Cards, Jays Nearing Swap for Rolen
Updated 9:30 p.m. Updated 5:10 p.m. … Note: This story will appear shortly as a news story on StlToday.com, but in the spirit of offering instant, up-to-date information, I’m popping it in the blog as well. Will be updated as the day progress.
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Scott Rolen may finally get his wish, and the Cardinals may have found his replacement.
The Cardinals and Toronto Blues Jays are close to finalizing a swap of third basemen that would bring Troy Glaus to St. Louis and send the disenchanted Rolen north of the border. Multiple industry sources confirmed the conversations, which were first reported Saturday on FoxSports.com, and the deal could be completed early this coming week.
Glaus is scheduled for a physical Monday morning in St. Louis.
Both players will have to pass physicals before a trade can be finalized and if there is more than $1 million in cash changing hands the commissioner’s office will have to give its blessing. There may also be contract stipulations regarding Glaus’ option for the 2009 season — an important element for the Cardinals who wanted to assure they were getting the slugger for two seasons, instead of one.
Reached at his office, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said he was at the ballpark “working through this weekend and I’m working on a lot of different things.”
He declined to discuss specifics.
Another Cardinals official acknowledged that “there are conversations taking place”.
Rolen, a Gold Glove third baseman, has $36 million and three years remaining on his contract, though he did approach the Cardinals earlier this offseason to express a willingness to waive his no-trade clause. Rolen has a simmering feud with manager Tony La Russa, one that has become increasingly public since La Russa agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Cardinals. Rolen has remained mum publicly, though La Russa has described an environment where one player said he would prefer La Russa not return to the club.
That player: Rolen.
The Cardinals explored trading Rolen to several clubs — most notably Milwaukee – during the Winter Meetings in December. A deal could not be completed and Mozeliak left the meetings site believe Rolen would be a member of the 2008 Cardinals. Rolen has been disgruntled with the organization since a shoulder injury in 2005, and his frustration peaked in 2006 when La Russa did not start for a game in the National League Championship Series.
Rolen was limited to 112 games last season before requiring a third surgery in three seasons on his left shoulder. The Cardinals have said they expect him to be ready for spring training, and Rolen said the most recent surgery is to restore a flexibility he lacked in 2007. His difficulty with the shoulder contributed to sagging power numbers, which included eight home runs.
Glaus, 31, is a two-time 40-homer hitter and has five season of at least 30 home runs. He has been bothered by a foot injury that limited him to 115 games last season, though he still hit 20 home runs and drove in 62 RBIs.
It has been reported and confirmed that physicals for both players would be a pivotal part of completing any deal.
More as the story unfolds as StlToday.com.
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
There has to be a third team involved. The Cardinals would get rid of the Rolen/LaRussa feud, but lose a ton defensively at 3rd base. Maybe Mozeliak’s earlier trade discussions gave him something to suggest he can flip Glaus back to the West Coast for something, then sign Pedro Feliz if he is still an option.
Oh my gosh… Pedro Feliz? Only if the alternative is death.
Finally, now we can stop talking about fueds and talk about baseball!! Spring training is right around the corner and Troy Glaus should be a huge lift to the offense. The left side of the defense now will not be as sound with Glaus at 3rd and Duncan in LF but the batting order looks respectable.
I’m glad the moody and bitter Rolen is roll’in out of town, and roll’in out of the country!! I don’t care how much it cost us. He has the most sour personality the Cards have ever had on their team. Maybe Pujols will even bless us with an occasional smile now that the clubhouse is rid of the Rolen poison.
Good workman like player….poor attitude…good riddance Scott Rolen!!!
Did Selig’s office resolve Glaus’ issue with doping or is a possible suspension still looming? Do the Cardinals care whether that is an issue with him?
Now we will have to trade Duncan because every ball hit to the left will go for extra bases. This team is imploding! Only Albert and Yadi are left and I guess they will go next. Maybe the Marlins are relocating to St. Louis.
Concerning the steroid reports. SI.com reported late last season that Glaus received steroid shipments. The commissioner’s office looked into the reports and found there was not enough substantial evidence for a suspension or any punishment. Glaus has never spoken directly about the report, only telling reporters that he would not address the reports and had no comment. His non-comment at the time, from MLB.com:
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Duncan was better defensively before the All Star Break. After the break the Cardinals said he had an unspecified injury and his defense and hitting suffered. He had an opperation in September for the sports hernia. So get off Duncan’s back and give him a chance. Some of you so called Cardinal “FANS” can be mean and ugly at times. Just lighten up and see what happens.
“There has to be a third team involved. Pick up Pedro Feliz” How do you know this and where do you guys get some of this crap from. I am a hot stove fanatic and some of the things you guys blog are like you know these things as facts or somebody giving you inside info that no one else is privy to. Chill and see how mgmt gets the team through this most difficult and trying time (which I might add they caused).
This is actually a very good thing for the team. Look at what Mozeliak has pulled off here. He was able to unload an unhappy player that had more or less let it be known that he didn’t want to play for LaRussa. What value could have been left for a damaged player with downward spiraling offensive numbers and an inflated salary? Mozeliak was able to add a righthanded, impact bat to balance the lineup (for roughly the same salary). No, the defense is not going to be the same. Expect balls to be kicked, thrown away, and flat missed that were not with Rolen. Maybe the shortstop options that the Cards have now will provide more range to offset Glaus’ defense. Still this is a good thing. This team is not going to see many pitching duels this year. They are going to need to score a significant number of runs.
#4- If this goes through, I too am relieved.As far as sour personalities go,perhaps you have never heard of Joe Medwick?His contributions to the Gas House Gang are legendary, yet he was as a worse teammate than Rolen ever was.Personally, I thank Scotty and all he did for our team and wish him well competing against the Stankees and Dead Sox