Mozeliak To Dial Area Code 4-1-6
MILWAUKEE - Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak on Thursday refused to discuss specifically the team’s interest in Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay but allowed that he would be contacting Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi about a potential talent match.
“I’m not going to get into a conversation about another team’s player. It’s my policy not to. But as I said recently, we’re going to take stock of where we stand then more forward accordingly,” Mozeliak said. “Without getting into specifics, it’s fair to say there will be a call to Toronto well before the [non-waiver trade] deadline.”
The Cardinals are among a cluster of teams intrigued by the perennial Cy Young Award contender. And in some ways, they represent a good fit for a player who is under contract through 2010 and enjoys full no-trade protection. The Blue Jays are believed more likely to deal Halladay to the National League, and Halladay is known to have a favorable opinion of St. Louis. Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is among Halladay’s closest friends. St. Louis also offers a more neutral stadium in addition to a less caustic fan base than rumored front-runner Philadelphia.
Mozeliak said the team’s recent trade of reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named for Cleveland Indians infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa does not necessarily inhibit the club’s ability to make a huge deal. “Another deal would be completely independent and, in my mind, no less possible because of [the DeRosa acquisition].”
The Cardinals, however, are more likely to aim lower, pursuing a set-up reliever and bench help. The timetable for DeRosa’s return from a torn tendon sheath near his left wrist will also affect whether the club believes another front-line hitter necessary.
(12 votes, average: 4.58 out of 5)
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I think an acquisition like this would have a much bigger impact that just the obvious. As some have mentioned it would show a commitment to winning to Albert. Keeping Albert, to me, is worth more than every prospect in our entire system. Like others have said it would also take a lot of pressure off of the offense who seem to be pressing and being far more aggressive than they have in past, more productive, periods. Another thing it would do is improve our bullpen tremendously. Having 5 above average starters to run out every day would obviously reduce innings on the pen but it would also put them in better situations. These improvements are not even considering the fact that acquiring Halladay would prevent Chicago and Milwaukee from using him to overtake our far from comfortable lead in the division. In my opinion, all upside no downside as long as he’s healthy and pitches the way we know he can.
Why not trade Wallace. That tree stump can’t play third, and if we don’t move him for help now, he will be playing first base for us in a couple years when Albert packs up and leaves. If we don’t put a team around Albert soon, and he ends up leaving, I will root against the Cards till the day I die.
Trying to understand why Mitchell Boggs & Daryl Jones would have too much value to the organization and would break a Halladay trade, but someone would be perfectly fine dealing Blake Hawksworth or another Memphis starter or Jon Jay instead? Not talking about mortgaging the future here, but do have to give up something to get something. Otherwise, a proposal of “B” list prospects doesn’t net one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Mo…this would be a Central Division killing. We would dominate the division for AT LEAST 2yrs!!!
AND we would keep Albert on the Cardinals to boot.
Seriously people I know its wise to not get too optimistic in regards to Cardinals brass and their history of not commiting to the big fish, however lets review the reasons on paper as to why Mo should and can get the Halloday deal done.
1) He does in fact need to prove to Pu that were commited to him not wasting his talents in STL by locking up a cy young contender.
2) Hal added to the rotation we have now as everyone smart here realizes would lock up the central and most likely the NLCS as well.
2) Carp is one of Halladays best friends and Hal likes the town which could sweeten the deal for sure.
3) We have Cardinal brass already saying in the Post Dispatch that J.P. Ricciardi(spelling?) can have his pick of any 5 out of ALL our prospects. Suggesting they realize the magnitude of the trade and how easily it could spell out a championship for the team.
4)We have enough prospect talent (and Mo knows it) to deal for Halladay and to replace whoever gets dealt away for Halladay.
5)NLCS=Solid 5 man pitching rotation!