Marcell Ozuna Watch - (Update: Traded to Cards Pg. 13)

[Big Amoco Sign]

Meanwhile, the Giants are getting close on Billy Hamilton.

With their system, I don't see how they can get 2 OF'ers.

Guessing we are about to land Ozuna and the Giants are going to get Hamilton and then sign an FA OF'er or something.

Duggar is an interesting Giants OF prospect. They also have a late-bloomer Aramis Garcia at catcher who could emerge this year. Probably a Posey backup/co-catcher though.

Expect the Giants to listen on Brandon Belt. They have Chris Shaw who can be plugged right into his place and probably not skip much of a beat, given the haul they could get.

[Popeye_Card]

I’d check in on the asking price for Belt. He’d look good at 1B with Marp shifting to 3B, in lieu of a Longoria type alternative.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Brandon Belt's concussion issues scare me.

[Big Amoco Sign]

I’d check in on the asking price for Belt. He’d look good at 1B with Marp shifting to 3B, in lieu of a Longoria type alternative.

Too much defensive sacrificing. Better to just trade Carpenter altogether. DeJong and Carpenter on the left side makes me cringe so hard.

[Spider John]

I still think it's something like Alcantara, Hudson, and Grichuk for Ozuna.

If Ziegler is thrown in then take out Hudson and add Woodford or Gallen.

What is an OF of Ozuna Pham and Fowler like defensively? Fowler's arm in RF is the only glaring concern. How is range? Pham in CF can't last much longer than 2018 I imagine.

How's Ozuna's arm and speed? If he can play GG defense in left I wonder how it would transfer to RF.

[Popeye_Card]

Good point. Belt and Carpenter are pretty similar players overall. He’s a nice player to have, but not really a fit for the Cardinals unless Carpenter gets traded.

[vinsanity]

Good point. Belt and Carpenter are pretty similar players overall. He’s a nice player to have, but not really a fit for the Cardinals unless Carpenter gets traded.

Back in the Pujols days it seemed like they were unable to make marginal upgrades. In that sense, Belt would be a fairly significant upgrade, IMO, to Greg Garcia+Voit+Jose Martinez+Jhonny Peralta.

He's not really an impact player but he's a large improvement over the current 25th position on the roster and offers flexibility in case of injury. There are plenty of opportunities for Belt, Marp, Gyroko, Pham, Piscotty to play and still improve the roster. I'd prefer Longoria than Belt, depending on cost, but I'd still like to see more of these moves depending on cost.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

An update per Goold:

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 403ed.html

What the Miami Marlins learned about the Cardinals' system during the negotiations about Giancarlo Stanton has informed them on what to ask (or even expect) as the focus shifts to discussions about outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

The Marlins have had movement in their discussions with teams about Ozuna, and the expectation is that they will command some talented pitching in return.

The Cardinals have that pitching to offer, know that the Marlins have interst in their pitching, and the Cardinals have interest in Ozuna.

The Cardinals and Nationals are known to have had some interest in Ozuna, and The Miami Herald reported that the Blue Jays, Rangers and Colorado Rockies have also approached the Marlins about the outfielder. The Cardinals are believed to have had the most advanced conversations with the Marlins, a source said.

The Marlins, at this point, appear more motivated to move Ozuna, who has two years remaining on his contract, than they are Christian Yellich, who has five years remaining on his contract.

[Fat Strat]

If Goold is reporting that then we really are very close. I don’t completely trust Nightengale, but Goold does not give that kind of information unless it’s close. I think it’s just a matter of settling on which pitching prospect(s) go.

I will be kind of upset if it is Weaver. Anything less and that’s ok. I think Reyes’ recovery takes him out of the conversation altogether.

[JCShutout]

If Goold is reporting that then we really are very close. I don’t completely trust Nightengale, but Goold does not give that kind of information unless it’s close. I think it’s just a matter of settling on which pitching prospect(s) go.

I will be kind of upset if it is Weaver. Anything less and that’s ok. I think Reyes’ recovery takes him out of the conversation altogether.

I hope you're right. If I'm the Marlins, I'd wait for a few other offers to come in, unless there is someone we have who they really really want.