a third baseman, scouts and such talked about him being a corner outfielder, which he now is. I would not mine the current roster for clues of the future for Arenado and Goldschmidt.
Andrew: I didnt see in June 2023 reporting when the wheels were falling off, lack of leadership dooms Cardinals, just sayin, you can post anything you want to justify your reporting, but it's always after the fact with Cardinals, they self analyze in a very excusy way
DG: I must have been too busy writing about the lack of pitching and innings for the third consecutive year. You know, the actual reason for why it came apart on the Cardinals in 2023.
And, you're right, I will post anything to justify my reporting. That's the point of sharing articles and making them public.
Sam: Really seems that, with the news of the Moises Gomez DFA, the Cardinals aren't paying a lot of heed to what's happened with Adolis Garcia, who had a very similar skillset and Cardinals minor league career. Not *necessarily* a bad thing btw, but it's a thing for sure
DG: The dots are there to connect. Boston can double-down on the ALCS MVP trend and add Garcia after previously trading for O'Neill.
John W: Derrick can you get the PD to add a THUMBS down for many of these comments not just have a heart for LIKE only?
DG: I don't think I want to risk that for my answers.
Cherokee: What would the additions of Jordan Montgomery and Phil Maton mean to the Cardinals' NL Central chances this season?
DG: They both would improve the Cardinals standing in the National League, not just the NL Central.
MD: For those last cactus league games vs CHC, they should mostly be the regulars since it will likely be those travling to LA, is that a fair assumption
DG: It will be the full roster, yes. But there will be other players coming along for those games, and some could be off the roster. It's a good bet that definitely one of the games will get the A lineup and regulars for half of the game. It's less likely that happens for the second game, at least not for half of the group. Some may just take one at-bat and call it a spring, if they play at all.
Ryan: That’s fine and dandy, but how are they missing these acquisition costs all the time. So only the team who wins the bidding is the only team who can adjust? Seems like a flawed process by the FO.
DG: I don't see it that way. The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants clearly knew what it would take to sign Ohtani and meet that market, right down to the deferred money, and the Dodgers signed him. That doesn't mean the Dodgers are the only team that met the market. It means that Ohtani chose the Dodgers. We've mentioned it a few times in this chat: The Cardinals went the defense-heavy, age-related market price for Heyward, and he elected to take less guarantee to be a Cub. The Cardinals met the market -- which was an increased value of defense, as you'll recall -- and still finished as a runnerup. What has happened with the Cardinals is that the market when it comes to pitching has outpaced their stomach for risk in the riskiest area of the market. Does that make sense? The Cardinals have been risk-adverse when it comes to big spending on pitchers from outside the organization. They feel their model cannot just spend-over pitchers if they don't work out, and they point to Cecil as an example. Meanwhile, the market does not care. Rodon, Eovaldi and others all have injury histories and still make the big bucks, get the guaranteed length, and that's the market. It's not that teams that sign them are the only teams that meet the market, it's just that the Cardinals haven't even entered that market, and the tiptoed in this winter. That's a change.
Steve L: Derrick, seems like a lot has to go well for the Cardinals to improve and win the central. Do you base this on the 3 starters they added? The lineup improving as a unit as well? It seems like the bullpen is still short. I am looking forward to baseball games to decided this debate. I am not feeling big turn around just yet. I did like the 3 starters added.
DG: The rotation starts from a good spot for a contender. Innings. I cannot stress the importance of innings Look back at the 2004 rotation sometime and then look at what they did well -- they made their starts, they gave innings, and they kept a team in the game, a team with a robust lineup. This is not the 2004 Cardinals, but the rotation begins from a good place, innings. A bedrock of innings is a good place for a contender to begin steadily winning series. The lineup was fine last year, top 10 when everyone was healthy and before the trade deadline, and there's a good bet that neither Arenado or Goldschmidt are going to have the prolonged funk they had last season. The bullpen is less certain. That appears to be somewhat by design. It's betting on the upside. As mentioned earlier in the chat, there is definitely some similarities between what the Cardinals tried to do with the rotation last year and how they're approaching the bullpen this spring. Note that.
Cherokee: I agree, and I think it reinforces a point many fans feel is true: for the last several years, the team has been one or two players away (not necessarily high-$$$ stars, but players that provide certainty) from being the overwhelming favorite in the NL Central and a team that could realistically compete for a pennant.
DG: That is the same description that Mike Ferrin gave of the Cardinals several years ago on MLB Radio Network and repeated as a guest on the Best Podcast in Baseball. It has also been the commentary of scouts and other executives when talking about the Cardinals, and that sentiment has been echoed in the local coverage. It was even a question that Mozeliak faced at times through the past few springs -- why not make that one more move, that over-the-top one that seems like it's within arm's reach?
Kevin in DC: Derrick, I don’t understand why former players who have little or no coaching experience get to jump the line ahead of coaches (like the 1B coach) and get bench coaching jobs. What does DeSalsco or Holliday have, even Yadi, that lifers don’t?
DG: I see those names you list and I see lifers. Yadier Molina grew up with two older brothers who became major leaguers and a father who was a great infielder playing in Puerto Rico. Matt Holliday is the son of a highly respected college coach and brother of a college coach, and he has spent every day of his time since retiring being a coach for his sons or with his brother at Oklahoma State. What is a baseball lifer if not Molina and Holliday? Descalso has spent his life around the ballpark, too.
DCG: "the length of those deals gives the Cardinals flexibility to move on from contracts if the broadcast rights purse changes.": Sorry, I didn't mean to send just the quote. Regarding that position, I don't get it. The Cardinals' purse from broadcast rights will change. It will go up. That's how this works. There are more entities competing for those rights than ever. Amazon clearly wants in the mix. NetFlix, Apple, Hulu--they all want live sports. So, it feels like the Cardinals are being more than their usual conservative regarding their spending. This approach, one that has led to a pitching staff with a lot of questions and hope, seem almost naive. More money is coming. I don't begrudge them not wanting to handout long-term deals to relievers. That position is so volatile. But I know I would feel a lot different about things if they had signed Montgomery to go along with Gray and then chosen from Lynn or Gibson.
DG: You're absolutely right. It will go up. Definitely. But also eventually. As recently as a few weeks ago, there was no guarantee that the Cardinals could count on any of their rights fees for 2025. They had the guarantee of 2024. But if the bankruptcy agreement meant returning their rights at the end of the season -- there is the possibility, however, small of zero rights fees in 2025. More likely, they would be looking at smaller fees and less profit because they would have to distribute their product and take on that cost, or they would be part of a package that would be poached based on the notion that some rights fees and a distribution infrastructure is better than no rights fees. Look at the Amazon offer. Does it even compare to what the big ticket rights deals looked like a few years ago? The Cardinals got a $1 billion deal. Amazon offered $100 million for five team's rights on streaming for a year. The bubble burst, folks. And while it does appear like the Cardinals are going to be in a better spot with their rights fees and the guarantee, there was deep concern throughout baseball -- not just in ºüÀêÊÓƵ; look to Texas, for goodness sake -- that rights were going to shrivel in the near term before the spigot reopens and they're more plentiful in the longterm.
I have tried to be consistent in the coverage of this topic for that reason. MLB, the Cardinals, and other teams expect to have a better model for fans and for revenues. That is part of it. The short-term pinch will be a longter-term jackpot, but getting there is part of every team's calculus at the moment.
STCBluesFan: DG, from the outside it appears that the Matt Carpenter signing was just a attempt to bring back a fan favorite to win back fans. Bench captain? Leadership? If this was a team of rookies and < 2 years players, we could buy into it. Is the uncertainty of BSM/Diamond Sports and the $$ associated with it, a factor in what the Cards will spend?
DG: All parties, from ownership to management, front office to business execs, say that spending on 2024 was not influenced by the unknown of the broadcast. That answer has been consistent going back to last July, at least. It was in July that I started asking and checking on that again after the initial bankruptcy filing during spring training. I wondered if we might see that influence the trade deadline. The Cardinals, again, have said it did not change or limit spending on 2024, though as mentioned in this chat and elsewhere in the coverage it did shape the length of some contracts.
As for signing Matt Carpenter -- it was an opportunity both sides saw and both sides sought, and it comes just a few years after both sides agreed that Carpenter was a fit for their roster but the timing wasn't right for his return.
What I find most interesting right now about the Cardinals is they had a chance to assert a completely new era. Wainwright's retirement and another year removed from Molina, would give the team a feel of moving toward an era of Donovan or Walker, Winn and the mix, and that great players like Arenado and Goldschmidt would bridge the two. The Cardinals had, for the first time, in a really long time, the chance to make that pivot and see what new is like. They did not. Instead of a clubhouse without a World Series ring, they have now two who own 2011 World Series rings, and Yadier Molina is back, too, in his advisor. They can call it continuity. You can call it nostalgia. I call it fascinating -- they could stride in a new direction, but they still feel they need to hold the handrails of the past to keep their balance. Fascinating.
STCBluesFan: DG, from the outside it appears that the Matt Carpenter signing was just a attempt to bring back a fan favorite to win back fans. Bench captain? Leadership? If this was a team of rookies and < 2 years players, we could buy into it. Is the uncertainty of BSM/Diamond Sports and the $$ associated with it, a factor in what the Cards will spend?
DG: All parties, from ownership to management, front office to business execs, say that spending on 2024 was not influenced by the unknown of the broadcast. That answer has been consistent going back to last July, at least. It was in July that I started asking and checking on that again after the initial bankruptcy filing during spring training. I wondered if we might see that influence the trade deadline. The Cardinals, again, have said it did not change or limit spending on 2024, though as mentioned in this chat and elsewhere in the coverage it did shape the length of some contracts.
As for signing Matt Carpenter -- it was an opportunity both sides saw and both sides sought, and it comes just a few years after both sides agreed that Carpenter was a fit for their roster but the timing wasn't right for his return.
What I find most interesting right now about the Cardinals is they had a chance to assert a completely new era. Wainwright's retirement and another year removed from Molina, would give the team a feel of moving toward an era of Donovan or Walker, Winn and the mix, and that great players like Arenado and Goldschmidt would bridge the two. The Cardinals had, for the first time, in a really long time, the chance to make that pivot and see what new is like. They did not. Instead of a clubhouse without a World Series ring, they have now two who own 2011 World Series rings, and Yadier Molina is back, too, in his advisor. They can call it continuity. You can call it nostalgia. I call it fascinating -- they could stride in a new direction, but they still feel they need to hold the handrails of the past to keep their balance. Fascinating.
Alright, that will have to do it for this week. Strong questions. Interesting directions. The chat never disappoints in its ability to surprise. Evidently, Brandon Woodruff has a strong fan group in the chatters. In two weeks, the chat will be there in Florida, live from Jupiter, Fla., on the eve of the Cardinals' first official workout of spring.
That's right, two weeks.
Baseball is nigh.