Mozeliak: "Some Changes" Coming For Cardinals, But Not A Rebuild

[jagtrader]

The Cardinals have been patient with Carlson. That’s not the problem. They gave him 1,400 big league plate appearances. Guys like Arozarena and Garcia never got a shot.

[letsgocards89]

Why is Montgomery on the block? If the team is really wanting to contend while Goldy and 'Nado are here then they should be acquiring quality starters not shipping them off. I get the desire to move Flaherty but I'm not sure that makes any sense either. IMO they should use this trade deadline as a way to build for '24.

Nola (offseason splash)
Monty (give him Waino's $18M over 5 years)
Lynn (TDL and pick up '24 option)
Mikolas
Flaherty
Matz

That's a pretty decent looking rotation.

Otherwise just blow it up and build around the Walker/Gorman/Noot core.

[Lesson]

Why is Montgomery on the block? If the team is really wanting to contend while Goldy and 'Nado are here then they should be acquiring quality starters not shipping them off. I get the desire to move Flaherty but I'm not sure that makes any sense either. IMO they should use this trade deadline as a way to build for '24.

Nola (offseason splash)
Monty (give him Waino's $18M over 5 years)
Lynn (TDL and pick up '24 option)
Mikolas
Flaherty
Matz

That's a pretty decent looking rotation.

Otherwise just blow it up and build around the Walker/Gorman/Noot core.

Because Montgomery might want more than what the Cardinals are willing to pay if he hits FA.

He likely can get $20-$25 mil. annually on the open market for 4-5 years. He's likely worth that investment, but not sure if the Cardinals will pull the trigger on that.

[phins]

I am almost as excited to be sellers as some years where we are playoff contention, but really more also-rans.

As a prospect dork, the allure of selling for prospect value at the deadline is exciting. The dread of Mozeliak getting back a bunch of pitch-to-contact command-over-stuff prospects is scary.

[phins]

Why is Montgomery on the block? If the team is really wanting to contend while Goldy and 'Nado are here then they should be acquiring quality starters not shipping them off. I get the desire to move Flaherty but I'm not sure that makes any sense either. IMO they should use this trade deadline as a way to build for '24.

Nola (offseason splash)
Monty (give him Waino's $18M over 5 years)
Lynn (TDL and pick up '24 option)
Mikolas
Flaherty
Matz

That's a pretty decent looking rotation.

Otherwise just blow it up and build around the Walker/Gorman/Noot core.

I don't disagree that looks like a solid rotation.

Now look at the cost of that rotation over the next 5-7 years. $30M for Nola, $20M for Montgomery, $15M for Lynn, $18M for Mikolas, $18M for Flaherty, then $11M for Matz.

$112M for the Cardinals rotation alone is simply not going to happen. Ever.

That's a $220M roster in the end.

[Spider John]

Oh damn, I'm sorry. Don't tell me you were one of the people who really really thought Kentucky was gonna win even though that basically never happens, especially at Neyland. That was a bloodbath.

I had optimism going into the season that was quickly drained after Levis' injury and the OL being crap.

I have actually experienced a Kentucky win over Tennessee in person in football during my lifetime, but those aren't common.

Tennessee has not won a national title in any team sport since 2008.

Preaching to the choir, but at least we're fielding multiple programs that have a shot. Kentucky has one major program that can win championships, and things aren't so pretty there right now. I would be depressed if it was just a given that neither the football team nor the baseball team had a chance at competing.

False, Kentucky's won 3 titles since 2021 in sports that aren't basketball, one of which being women's volleyball (and being the only SEC team to win a title too!).

Basketball had the highest-rated recruiting class in the internet era so I feel great. Baseball is whatever. It's hard to recruit due to where KY is located geographically.

Kentucky could have the worst team in their history and still play a competitive game against us in basketball. I don't let that bother me.

I do remember that Tennessee made it further in the NCAA tournament and didn't, ya know, lose in the first round.

Kentucky didn't lose in the first round this year. They did lose one round before TN did. However, the difference between the two programs is one doesn't hang a banner for tournament appearances or Elite 8 appearances while the other one does.
[/quote]
In 1939 the Vols football team did not allow a point scored against them in the regular season. Let's see Kentucky basketball do that.

[jagtrader]

People are going to be very surprised when they see Montgomery’s contract.

[Lesson]

People are going to be very surprised when they see Montgomery’s contract.

With how big or little it is?

[letsgocards89]

Why is Montgomery on the block? If the team is really wanting to contend while Goldy and 'Nado are here then they should be acquiring quality starters not shipping them off. I get the desire to move Flaherty but I'm not sure that makes any sense either. IMO they should use this trade deadline as a way to build for '24.

Nola (offseason splash)
Monty (give him Waino's $18M over 5 years)
Lynn (TDL and pick up '24 option)
Mikolas
Flaherty
Matz

That's a pretty decent looking rotation.

Otherwise just blow it up and build around the Walker/Gorman/Noot core.

I don't disagree that looks like a solid rotation.

Now look at the cost of that rotation over the next 5-7 years. $30M for Nola, $20M for Montgomery, $15M for Lynn, $18M for Mikolas, $18M for Flaherty, then $11M for Matz.

$112M for the Cardinals rotation alone is simply not going to happen. Ever.

That's a $220M roster in the end.

It's not my money and I don't care. It puts the team back in the top 1/3 if not 1/4 of salaries where they should be if they want to compete without ever rebuilding.

That being said........unfortunately that doesn't matter and you're right.

[Magneto2.0]

Why is Montgomery on the block? If the team is really wanting to contend while Goldy and 'Nado are here then they should be acquiring quality starters not shipping them off. I get the desire to move Flaherty but I'm not sure that makes any sense either. IMO they should use this trade deadline as a way to build for '24.

Nola (offseason splash)
Monty (give him Waino's $18M over 5 years)
Lynn (TDL and pick up '24 option)
Mikolas
Flaherty
Matz

That's a pretty decent looking rotation.

Otherwise just blow it up and build around the Walker/Gorman/Noot core.

I think the most realistic option is the Cardinals sign 1 starter and trade for 2 anothers, 1 being a front end, and another being a back end guy. I don't see them getting two high end starters via free agency. They can make a splash for one like a Nola, Urias, Lucas Giolito, Blake Snell or Sonny Gray

And then trade for a Shane Bieber, Dylan Cease, Logan Gilbert type

I'd be happy if we went into the next season with a rotation of something like this:

Shane Bieber
Lucas Giolito
Miles Mikolas
Steven Matz
Michael Lorenzen (or any other guy like this)

With Hudson/Liberatore being emergency starters.

And I think it's very realistic and doable. Shane Bieber isn't going to cost as much as people think.