Looking Ahead to 2008

BleacherBum593 · 08-24-2007, 01:58 PM

Looking ahead to 2008.

Lot of decisions to be made on putting the 40-man roster together for 2008. Depending on the decisions that will be made in the next few months, anywhere from $75 million to $83 million has already been committed for the team that we will put on the field in 2008. Hopefully, Chris Carpenter’s new contract was insured before he became injured. If so, that will reduce the dollars committed by $10.5 million to the budget. Otherwise – OUCH!

Where to start in putting the 40 man together? I’m going to break this down into 6 schedules to start looking at the players that decisions must be made on as they put the 40 man together. We’ll call this Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll start looking at the makeup of the 40 man roster for 2008.

Lets start with minor leagues.

Players who will be 6 year free agents:

Pitchers:
Hugo Castellanos
Chris Narveson
Chris Russ
Michael Smith
Mike Venafro

Catchers:
Danny Ardoin
Ryan Christianson
Henry Guerrero

Infielders:
Tagg Bozied
Juan Richardson
Rico Washington

Outfielders:
Joe Mather

Players eligible for the Rule V draft:

Pitchers:
Philip Anderson
Eric Haberer
Kyle McClellan
Jason Motte
Mike Parisi
Stuart Pomeranz
Matt Scherer
Mike Sillman
Donnie Smith
Brian Stitt
Mark Worrell

Catchers:
Matt Pagnozzi
Brandon Yarborough

Infielders:
Jose Conteras
Mike Ferris
Travis Hanson
Jarrett Hoffpauir
Juan Lucena
Mike McCoy
Dan Nelson

Outfielders:
Reid Gorecki

And moving on to the current 40 man roster:

Players under contract for 2008:

Pitchers:
Chris Carpenter ($10.5 Mil)
Mark Mulder ($8.0 Mil/$1.5 Mil Buyout)
Bradon Looper ($5.5 Mil)
Ryan Franklin ($2.5 Mil)
Randy Flores ($1.0 Mil)
Jason Isringhausen ($8.0 Mil)

Infielders:
Albert Pujols ($16.0 Mil)
Scott Rolen ($12.0 Mil)
Adam Kennedy ($3.5 Mil)
Scott Spiezo ($2.3 Mil)

Outfielders:
Jim Edmonds ($8.0 Mil)
Juan Encarnacion ($6.5 Mil)

A total of $83.8 Mil committed in 2008 contracts.

Free Agents after the 2007 season:

Gary Bennett
David Eckstein
Troy Percival
Russ Springer
Kip Wells
Preston Wilson
Miguel Cairo
Russell Branyan
Kelly Stinnett
Joel Pineiro

Players under control (not eligible for free agency):

Pitchers:
Andy Cavazos
Dennis Dove
Brian Falkenborg
Blake Hawksworth
Kelvin Jimenez
T J Johnson
Josh Kinney
Mike Maroth (arbitration eligible)
Anthony Reyes
Brad Thompson
Adam Wainwright
Todd Wellemeyer (arbitration eligible)

Catchers:
Yadier Molina (arbitration eligible)

Infielders:
Brian Braden
Aaron Miles (arbitration eligible)
Brendan Ryan

Outfielders:
Rick Ankiel (arbitration eligible)
Chris Duncan
Cody Haerther
Ryan Ludwick
Skip Schumaker
So Taguchi (arbitration eligible)
John Rodriguez

I put the lists together in a hurry this morning. I’m sure I overlooked a player or two or three….

If someone will take the time to review the names on the lists in the next day or two (and post an update), we can move onto Part 2 next week.

Coop · 08-24-2007, 06:36 PM

Great information Bleacher!
Thanks.

Everybody should know I think Esposito killed my Memphis Redbirds this year.
i wanted Pags, because we didn't have anybody else behind the plate.
He works.

I like So Taguchi, but we have great young players.
I will feel bad about the end. A good man. Japan loved us.

GoCrazyFolks · 08-24-2007, 10:51 PM

Bleacher,
I don't remember where I saw it (I am thinking it was a Joe Strauss chat session), but the Cards were able to insure Carps contract against the elbow injury (as opposed to a shoulder injury which would not have been covered). IIRC it was insured for roughly 80% of the value.

BleacherBum593 · 08-25-2007, 01:17 AM

Thanks for the info on Carp's contract GoCrazy. I'll see if I can locate the info in Joe's chats.

BleacherBum593 · 10-05-2007, 04:54 PM

Bump

As I get some time after dinner tonight, I'll start updating the above information and start laying out a few thoughts for some "hot-stove" discussion.

tulcard · 10-05-2007, 05:09 PM

Always look forward to the "Hot Stove" discussion....

Ewttexas · 10-06-2007, 01:41 AM

Bleacher. I believe that Gonzalez requested and was granted his release.Cate and Esposito were designated for assignment. Hanson was outrighted. I don't know how that effects their status.

BleacherBum593 · 10-06-2007, 01:08 PM

I've updated the schedules in the first post of the thread. If anyone sees any player that I missed, please let me know and I'll update.

BleacherBum593 · 10-06-2007, 01:31 PM

As of today, 35 players are under control for next season.

Pitchers (18):
Chris Carpenter
Mark Mulder
Bradon Looper
Ryan Franklin
Randy Flores
Jason Isringhausen
Andy Cavazos
Dennis Dove
Brian Falkenborg
Blake Hawksworth
Kelvin Jimenez
T J Johnson
Josh Kinney
Mike Maroth
Anthony Reyes
Brad Thompson
Adam Wainwright
Todd Wellemeyer

Catchers (1):
Yadier Molina

Infielders (7):
Albert Pujols
Scott Rolen
Adam Kennedy
Scott Spiezo
Brian Braden
Aaron Miles
Brendan Ryan

Outfielders (9):
Jim Edmonds
Juan Encarnacion
Rick Ankiel
Chris Duncan
Cody Haerther
Ryan Ludwick
Skip Schumaker
John Rodriguez
So Taguchi

Chris Carpenter and Juan Encarnacion will probably start the 2008 season on the DL’s. However, they must be given spots on the 40 man roster that will be announced shortly before the Rule V draft this fall.

So, out of the 35 players committed at this time, who do you see that could be released or removed from the 40 man?

And then looking at the Rule V eligible players and the 6 year minor league free agents, who do you think could be added to the 40 man?

And which of the players eligible for MLB free agency should the Cards go after?

Your thoughts and comments...

tulcard · 10-07-2007, 02:02 PM

I would hope Maroth would be gone....also....where is Rasmus ? Shouldn't he be on the list?

BleacherBum593 · 10-07-2007, 02:16 PM

Colby is not on any of the schedules because the Cards still control him at the minor league level. By that I mean, he is not eligible to be selected in the Rule V draft by other teams and the Cards do not have to start the clock ticking on him by adding him to the 40 man roster to protect him and start the use of his 3 option years.

Maroth could very well be non-tendered this off season to make room for other 40 man roster additions. As could So Taguchi. Others who could be outrighted to the minor league system are pitchers Dennis Dove & Andy Cavazos. Possibly John Rodriguez too.

But, since Maroth has put up some decent numbers in the past, plus the fact that he is left handed, the Cards could bring him to spring training camp next season before deciding his fate. In addition, they may wait till they see what his agent requests in compensation (he's arbitration eligible) this off season and say that it's too high and just cut the cord at that time.

BleacherBum593 · 10-07-2007, 08:36 PM

Here are 4 players that I identified who should get consideration for the 40-man roster:

Jason Motte – 25 (6/22/82 DOB), 6’, 200 lbs, relief pitcher/closer, fastball in the 95-97 mph range. Stats for last season (Palm Beach/Springfield combined): 4-3 (w-l), 1.98 ERA, 11 S, 59 IP, 1.118 WHIP, .204 Opp BA, 69 K, 23 BB, 43 H

Kyle McClellan – 23 (6/12/84 DOB), 6’-4”, 205 lbs, relief pitcher/setup, fastball in the low 90’s. Stats for last season (Palm Beach/Springfield combined): 6-1 (w-l), 1.81 ERA, 59.2 IP, 0.938 WHIP, .212 Opp BA, 54 K, 10 BB.

Joe Mather – 25 (7/23/82 DOB), 6’-5”, 210 lbs. Drafted as 3B, but has since shifted to RF and 1B. Stats for last season (Springfield/Memphis combined):
.271/.357/.522/.879, 31 HR, 77 Rbi, 80 R, 10 for 10 SB, 27 2B’s

Jarrett Hoffpauir – 24 (6/18/83 DOB), 5’-9”, 165 lbs. Second Baseman. Stats for last season (Springfield/Memphis combined): .323/.407/.473/.880, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 50 R, 5 SB, 26 2B’s.

I looked at a few other players (Haberer, Parisi, Pomeranz, Sillman & Worrell) but felt that their stats didn’t warrant them being considered at this time.

Is there any player that you (other than the 4 that I listed) see, that should get consideration?

RockintheRed · 10-12-2007, 12:24 PM

I think Chris Perez would have to be added to the 40 man as well - you just know someone in the bullpen is bound to get hurt next year. I'll throw in Allen Craig's name too as just a possibility.

ArRedbird · 10-12-2007, 09:13 PM

Rockin'
-- I think Perez and Craig are safe, for now. But
I agree that Perez is getting closer to being ready for
the majors. When they decide to bring him up, they'll
have to add him to the 25-40 man at that time, of course.

Bleacher -
Interesting that the 4 players you list are all playing in the AFL.
Depending on how well they do there will go a long way to
determining whether they get added to the 40-man.

Right now, I would be most concerned about the pitchers.
They're the ones that another team might target for middle
relief (like Oakland wanted to do with TJ Johnson). So, for
me, I'd add Motte and McClellan; drop Dove and Kinney (both
were injured last year = less likely that another team would
take a chance on 'em).

Then I'd probably add Mather--we don't have many RH hitting OF
near-ready, except (maybe)for Stavinoha;
then drop either Falkenborg (because he already passed through
waivers when they sent him back down) or drop Haerther--
if you want to drop an OF in order to add an OF. Haerther gets
squeezed out in the numbers / LH hitters crunch.

Hoffpauir. That's a tough one. Basically, I'm trying to decide
if he would be a better replacement 2b than Brian Barden. He's got
potentially a better bat than Barden, but Barden has the edge in
fielding AND in being able to play ss. So I'd favor
Barden over Hoffpauir -- and figure that nobody would pick up
Hoffpauir for a whole season in the Rule V.

Worrell. He's a pitcher that could very well be at risk in
the Rule V: no health issues, quirky delivery, gets batters out.
Those characteristics might make him an attractive middle
reliever in Oakland, Detroit, Tampa, Cincy, NY (either team), Miami, etc.
So I'd add Worrell; drop Falkenborg, for reasons stated above.

enough hot stove for me, tonight!

Coop · 10-12-2007, 10:58 PM

I appreciate the posts already made by others in this thread and see the reasoning behind them.
Dove and Stavinoha did not look good to me in Memphis this year.
I was very enthusiastic in the beginning, then very disappointed.
Nick had lots of time to make a showing. His bat may have been some better than his fielding.

I was hoping Maroth would be sent to winter ball.
He may not be as awful as he appeared.

08-24-2007, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Looking Ahead to 2008 Looking ahead to 2008. Lot of decisions to be made on putting the 40-man roster together for 2008. Depending on the decisions that will be made in the next few months, anywhere from $75 million to $83 million has already been committed for the team that we will put on the field in 2008. Hopefully, Chris Carpenter’s new contract was insured before he became injured. If so, that will reduce the dollars committed by $10.5 million to the budget. Otherwise – OUCH! Where to start in putting the 40 man together? I’m going to break this down into 6 schedules to start looking at the players that decisions must be made on as they put the 40 man together. We’ll call this Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll start looking at the makeup of the 40 man roster for 2008. Lets start with minor leagues. Players who will be 6 year free agents: Pitchers: Hugo Castellanos Chris Narveson Chris Russ Michael Smith Mike Venafro Catchers: Danny Ardoin Ryan Christianson Henry Guerrero Infielders: Tagg Bozied Juan Richardson Rico Washington Outfielders: Joe Mather Players eligible for the Rule V draft: Pitchers: Philip Anderson Eric Haberer Kyle McClellan Jason Motte Mike Parisi Stuart Pomeranz Matt Scherer Mike Sillman Donnie Smith Brian Stitt Mark Worrell Catchers: Matt Pagnozzi Brandon Yarborough Infielders: Jose Conteras Mike Ferris Travis Hanson Jarrett Hoffpauir Juan Lucena Mike McCoy Dan Nelson Outfielders: Reid Gorecki And moving on to the current 40 man roster: Players under contract for 2008: Pitchers: Chris Carpenter ($10.5 Mil) Mark Mulder ($8.0 Mil/$1.5 Mil Buyout) Bradon Looper ($5.5 Mil) Ryan Franklin ($2.5 Mil) Randy Flores ($1.0 Mil) Jason Isringhausen ($8.0 Mil) Infielders: Albert Pujols ($16.0 Mil) Scott Rolen ($12.0 Mil) Adam Kennedy ($3.5 Mil) Scott Spiezo ($2.3 Mil) Outfielders: Jim Edmonds ($8.0 Mil) Juan Encarnacion ($6.5 Mil) *A total of $83.8 Mil committed in 2008 contracts. Free Agents after the 2007 season:* Gary Bennett David Eckstein Troy Percival Russ Springer Kip Wells Preston Wilson Miguel Cairo Russell Branyan Kelly Stinnett Joel Pineiro Players under control (not eligible for free agency): Pitchers: Andy Cavazos Dennis Dove Brian Falkenborg Blake Hawksworth Kelvin Jimenez T J Johnson Josh Kinney Mike Maroth (arbitration eligible) Anthony Reyes Brad Thompson Adam Wainwright Todd Wellemeyer (arbitration eligible) Catchers: Yadier Molina (arbitration eligible) Infielders: Brian Braden Aaron Miles (arbitration eligible) Brendan Ryan Outfielders: Rick Ankiel (arbitration eligible) Chris Duncan Cody Haerther Ryan Ludwick Skip Schumaker So Taguchi (arbitration eligible) John Rodriguez I put the lists together in a hurry this morning. I’m sure I overlooked a player or two or three…. If someone will take the time to review the names on the lists in the next day or two (and post an update), we can move onto Part 2 next week. __________________ "Build it and they will come" Last edited by BleacherBum593; 10-06-2007 at 01:07 PM. Reason: Updated for moves between Aug 24th and Oct 6th

08-24-2007, 06:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Coop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 3,943	Great information Bleacher! Thanks. Everybody should know I think Esposito killed my Memphis Redbirds this year. i wanted Pags, because we didn't have anybody else behind the plate. He works. I like So Taguchi, but we have great young players. I will feel bad about the end. A good man. Japan loved us. Last edited by Coop; 08-24-2007 at 06:42 PM.

08-25-2007, 01:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Thanks for the info on Carp's contract GoCrazy. I'll see if I can locate the info in Joe's chats. __________________ "Build it and they will come"

10-05-2007, 04:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Bump As I get some time after dinner tonight, I'll start updating the above information and start laying out a few thoughts for some "hot-stove" discussion. __________________ "Build it and they will come"

10-06-2007, 01:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	I've updated the schedules in the first post of the thread. If anyone sees any player that I missed, please let me know and I'll update. __________________ "Build it and they will come"

08-24-2007, 10:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
GoCrazyFolks Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 167	Bleacher, I don't remember where I saw it (I am thinking it was a Joe Strauss chat session), but the Cards were able to insure Carps contract against the elbow injury (as opposed to a shoulder injury which would not have been covered). IIRC it was insured for roughly 80% of the value.

10-05-2007, 05:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
tulcard Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 863	Always look forward to the "Hot Stove" discussion....

10-06-2007, 01:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ewttexas Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 686	Bleacher. I believe that Gonzalez requested and was granted his release.Cate and Esposito were designated for assignment. Hanson was outrighted. I don't know how that effects their status.

10-06-2007, 01:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Let's Start the HOT-STOVE Discussion As of today, 35 players are under control for next season. Pitchers (18): Chris Carpenter Mark Mulder Bradon Looper Ryan Franklin Randy Flores Jason Isringhausen Andy Cavazos Dennis Dove Brian Falkenborg Blake Hawksworth Kelvin Jimenez T J Johnson Josh Kinney Mike Maroth Anthony Reyes Brad Thompson Adam Wainwright Todd Wellemeyer Catchers (1): Yadier Molina Infielders (7): Albert Pujols Scott Rolen Adam Kennedy Scott Spiezo Brian Braden Aaron Miles Brendan Ryan Outfielders (9): Jim Edmonds Juan Encarnacion Rick Ankiel Chris Duncan Cody Haerther Ryan Ludwick Skip Schumaker John Rodriguez So Taguchi Chris Carpenter and Juan Encarnacion will probably start the 2008 season on the DL’s. However, they must be given spots on the 40 man roster that will be announced shortly before the Rule V draft this fall. So, out of the 35 players committed at this time, who do you see that could be released or removed from the 40 man? And then looking at the Rule V eligible players and the 6 year minor league free agents, who do you think could be added to the 40 man? And which of the players eligible for MLB free agency should the Cards go after? Your thoughts and comments... __________________ "Build it and they will come"

10-07-2007, 02:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
tulcard Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 863	I would hope Maroth would be gone....also....where is Rasmus ? Shouldn't he be on the list?

10-07-2007, 02:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Colby is not on any of the schedules because the Cards still control him at the minor league level. By that I mean, he is not eligible to be selected in the Rule V draft by other teams and the Cards do not have to start the clock ticking on him by adding him to the 40 man roster to protect him and start the use of his 3 option years. Maroth could very well be non-tendered this off season to make room for other 40 man roster additions. As could So Taguchi. Others who could be outrighted to the minor league system are pitchers Dennis Dove & Andy Cavazos. Possibly John Rodriguez too. But, since Maroth has put up some decent numbers in the past, plus the fact that he is left handed, the Cards could bring him to spring training camp next season before deciding his fate. In addition, they may wait till they see what his agent requests in compensation (he's arbitration eligible) this off season and say that it's too high and just cut the cord at that time. __________________ "Build it and they will come"

10-07-2007, 08:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,862	Here are 4 players that I identified who should get consideration for the 40-man roster: Jason Motte – 25 (6/22/82 DOB), 6’, 200 lbs, relief pitcher/closer, fastball in the 95-97 mph range. Stats for last season (Palm Beach/Springfield combined): 4-3 (w-l), 1.98 ERA, 11 S, 59 IP, 1.118 WHIP, .204 Opp BA, 69 K, 23 BB, 43 H Kyle McClellan – 23 (6/12/84 DOB), 6’-4”, 205 lbs, relief pitcher/setup, fastball in the low 90’s. Stats for last season (Palm Beach/Springfield combined): 6-1 (w-l), 1.81 ERA, 59.2 IP, 0.938 WHIP, .212 Opp BA, 54 K, 10 BB. Joe Mather – 25 (7/23/82 DOB), 6’-5”, 210 lbs. Drafted as 3B, but has since shifted to RF and 1B. Stats for last season (Springfield/Memphis combined): .271/.357/.522/.879, 31 HR, 77 Rbi, 80 R, 10 for 10 SB, 27 2B’s Jarrett Hoffpauir – 24 (6/18/83 DOB), 5’-9”, 165 lbs. Second Baseman. Stats for last season (Springfield/Memphis combined): .323/.407/.473/.880, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 50 R, 5 SB, 26 2B’s. I looked at a few other players (Haberer, Parisi, Pomeranz, Sillman & Worrell) but felt that their stats didn’t warrant them being considered at this time. Is there any player that you (other than the 4 that I listed) see, that should get consideration? __________________ "Build it and they will come"

10-12-2007, 12:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
RockintheRed Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 176	40 Man Roster I think Chris Perez would have to be added to the 40 man as well - you just know someone in the bullpen is bound to get hurt next year. I'll throw in Allen Craig's name too as just a possibility.

10-12-2007, 09:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 565	Rockin' -- I think Perez and Craig are safe, for now. But I agree that Perez is getting closer to being ready for the majors. When they decide to bring him up, they'll have to add him to the 25-40 man at that time, of course. Bleacher - Interesting that the 4 players you list are all playing in the AFL. Depending on how well they do there will go a long way to determining whether they get added to the 40-man. Right now, I would be most concerned about the pitchers. They're the ones that another team might target for middle relief (like Oakland wanted to do with TJ Johnson). So, for me, I'd add Motte and McClellan; drop Dove and Kinney (both were injured last year = less likely that another team would take a chance on 'em). Then I'd probably add Mather--we don't have many RH hitting OF near-ready, except (maybe)for Stavinoha; then drop either Falkenborg (because he already passed through waivers when they sent him back down) or drop Haerther-- if you want to drop an OF in order to add an OF. Haerther gets squeezed out in the numbers / LH hitters crunch. Hoffpauir. That's a tough one. Basically, I'm trying to decide if he would be a better replacement 2b than Brian Barden. He's got potentially a better bat than Barden, but Barden has the edge in fielding AND in being able to play ss. So I'd favor Barden over Hoffpauir -- and figure that nobody would pick up Hoffpauir for a whole season in the Rule V. Worrell. He's a pitcher that could very well be at risk in the Rule V: no health issues, quirky delivery, gets batters out. Those characteristics might make him an attractive middle reliever in Oakland, Detroit, Tampa, Cincy, NY (either team), Miami, etc. So I'd add Worrell; drop Falkenborg, for reasons stated above. enough hot stove for me, tonight!

10-12-2007, 10:58 PM	#15 (permalink)
Coop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 3,943	I appreciate the posts already made by others in this thread and see the reasoning behind them. Dove and Stavinoha did not look good to me in Memphis this year. I was very enthusiastic in the beginning, then very disappointed. Nick had lots of time to make a showing. His bat may have been some better than his fielding. I was hoping Maroth would be sent to winter ball. He may not be as awful as he appeared.