TOWER GROVE — A chorus of sources in the past couple weeks have all belted the same tune when it comes to the Cardinals: Any discussion with the local club about possible trades starts with the understanding Colby Rasmus ain’t going anywhere.

Scouts have said it. Other beat writers have heard it. We’ve reported it.

When reports in Pittsburgh — including this one from the Post-Gazette’s beat writer Dejan Kovacevic – surfaced yesterday that Jason Bay “could be had”, the Cardinals were linked to the outfielder because of several years of courtship. Their interest came with a caveat: Rasmus was untouchable. Colleague Joe Strauss hit chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. for his definition of untouchable during a Q&A session at the All-Star break. You’ve all read it (here), to be sure, but here’s the germane excerpt:

Strauss: Is there a chance that Rasmus could play his first major-league game in another uniform?

BDJ: I don’t anticipate that. No.

That’s the message that has gotten around baseball. Despite a slow start, despite a knee injury, the Cardinals perceive Rasmus’ value as much — and probably far more so — as Baseball America’s recent midseason re-ranking of the prospect.

The publication put him as fourth-best in baseball, three behind Matt LaPorta, the prospect that landed Milwaukee C.C. Sabathia.

The chance to land Sabathia (and their depth of minor-league talent) led the Brewers to consider trading their “top” prospect, and there are all sorts of deals that lead teams to redefine the word “untouchable.” Recently, one of the finer and most-established baseball blogs out there — Athletics Nation — pondered the kind of package of players it would take to get the Cardinals to reconsider “untouchable.”

In an entry from July 20, Athletics Nation suggests a mega-package of major-league players to land one minor leaguer: Rasmus. Check out the proposal here:

“The Final Sell-Off: How the A’s Can Land an Elite Hitter”

The breakdown of the deal presented: The Cardinals send Rasmus to Oakland for 2B Mark Ellis, SS Bobby Crosby, RHP Justin Duchscherer, LHP Alan Embree and closer Huston Street. Hard to imagine a package of players who could fill — best-case situation — many of the Cardinals’ needs.

Even harder to imagine it happening.

But it’s a fascinating mental exercise on both ends. How do the Cardinals hold on to the organizational philosophy of building from within for the good of the future when a package like that could so radically change the immediate future? How much are the A’s willing to give up for one bat?

With an hour to go before the trade deadline, thought it would be a good debate on just what ”untouchable” means this time of year, and if there is an another team out there that could offer a package that would change the definition of Rasmus or, for that matter, Kyle Lohse? A few months of Sabathia isn’t enough in exchange for Rasmus. True. Bay and one of those Pirates pitchers? A few months of Brian Fuentes? Several seasons of … George Sherrill?

Five-for-one is an unrealistic haul, bordering on one made for baseball cards not baseball players. But it’s a fascinating what-if scenario.

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