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One Last Stoke Of The Hot Stove

Posted on January 30, 2012 at 7:26 AM
Filed Under: St. Louis Cardinals
Just when you thought it was safe to go on autopilot for a month, to start writing out rosters and planning for pitchers and catchers to report on February 18, John Mozeliak breaks out the curveball and immediately everyone starts swinging at it.

Buzz built Friday night that the Cardinals and Roy Oswalt were getting close to an agreement.  Mozeliak denied that they were actively pursuing Oswalt, though that didn't make much of a dent in the speculations and expectations.  Mozeliak is always going to be circumspect in free agent dealings, but more so in this case, as there's not an obvious spot for Oswalt--which means someone would have to go.  You hate to risk bruising egos unless a deal is almost completed.

That is, of course, unless your name is Kyle McClellan.

I've said before that it can't be easy for McClellan to return to the Cardinals in 2012.  After two spring trainings of planning to be a starter but winding up in the bullpen, he finally gets his chance last year, only to have the club bump him from the rotation mid-season with the acquisition of Edwin Jackson.  Then he's not on the NLDS roster and only pitches 1/3 of an inning in the NLCS, a series that was dominated by the relief staff.  Following that, he's left off the World Series roster.  It'd be enough to have anyone question their place in the organization.

Now, though, it appears that the Cards are looking to dump him off for salary relief.  If a deal doesn't get done, how do you (if you are McClellan) come back to this team next month?  Can you really just put it all behind you and go out and pitch, knowing in the back of your mind that the club is likely to deal you at the first opportunity?

I'm not saying that the Cards have done anything wrong.  They've definitely worked in the best interest of the club and that nice shiny trophy is an indication that they've done a pretty good job at it.  However, human nature being what it is, you'd have to think that there's some tension between McClellan and the club.

Some indications were that Oswalt, whom the Cards gave a low-ball $5 million offer a week or so ago if reports are accurate, the Cards were about $2.5 million shy on what Oswalt wanted (I believe the talking points were that the Cards were offering $7.5 and Oswalt wanted $10--he may want to play in St. Louis, but he's not going to go crazy with the discounts.)  Not coincidentally, McClellan just avoided arbitration and signed a $2.5 million deal.  Funny how these things happen.....

On the broader point, I've been a fan of Roy Oswalt since the big rivalry days of the mid-aughts.  He seems like a player that would slide right into the organization in a similar way as Lance Berkman did.  He'd definitely upgrade the rotation--as we saw in Philadelphia, when you've got Oswalt as a #4 guy, you are doing pretty well.  Kyle Lohse would probably be the best #5 in the league and from top to bottom the Cards would look very strong on paper.

What happens to Jake Westbrook in this scenario is unknown.  I assume that he'd move into McClellan's slot in the bullpen, as the club must feel like he can do the relief thing and be effective.  I'm surprised that they aren't trying to shop him a little more.  I know he's got a no-trade clause and perhaps he's been adamant about not waiving it, but if the Cards offered to pay half his salary, that'd still save them around $4 million, I believe.

Apparently Oswalt meets with the Rangers today and, honestly, I'd half expect him to wind up there.  The Rangers don't necessarily have a spot for him either, but I think they could move pieces easier than the Cards could.  Still, I hope we'll get a chance this season to see Oswalt take the mound every fifth day wearing Cardinal red.  It just seems right somehow.

A few links from around the World Wide Web......

--The Cards have introduced a new website for their Hall of Fame, according to KMOV.  Being that I don't believe they have a physical location as of yet after moving out of the Bowling Hall of Fame, it's nice to be able to see some of the great history of the Redbirds.  The site can be found here.

--Speaking of Hall of Fames, the Missouri Hall of Fame welcomed in some new members.  Most importantly for Cardinal fans, they inducted Jim Edmonds into their august body.  I don't know if Jimmy Ballgame can get into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but I'm sure there are a number of smaller ones like this that will have his name on a plaque.  Congrats to Edmonds for the honor.

--Finally, Mark over at RetroSimba got a chance to talk with Cardinal broadcaster (and former pitcher) Ricky Horton while he was down at Cardinals Legends Camp.  Horton talks about what went right last year and how the broadcast team had to scramble after Game 6.  Head over there and read what is a very good interview!

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Heroes
Matt Holliday (5)
Matt Carpenter (4)
Rafael Furcal (4)
Carlos Beltran (3)
Jaime Garcia (3)
Jon Jay (3)
Kyle Lohse (3)
Lance Lynn (3)
Yadier Molina (3)
David Freese (2)
Adam Wainwright (2)
Lance Berkman (1)
Allen Craig (1)
Shane Robinson (1)
Fernando Salas (1)
Jake Westbrook (1)

2011 Top Hero: Lance Berkman (24)
2010 Top Heroes: Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (24)
2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
Matt Holliday (4)
Carlos Beltran (3)
David Freese (3)
Jaime Garcia (3)
Jason Motte (3)
Marc Rzepczynski (3)
Adam Wainwright (3)
Rafael Furcal (2)
Tyler Greene (2)
J.C. Romero (2)
Fernando Salas (2)
Mitchell Boggs (1)
Matt Carpenter (1)
Tony Cruz (1)
Daniel Descalso (1)
Jon Jay (1)
Erik Komatsu (1)
Kyle Lohse (1)
Victor Marte (1)
Eduardo Sanchez (1)
Jake Westbrook (1)

2011 Top Goat: Ryan Theriot (12)
2010 Top Goat: Brendan Ryan (14)
2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

2012 Happy Flights
Happy Flights: 7
Happy Flight Opportunities: 12
Happy Flight %: 58%

Through 5/20

    Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2012)
    Adam Wainwright 91.9% (down 2.8%)
    Chris Carpenter 90.1% (up 3.2%)
    Lance Berkman 88.6%
    Tony La Russa 88.2% (up 17.4%)
    Yadier Molina 87.4% (up 3.7%)
    Matt Holliday 87.3% (down 3.8%)
    David Freese 85.5%
    John Mozeliak 85.4% (up 13.3%)
    Mike Shannon 85.3% (up 0.4%)
    Jose Oquendo 84.7%
    Derrick Goold 82.8% (down 5.0%)
    Mark McGwire 82.6% (up 20.1%)
    John Rooney 81.5% (down 2.8%)
    Mike Matheny 81.1%
    Bill DeWitt 79.8% (up 8.8%)
    United Cardinal Bloggers 78.9%
    Skip Schumaker 73.3% (up 9.2%)
    Jim Hayes 71.9% (down 4.2%)
    Jon Jay 71.1%
    B.J. Rains 69.5% (down 0.9%)
    Kyle Lohse 68.9% (up 13.8%)
    Dan McLaughlin 68.0%
    Joe Strauss 67.7% (up 10.2%)
    Ricky Horton 67.5% (down 1.6%)
    Al Hrabosky 66.4% (up 3.2%)
    Albert Pujols 54.9% (down 45.5%)
    Colby Rasmus 46.5% (down 35.3%)

    2011
    Dave Duncan 87.9% (up 0.9%)
    Matthew Leach 85.5%
    Pop Warner 76.7%
    Ryan Franklin 72.8% (up 3.1%)
    John Vuch 68.9%
    Jeff Luhnow 66.4%
    Dan Lozano 58.7%

    2009
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%


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