Health & Fitness
Rob Rains Inside Baseball: Will Cardinals Explore External Options For Pitching Help?
By Rob Rains
Follow @RobRains on Twitter and "Like" StL Sports Page on Facebook.
Even after anointing Joe Kelly as their fifth starter, for now, the Cardinals have three, and perhaps as many as five, internal options about how to fill that spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.
They could keep Kelly in the role, if he does well in the spot starts he will get between now and the All-Star break. By then, either Michael Wacha or Carlos Martinez could be options for a promotion from Triple A Memphis as well.
We should also know in a month what the status of Chris Carpenter will be, and whether he is a possibility to join either the rotation or the bullpen. Left-hander John Gast also is said to be a couple of weeks away from beginning to throw as he recovers from a lat injury.
The Cardinals could also look at possible external options to fill that spot between now and the trading deadline of July 31. If they decide to explore that route, the most likely scenario would be to trade for a pitcher eligible to be a free agent at the end of the year.
The reason behind that strategy is obvious – the cost will be much less, both in terms of the pitcher’s salary, and also in terms of the young players the trading partner would ask for to complete a deal. Trying to deal for a pitcher who could have more than two or three months in St. Louis would require a much steeper exchange of high-end prospects than the Cardinals likely will want to pay.
With Wacha almost certain to join the 2014 rotation of Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia, with more starters such as Martinez in waiting, there is no need for the Cardinals to add a starter beyond the rest of this season. They also are not going to deal for a pitcher who will earn more money than Wainwright.
So, here is a look at eight potential free agent starters and the reasons why they could interest the Cardinals:
Matt Garza, Cubs – The 29-year-old right-hander has made seven starts since coming off the disabled list and in his last two has worked a combined 15 innings, allowing just seven hits and one run while walking four and striking out 13. He will be one of several veterans the Cubs will try to trade for prospects.
Josh Johnson, Blue Jays – Much like Garza, the biggest question with Johnson is his health. He has made three starts since coming off the DL and two of the three were very good. The Cardinals and Jays have a trade history together (Colby Rasmus) but with their recent winning streak putting them in contention, the Blue Jays might decide to hold onto Johnson unless they are presented with a premium package.
Paul Maholm, Braves – After a very good start to the season, Maholm had won only one of his five starts in the last month before Sunday, when he beat Milwaukee despite pitching only five innings. Being left-handed will make him a target for many clubs, but like the Blue Jays, the Braves are in contention and may decide he is of more value to them in their rotation than what he could bring in return in a possible deal.
Dan Haren, Nationals – The former Cardinal is one of the more intriguing names on this list. He has been awful for the Nationals, losing his ninth game of the year on Saturday. His biggest problem has been keeping the ball in the ballpark, having allowed a league-high 19 homers in 15 starts. He has lasted past the sixth inning in only three of his starts. The Nationals have been one of the most disappointing teams in the majors this season, basically playing .500 ball when they were the early favorite to win the pennant. A shake up move might be in order, and it could involve moving Haren, athough he was placed on the DL on Sunday with what was said to be shoulder stiffness. He also has a lingering hip problem that could scare off potential suitors.
Ricky Nolasco, Marlins – There is not enough talent left on the Marlins to repeat last year’s fire sale, but Nolasco is someone who already is drawing interest from numerous teams. The Cardinals basically stole Edward Mujica from the Marlins at the deadline last year, so maybe the same thing could happen this season. Pitching for the Marlins makes his 4-7 record deceiving. His 3.68 ERA is a better indicator of how he has pitched.
Ervin Santana, Royals – As with Nolasco, ignore Santana’s 5-5 record and look at his ERA – 2.64 – the third best in the American League. He also has worked at least six innings in all 14 of his starts. The Royals have gone from awful to respectable in the last month, and it will be interesting to see what kinds of moves they make in dealing veterans before the deadline.
A.J. Burnett, Pirates – With the Pirates nipping at the Cardinals’ heels, it is doubtful they would want to help out their rival by trading them Burnett. Before dealing him to anybody he would have to get off the DL first. Luckily, he is out with a torn right calf muscle, so the injury has nothing to do with this elbow or shoulder. He had a 4-6 record when he was sidelined, but a more-than-respectable ERA of 3.12. If the Pirates do fall out of the race in the next month, Burnett is a candidate to be dealt.
Tim Lincecum, Giants – Perhaps the biggest wild card on the list, and certainly the one with the highest price tag – dealing for Lincecum would cost the Cardinals about $10 million for the rest of the season, depending on when the deal is made. As much as injuries have killed the Giants so far this season, they are only 3 games behind Arizona, so they might be looking to add instead of subtract. Moving Lincecum, who they likely will not sign this winter, for a package of prospects would keep the organization moving forward beyond this season, however. He has won only two of his last 11 starts, and a change of scenery might revitalize the pitcher who was one of the best in the game as recently as 2011. And don’t forget, he just turned 29.
Cardinals’ secret ingredient?
It might not be responsible for any wins, but a new drink that team chef Simon Lusky has been making available to the Cardinals has him convinced at least that it will make them feel better.
This season, Lusky began planting and growing wheat grass at Busch Stadium, and every week he harvests a batch and squeezes the juice out of it, which he makes available to players in an equivalent to a 1.25 ounce shot glass.
Drinking that shot, Simon said, is the same as eating three pounds of vegetables.
Lusky said he did a lot of research into the benefits of wheat grass before deciding to grow it and offer it to the players.
“I had heard of it and knew it was healthy,” he said. “There is nothing but good research out there. It can do nothing but help you.”
Among the players who have tried the wheat grass drink are Matt Holliday, Trevor Rosenthal and David Freese.
“Anything you can do,” Rosenthal said.
Said Holliday, “I like the fresh juice. I think it’s good for you, it’s healthy.”
Around the minors
With outfielder Stephen Piscotty’s promotion to Springfield on Saturday, five of the players picked in the 2012 draft have already reached that level or higher – Michael Wacha, James Ramsey, Tim Cooney, Lee Stoppelman and Piscotty, who hit his first Double A homer on Sunday … Ramsey has hit four homers in his last 31 at-bats (eight games) in Springfield … Pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, the 50th overall pick in the 2010 draft, made his debut for Class A Palm Beach on Saturday and worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. Jenkins is still only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until July. He was 4-4 in 10 starts at Class A Peoria before his promotion … Outfielder Tommy Pham, who has had a long history of injury problems since being drafted in 2006, finally made it to Triple A Memphis on Saturday. Pham, 25, played only 52 games total the last two seasons because of injuries, but was promoted after hitting .301 with six homers and 28 RBI in 45 games at Springfield this year. He doubled and walked in his Triple A debut.
............
Follow @RobRains on Twitter and "Like" StL Sports Page on Facebook.
Check out Rob's StLSportsPage.com for his video interview with Ham Porter ("The Great Hambino") from The Sandlot and other sports stories.
Even after anointing Joe Kelly as their fifth starter, for now, the Cardinals have three, and perhaps as many as five, internal options about how to fill that spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.
They could keep Kelly in the role, if he does well in the spot starts he will get between now and the All-Star break. By then, either Michael Wacha or Carlos Martinez could be options for a promotion from Triple A Memphis as well.
We should also know in a month what the status of Chris Carpenter will be, and whether he is a possibility to join either the rotation or the bullpen. Left-hander John Gast also is said to be a couple of weeks away from beginning to throw as he recovers from a lat injury.
The Cardinals could also look at possible external options to fill that spot between now and the trading deadline of July 31. If they decide to explore that route, the most likely scenario would be to trade for a pitcher eligible to be a free agent at the end of the year.
The reason behind that strategy is obvious – the cost will be much less, both in terms of the pitcher’s salary, and also in terms of the young players the trading partner would ask for to complete a deal. Trying to deal for a pitcher who could have more than two or three months in St. Louis would require a much steeper exchange of high-end prospects than the Cardinals likely will want to pay.
With Wacha almost certain to join the 2014 rotation of Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia, with more starters such as Martinez in waiting, there is no need for the Cardinals to add a starter beyond the rest of this season. They also are not going to deal for a pitcher who will earn more money than Wainwright.
So, here is a look at eight potential free agent starters and the reasons why they could interest the Cardinals:
Matt Garza, Cubs – The 29-year-old right-hander has made seven starts since coming off the disabled list and in his last two has worked a combined 15 innings, allowing just seven hits and one run while walking four and striking out 13. He will be one of several veterans the Cubs will try to trade for prospects.
Josh Johnson, Blue Jays – Much like Garza, the biggest question with Johnson is his health. He has made three starts since coming off the DL and two of the three were very good. The Cardinals and Jays have a trade history together (Colby Rasmus) but with their recent winning streak putting them in contention, the Blue Jays might decide to hold onto Johnson unless they are presented with a premium package.
Paul Maholm, Braves – After a very good start to the season, Maholm had won only one of his five starts in the last month before Sunday, when he beat Milwaukee despite pitching only five innings. Being left-handed will make him a target for many clubs, but like the Blue Jays, the Braves are in contention and may decide he is of more value to them in their rotation than what he could bring in return in a possible deal.
Dan Haren, Nationals – The former Cardinal is one of the more intriguing names on this list. He has been awful for the Nationals, losing his ninth game of the year on Saturday. His biggest problem has been keeping the ball in the ballpark, having allowed a league-high 19 homers in 15 starts. He has lasted past the sixth inning in only three of his starts. The Nationals have been one of the most disappointing teams in the majors this season, basically playing .500 ball when they were the early favorite to win the pennant. A shake up move might be in order, and it could involve moving Haren, athough he was placed on the DL on Sunday with what was said to be shoulder stiffness. He also has a lingering hip problem that could scare off potential suitors.
Ricky Nolasco, Marlins – There is not enough talent left on the Marlins to repeat last year’s fire sale, but Nolasco is someone who already is drawing interest from numerous teams. The Cardinals basically stole Edward Mujica from the Marlins at the deadline last year, so maybe the same thing could happen this season. Pitching for the Marlins makes his 4-7 record deceiving. His 3.68 ERA is a better indicator of how he has pitched.
Ervin Santana, Royals – As with Nolasco, ignore Santana’s 5-5 record and look at his ERA – 2.64 – the third best in the American League. He also has worked at least six innings in all 14 of his starts. The Royals have gone from awful to respectable in the last month, and it will be interesting to see what kinds of moves they make in dealing veterans before the deadline.
A.J. Burnett, Pirates – With the Pirates nipping at the Cardinals’ heels, it is doubtful they would want to help out their rival by trading them Burnett. Before dealing him to anybody he would have to get off the DL first. Luckily, he is out with a torn right calf muscle, so the injury has nothing to do with this elbow or shoulder. He had a 4-6 record when he was sidelined, but a more-than-respectable ERA of 3.12. If the Pirates do fall out of the race in the next month, Burnett is a candidate to be dealt.
Tim Lincecum, Giants – Perhaps the biggest wild card on the list, and certainly the one with the highest price tag – dealing for Lincecum would cost the Cardinals about $10 million for the rest of the season, depending on when the deal is made. As much as injuries have killed the Giants so far this season, they are only 3 games behind Arizona, so they might be looking to add instead of subtract. Moving Lincecum, who they likely will not sign this winter, for a package of prospects would keep the organization moving forward beyond this season, however. He has won only two of his last 11 starts, and a change of scenery might revitalize the pitcher who was one of the best in the game as recently as 2011. And don’t forget, he just turned 29.
Cardinals’ secret ingredient?
It might not be responsible for any wins, but a new drink that team chef Simon Lusky has been making available to the Cardinals has him convinced at least that it will make them feel better.
This season, Lusky began planting and growing wheat grass at Busch Stadium, and every week he harvests a batch and squeezes the juice out of it, which he makes available to players in an equivalent to a 1.25 ounce shot glass.
Drinking that shot, Simon said, is the same as eating three pounds of vegetables.
Lusky said he did a lot of research into the benefits of wheat grass before deciding to grow it and offer it to the players.
“I had heard of it and knew it was healthy,” he said. “There is nothing but good research out there. It can do nothing but help you.”
Among the players who have tried the wheat grass drink are Matt Holliday, Trevor Rosenthal and David Freese.
“Anything you can do,” Rosenthal said.
Said Holliday, “I like the fresh juice. I think it’s good for you, it’s healthy.”
Around the minors
With outfielder Stephen Piscotty’s promotion to Springfield on Saturday, five of the players picked in the 2012 draft have already reached that level or higher – Michael Wacha, James Ramsey, Tim Cooney, Lee Stoppelman and Piscotty, who hit his first Double A homer on Sunday … Ramsey has hit four homers in his last 31 at-bats (eight games) in Springfield … Pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, the 50th overall pick in the 2010 draft, made his debut for Class A Palm Beach on Saturday and worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. Jenkins is still only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until July. He was 4-4 in 10 starts at Class A Peoria before his promotion … Outfielder Tommy Pham, who has had a long history of injury problems since being drafted in 2006, finally made it to Triple A Memphis on Saturday. Pham, 25, played only 52 games total the last two seasons because of injuries, but was promoted after hitting .301 with six homers and 28 RBI in 45 games at Springfield this year. He doubled and walked in his Triple A debut.
............
Follow @RobRains on Twitter and "Like" StL Sports Page on Facebook.
Check out Rob's StLSportsPage.com for his video interview with Ham Porter ("The Great Hambino") from The Sandlot and other sports stories.
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