Post by CBLCommish on Aug 10, 2011 21:17:55 GMT -5
OF Jennings SP Vargas RP Howell RP Aardsma
New St. Louis Cardinals GM Lou Brown spend very little time making his mark on his new team. Brown joined the team with the intent of adding some veteran pitchers who fit into his plan. The Cardinals had a strong team that was expected to be near the top of the NL Central this year. They have a very strong offense and a good starting rotation, even with the injury to Cy Young hopeful Adam Wainwright, but the one area where they are weak is the bullpen. The Cardinals have one of the worst ranked bullpens in the majors. To address the needs of their pitching staff GM Brown started to search the free agent market as well as the trade market for help, especially some veterans who could help out at the end of games. The Cardinals were linked to pitchers such as relievers Fransisco Cordero, Fransisco Rodriguez, John Grabow, and Mike Gonzalez, as well as starters Mark Buehrle and Paul Maholm, however they decided to forgo any of these options choosing instead choosing to aggressively pursue options such as Mariner’s reliever David Aardsma and starter Jason Vargas, and Ray’s reliever J.P. Howell.
The first deal that Lou Brown completed is rumored to be bringing in Mariners’ reliever David Aardsma or reliever Chris Ray in a package that includes starter Jason Vargas, minor league third basemen Mario Martinez, and $750,000. In return the Cardinals send starter Carlos Martinez, minor league reliever Maikel Cleto, minor league third basemen Zach Cox, and a player to be named later who is rumored to be minor league catcher Robert Stock. The main pieces of the deal for the Cardinals, Jason Vargas and David Aardsma/Chris Ray, are being brought in to fit voids in the Cardinal roster. Vargas was brought in to give the Cardinals another left handed option in the rotation to balance it out. Aardsma is a former closer who will bring closer experience to this Cardinal bullpen. Aardsma is expected to be the 8th inning guy for the Cardinals and should be very successful in that role given his success as a closer for the Mariners the past two years, and if needed he could close out some ball games if closer Jason Motte needs a day off.
The second of three pre-season deals the Cardinals sent young prospect Shelby Miller to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Desmond Jennings, Alexander Colome, and J.P. Howell. Lou Brown hated to get rid of an amazing prospect such as Miller but the offer of a great CF prospect in Jennings, a decent one in Colome, and the left handed reliever they were looking for was good enough in Brown’s eyes. Jennings projects to be a prototypical CFer and will start his Cardinal career in AAA. The Cardinals hope that he can join the Cardinal outfield in 2012 along with Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus. Howell the other main piece of the deal is a good left handed reliever which was one of the team’s biggest needs. Howell strengthens this bullpen greatly and is experienced at pitching in late game situations which is always a big plus for a reliever.
The last deal that the Cardinals and GM Lou Brown completed involved sending young starter Kyle McClellan to the Rockies in return for minor league prospect Juan Nicasio, and a player to be named later who is rumored to be either starter Aaron Cook or Jason Hammels. Lou Brown stated in a press conference that this deal was made to find pitchers that better fit the Cardinal plan. Cook and Hammels are both good SPs and the Cardinals are hoping that their talent and experience can improve their already good starting rotation.