Hot Stove News

The Cards are still a very good team. It'll be interesting to see who they go after to replace Pujols. I guess the current plan is have Berkman play 1st & look for a good outfielder.

 

I do not agree.

C - Yadier Molina is above average, but he's a free agent soon too.
1B - You cannot expect Berkman to have a season anywhere close to '10 ever again.
2B - Daniel Descalso or Skip Shumacker? Ugh.
3B - David Freese was a postseason hero, but is just average.
SS - Furcal hasn't been worth $7 million a season in a while.
LF - Holliday is very good but not great when healthy.
CF - John Jay hits for a solid batting average, but that's about it.
RF - Allen Craig was impressive in 2010 but his minor league numbers never showed anywhere near that level of performance.

P - Chris Carpenter is 36 and the cracks are starting to show. They should deal him for prospects.
P - Adam Wainwright will bounce back strong but is a free agent after 2013.
P - Jaime Garcia has great stuff but spotty control. Still a great #3 or solid #2.
P - Kyle Lohse's 2010 ERA was a fluke.
P - Jake Westbrook is crap.

And as for prospects, Shelby Miller has a lot of potential as a starting pitcher and Zack Cox is pretty solid hitter who will end up at 1st with Freese entrenched at 3rd, but there's nothing really behind them. Maybe STL didn't go harder after Pujols because they plan on blowing it up and rebuilding. They definitely should, since they won't be a contender anytime soon without him.

 

Berkman will be the 1st baseman unless prince fielder comes to town. I've read where Beltran is in play now. Crazy money but Albert is worth it

 

You are right that they have some issues, but every team in the NL Central has some moves they have to make. This division is going to be very competitive from top to bottom. Brewers are losing some pieces, Reds have to add some pieces, but haven't done anything so far, & Chicago is expected to be much better. Pitt showed signs last year the 1st half, but dove-tailed at the end. I expect St. Louis will be right there at the end. The goal is to be the hot team at playoff time. Prince Fielder is rumored to be headed to the Cubs, which we may find out about this week, but he is definately not expected to re-sign w/ Milwaukee.

 

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is he worth it or isn't he?

 

Years 6-10 I'd say no.

 

Pujols' wife claims that St. Louis never offered anywhere near $200 mil. She said their first offer was $130 million over 5 years.


edit:
Also, the Angels' contract includes ten more years of personal services after the ten years as a player. Having him contractually obligated to represent the team and appear at functions, etc does have some serious monetary value.

 

Prince Fielder signs with Tigers for 214 million over 9 years.

 

Nuts. Fielder is a great hitter, but not even top 5. And who knows what he'll weigh halfway through that contract, much less at the end of it.

 

This will work out well this year — fielder and cabera alternate as DH and first baseman — but it looks like cabrera better start losing weight and dusting off the third baseman's mitt for 13-14 season. Martinez will be back as DH and I believe Inge (3B this year) becomes a FA after this season.