Dave S.: Joe,

Lately people all over the boards have been ripping Mo appart for not making big moves. If I remember correctly when Mo was Ast. GM didn't he handle both Springer and Luddy for the Cards? I think I remember reading that here at STLtoday. I just think Mo deserves more credit than he is getting, and I think he will make some much needed moves this winter. Fans shouldn't throw Mo under the bus for DeWitt's cheapness.

Joe Strauss: Mo did much heavy lifting as asst. GM. But now he's in The Chair. Credit and criticism come with it. Baseball's Best Fans should look beyond the city limits, however. This market is moving at a glacial pace. I expect a flurry of activity in Vegas. If the Cardinals leave The Meadows empty-handed (either at the trading table or the craps table), have at 'em.

Bluebirds66: Joe, I don't get it. The Braves wouldn't deal Ohlman to anyone (especially the Cards) last year. Now they don't even offer him abritration. They ended up with nothing. Why?

Joe Strauss: Like almost everyone else with a LH reliever to deal, they overreached. I doubt many loyalists would have supported dealing Jason Motte for two months of Will Ohman.

renomike99: Joe, how do "financial flexibility" and not resigning Russ Springer fit in the same sentence? Sure, the Cardinals have alot of right handed pitching in the bullpen. Unfortunately, most of that right-handed "depth" and all of the bullpen's left-handers, crashed and burned last year. On the other hand, Springer actually got people out. Russ appeared in 70 games, pitched at a 2.33 era, and allowed only 39 hits. That's very good, better than virtually anybody else in the sorry 2008 Cardinal bullpen. At last year's salary of around $3.5 million, Springer seems to me a bargain. Plus, he is a great guy in the clubhouse. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. I'm afraid Cardinal management is making a big mistake here.

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals project Ryan Franklin as a set-up man for the to-be-determined closer. They have Perez and Motte, one of whom likely will start next season in Memphis should a closer be acquired. Kyle McClellan took over Springer's projected role this season, making Springer's salary somewhat out of line with his responsibilities. The better question would appear to be: Can McClellan be trusted with the 7th/8th innings while making less than $500,000 or is 40-year-old Springer needed. There's a legitimate debate to be had. However, if the Cardinals had offered Springer arbitration they could have been left in the air about his '09 salary until February.

KC in Bham: Hey Joe, I’m a longtime reader of the tsunami express, and this is my first time submitting a question. With the Cardinals declining arbitration to Looper, Lopez, and Springer, should we expect a big splash in free agency, hopefully making a serious run after Furcal, Fuentes, or Hudson? Second, how interested are the Cardinals in obtaining a left handed starter, preferably Randy Johnson or Wolf? Third, I’m a huge Ludwick fan and would like to know what the possibility (%) of him sticking around is vs the percentage likely hood for Ankiel being traded?
Thanks KC

Joe Strauss: I expect the Cardinals will try to spread their resources rather than concentrate them on 1-2 players. The Cardinals have made no move toward Johnson and don't appear willing to invest more than $10 million per year for 3-4 seasons in Fuentes. Furcal remains an intriguing possibility but has a history of back problems, a significant factor for an organzition increasingly sensitive about its perceived blind spot toward health risks. As stated before, Ludwick remains the Cardinals' most valuable trading chip.

Rich: Thanks for the time, Joe. Nothing like a tsunami to warm up the hot stove, eh?

I get the sense that Mo is playing poker here. It seems like he's checked and wants to see how everyone else bets before making his move. Last spring's Lohse move worked out well with that stategy. Is that the modus operandi here too? I can see Mo waiting for the big boys to move and then trying to pick up the leftovers for cheap.

If in fact that's the move, what players do you see falling through the cracks and begging for an offer in January?

Also, what will it take for Duncan to build his trade value? I can't bear the thought of watching him play left field again. Seeing him stumble after fly balls makes me think I had a better shot at the major league than my coaches said. ;-)

Thanks again.

Joe Strauss: You're onto something. I believe Mo' will be revealed as "slow-play" poker player, much as was his predecessor. The word is "value." We'll see what the actual market is for second-tier starting pitchers like Oliver Perez and Looper is. Maybe Jon Garland as well. There is always a Boras client (Weaver, Lohse) hurt by overplaying the market. Yet to be factored are those players non-tendered by current teams. A flooded market is a buyer's market.