P.6 Ludwick to SD; Westbrook and Pads prospect to STL

[Radbird]

The MLB Network's Trade Deadline Special is pretty good. Like Neyer's quote above, I'm not hearing the gloom and doom about this trade from a Cardinals perspective that we all seem to be feeling (myself included).

My feelings are based on liking Luddy quite a bit and concern about seemingly weakening the offense. But there were financial considerations that could give us the ability to do more downstream.

Announcing a last minute trade for Drew would brighten my mood considerably.

[InvincibleCakeEater]

Comparing Jon Jay and Brian Barton through the same age could be fun.

[redbirdjazzz]

Headline tomorrow:
"Cardinals [expletive] in a Three-way."

[InvincibleCakeEater]

I will miss Cameron's Ferrari.

[Bo Hart]

The MLB Network's Trade Deadline Special is pretty good. Like Neyer's quote above, I'm not hearing the gloom and doom about this trade from a Cardinals perspective that we all seem to be feeling (myself included).

I don't know, Neyer doesn't seem to be taking into consideration that it's two months of Westbrook for 8 months of Ludwick. . .

[Richie Allen]

But Ludwick being one of our best assets, I don't like the fact he was traded for something we have as a strength, which is our rotation.

Unless you're willing to punt 2 to 3 times a weak, I don't think it's reasonable to argue that starting pitching is a position of strength as long as you're depending on a couple of the worst starting pitchers in the league. To me, starting pitching becomes a position of strength when you've got 6 or 7 pitchers capable of starting. We needed (at least) another starter, regardless of how well 1 through 3 have been pitching.

[jagtrader]

With the way Pujols and Rasmus look right now, the Cardinals may not score enough runs for that rotation to matter in October.

Do you really think Pujols and Rasmus will be struggling like this for the next 2 months

No, but they're going to have to be 900-1.000 OPS guys to carry the rest of this lineup.

[Richie Allen]

Comparing Jon Jay and Brian Barton through the same age could be fun.

ICE taking firm hold of the reins on the anti-Jay bandwagon.

[InvincibleCakeEater]

Speaking of trade deadline network specials, I kind of want to bang the chick on the ESPNEWS special.

[Fat Strat]

Some more reasoned thoughts after a few hours to think about it...

First, I don't think this deal hurts us at all... In fact, it helps us. I love Jay for what he is, but I have no visions of him continuing to hit at this level. Neither does Mo. The Jay/Craig platoon that we're likely to see going forward, otoh, is probably equal all around than Ludwick and obviously millions cheaper. Offense and defense is probably a wash in the deal and we add Westbrook, who is an obviously huge upgrade over Suppan.


That said, it shouldn't have happened this way. It's essentially Ludwick for Westbrook, cash, and a minor leaguer. That is a fair deal (meaning, talent for talent is even). But, Westbrook shouldn't have required trading Ludwick.


I said last night that the deal was probably Craig for Westbrook. I still think that was the case, and the Cards decided to do this three way deal to hang on to Craig -- a future Ludwick -- and go ahead and get something for Ludwick... who they clearly planned to non-tender before arbitration. In some ways Modene is correct. This is best viewed as a salary dump for next year that we got a decent return on this year (Westbrook). Crazy. Very crazy. Never seen anything like it.