Luvofthegame
12-07-2006, 08:56 PM
Winter Meetings come and go without any additions to staffBy Matthew Leach / MLB.com
Foiled for a second straight year in their pursuit of priority one, the Cardinals go back to doing what they always do in the last three weeks of December. It's time to find hidden gems -- undervalued pitchers and perhaps hitters to fill the holes on St. Louis' roster.
General manager Walt Jocketty believed his club was a serious candidate to sign right-hander Jason Schmidt, but the Cards did not outbid the Dodgers. Schmidt preferred to go to Los Angeles, so it would have taken a noteworthy offer to pry him away.
Still, though the visit to the Orlando area may have been frustrating, it's important to remember that the Redbirds have been here before. In 2004, they left Anaheim without a middle infield or a No. 2 starter, but went to camp with Mark Grudzielanek, David Eckstein and Mark Mulder. In 2003, they added Reggie Sanders and Jeff Suppan before many attendees had even gotten home from New Orleans.
So it's not time to panic. But it's definitely time to get cracking on some deals. Then again, that's what Jocketty says he's been trying to do.
"We're still talking to people," he said Thursday morning shortly before heading to the airport. "I don't know what's going on with the pace of these agents. [As for] clubs, we've had zero conversations about trades. The clubs that we've talked to aren't interested in doing anything."
So St. Louis will move forward on adding a relief pitcher, perhaps Octavio Dotel, in a deal that could be done by the end of the weekend. And the Cardinals will continue pursuing starters, including Miguel Batista, in hopes of bolstering the starting five. Or more accurately, in hopes of turning a starting three-or-four into a starting five.
"The list is dwindling, but I think ideally we'd like to get two starters," Jocketty said.
Jeff Suppan remains an option, albeit not a very likely one, and the Cardinals have been frustrated by the slow pace of their dealings with representatives for both Suppan and Mark Mulder. Jeff Weaver is on the radar as well, but unsurprisingly there has been little movement regarding Weaver with agent Scott Boras. As for another Boras client, Barry Zito, Jocketty reiterated that the Cardinals are not in that derby.
On the offensive side of things, the name on everyone's lips on Thursday was the one name Jocketty didn't want to hear. The GM dismissed reports that the Cardinals have spoken with Barry Bonds about Bonds calling Busch Stadium home next year.
"There's nothing on with Bonds," he said. "I'm sick and tired of people asking that today."
Complete coverage >
Deals done: The Cards added no players from the outside. However, they re-upped ace Chris Carpenter to an extension, ensuring that the right-hander will wear the "birds on the bat" through at least 2011.
Rule 5 activity: St. Louis did not add or lose any players in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. However, the Cardinals did select catcher Omar Falcon and infielder Jose Contreras in the Triple-A phase.
Goals accomplished: None yet. Some groundwork was laid, particularly on adding an arm in the bullpen. But the Cardinals came to Greater Disney hoping to add at least one and possibly two starting pitchers. And they leave Greater Disney hoping to add at least one and possibly two starting pitchers.
Unfinished business: See above. The rotation still contains three, at most four, pitchers. And given that it's not 1970 anymore, that's not going to be enough. Even if Adam Wainwright -- or Braden Looper -- makes the move to starting, St. Louis still needs one more starting pitcher.
Batista is likely a candidate, and other names are in the mix as well. But the Redbirds need to sort out what they're doing with their rotation. It's by far the most pressing question about 2007, and it remains unanswered.
GM's bottom line: "We're kind of re-assessing where we are. We thought until late last night we had a pretty good shot at Schmidt. Now we kind of have to re-assess where we are." -- Jocketty
Foiled for a second straight year in their pursuit of priority one, the Cardinals go back to doing what they always do in the last three weeks of December. It's time to find hidden gems -- undervalued pitchers and perhaps hitters to fill the holes on St. Louis' roster.
General manager Walt Jocketty believed his club was a serious candidate to sign right-hander Jason Schmidt, but the Cards did not outbid the Dodgers. Schmidt preferred to go to Los Angeles, so it would have taken a noteworthy offer to pry him away.
Still, though the visit to the Orlando area may have been frustrating, it's important to remember that the Redbirds have been here before. In 2004, they left Anaheim without a middle infield or a No. 2 starter, but went to camp with Mark Grudzielanek, David Eckstein and Mark Mulder. In 2003, they added Reggie Sanders and Jeff Suppan before many attendees had even gotten home from New Orleans.
So it's not time to panic. But it's definitely time to get cracking on some deals. Then again, that's what Jocketty says he's been trying to do.
"We're still talking to people," he said Thursday morning shortly before heading to the airport. "I don't know what's going on with the pace of these agents. [As for] clubs, we've had zero conversations about trades. The clubs that we've talked to aren't interested in doing anything."
So St. Louis will move forward on adding a relief pitcher, perhaps Octavio Dotel, in a deal that could be done by the end of the weekend. And the Cardinals will continue pursuing starters, including Miguel Batista, in hopes of bolstering the starting five. Or more accurately, in hopes of turning a starting three-or-four into a starting five.
"The list is dwindling, but I think ideally we'd like to get two starters," Jocketty said.
Jeff Suppan remains an option, albeit not a very likely one, and the Cardinals have been frustrated by the slow pace of their dealings with representatives for both Suppan and Mark Mulder. Jeff Weaver is on the radar as well, but unsurprisingly there has been little movement regarding Weaver with agent Scott Boras. As for another Boras client, Barry Zito, Jocketty reiterated that the Cardinals are not in that derby.
On the offensive side of things, the name on everyone's lips on Thursday was the one name Jocketty didn't want to hear. The GM dismissed reports that the Cardinals have spoken with Barry Bonds about Bonds calling Busch Stadium home next year.
"There's nothing on with Bonds," he said. "I'm sick and tired of people asking that today."
Complete coverage >
Deals done: The Cards added no players from the outside. However, they re-upped ace Chris Carpenter to an extension, ensuring that the right-hander will wear the "birds on the bat" through at least 2011.
Rule 5 activity: St. Louis did not add or lose any players in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. However, the Cardinals did select catcher Omar Falcon and infielder Jose Contreras in the Triple-A phase.
Goals accomplished: None yet. Some groundwork was laid, particularly on adding an arm in the bullpen. But the Cardinals came to Greater Disney hoping to add at least one and possibly two starting pitchers. And they leave Greater Disney hoping to add at least one and possibly two starting pitchers.
Unfinished business: See above. The rotation still contains three, at most four, pitchers. And given that it's not 1970 anymore, that's not going to be enough. Even if Adam Wainwright -- or Braden Looper -- makes the move to starting, St. Louis still needs one more starting pitcher.
Batista is likely a candidate, and other names are in the mix as well. But the Redbirds need to sort out what they're doing with their rotation. It's by far the most pressing question about 2007, and it remains unanswered.
GM's bottom line: "We're kind of re-assessing where we are. We thought until late last night we had a pretty good shot at Schmidt. Now we kind of have to re-assess where we are." -- Jocketty