Tim: What kind of deals in terms of how much and how long are you looking at with Ludwick and Ankiel?

Jeff Gordon: I'm thinking $6 million or $7 million a year is a reasonable range. Three or four years would be a good range of length. Ankiel may dream of getting a Torii Hunter Contract, but I don't see that happening.

Tackleberry: Any Cards fan would be elated to see Peavy in red next year, but is that what we really need? I would think, even with Carpenter's status is flux, that starting pitching would be third on the list of needs. The bullpen has major issues, obviously, but a consistent #4 hitter still seems to trump any starting pitching need. The guys that currently insulate Pujols in the line-up are nothing if not inconsistent, or streaky for the positive spin. If we were going to part with Rasmus I'd rather get a hitter in return, not trade for Peavy and sign an over-the-hill Renteria and re-up an even streakier Lopez.

Jeff Gordon: Pitching always trumps hitting. The better your pitching, the easier everything else becomes.

The offense isn't far off. Yes, it was streaky. But remember, Ankiel played hurt for a chunk of last season and then shut down. What if the Cards had Ludwick, Ankiel, Lopez and Molina for all of last season, plus Mather on the bench all season? That would have been a better offense. What if the team finds 40 to 50 more RBI at shortstop?

Tim: I just dont see why the people would want Cards would throw out big money to Fuentes and lose out on someone like Furcal or Cabrera. DOnt get me wrong i like Fuentes but it just doesnt make sense to me heres why.

You can get alot more out of Furcal( everyday player, leadoff hitter, gret aveage, 30-40 SB, great glove etc) than you could with Fuentes(relief pitcher)

there is alot of FA LHR out in free agency( Affdelt, Ohman) who we can sign to much Cheaper deals and had good seasons and get good production out of)

Perez is going to be an outstanding closer he just needs to adjust major league wise in that role so if were not going to throw out money for a starting CF because of Rasmus how is it any different with a closer.

Do you somewhat agree with my points or am I not seeing something?

Is it possible that with salary dumps(Kennedy, Piniero) it could give more room to sign both Furcal and Fuentes?

Jeff Gordon: Pineiro offers valuable pitching depth. You can never have too much of that. He wasn't great last year, but he wasn't all that far off. I would keep him. Dumping Kennedy, if that is even possible, doesn't save enough to make a huge difference.

There are a zillion lefties out there. The Cards already added one of them. But Fuentes is a closer-caliber lefty. They are extremely rare. He would be a great guy to pair with Perez.

Furcal would change the offense, but I see the Dodgers keeping him. And Cabrera could exploit the current shortstop shortage and get overpaid.

Tackleberry: Is there a concern with chase Daniel's arm strength? I know that under-throwing the receiver is a technique used to create space or draw the interference call, but last night Maclin had a step on the corner more than once and had to either slow down or come back for the ball. Was that on purpose every time? If so, Daniel needs to recognize the separation and lead Maclin.

Jeff Gordon: The arm strength issue is more evident on those routes where the ball must be gunned into a small space. That is what NFL scouts want to see, as well as whether he can become a drop-back passer at his size. Those are the make-or-break issues.

Tim: Any talks progressing or anything at all with Lopez? Id like to see him as starting 2B?

Could Izturis come back for a backup role?

Jeff Gordon: If the Cards get a real shortstop, then Miles would be fine as the back-up. Or Ryan. Or Greene, who is grooming himself to become a utility player. Why put a useless hitter on the bench?