Oswalt also said he doesn't want to play for the Phillies.

Really? Says who they don't have money or prospects?

On prospects: most baseball people ...

Really? Says who they don't have money or prospects?

 

It's pretty common knowledge they are very thin in their system. I'd expect a Cardinals fan to know that....

 

As far as monney goes....Carpenter makes a large sum of money, Wainwright is due a large raise in the next year or two, Albert is due a large raise in the near future, Holliday just signed a huge contract, Lohse makes a lot of money for the kind of production he provided.

 

Just spitballing here...Carpenter makes roughly 16 million I believe. In the next year or two I'd expect Wainwright to make atleast 10 per. Holliday makes 17ish I think. Albert makes 14 right now, I'd imagine they'll sign him for at least what Holliday makes (so we'll put down 17-20 million for him). Lohse makes 8-9.

 

That's basically 70 million dollars tied up into 5 players. Or 1/5 of your active roster for those not good at math.

 

Add in Brad Penny who makes 7.5, Molina who makes 3ish, Ludwick who makes 5.5, and a bunch of others who make in the 2-3 million range. Unless they are planning on upping the payroll by about 20% they simply do not have the room for another 16 million dollar contract.

I really don't think the Cards have what it takes to acquire Oswalt. Everything STL does should have one eye on the future with Big Albert's upcoming contract. Add that to the fact that it should take a TON for the Astros to trade Oswalt within the division & I find it hard to believe that #44 will be pitching for STL any time soon...

Here is St Louis contract situation according to Cot's.

 

MLB St. Louis 10 OD : MLB St Louis 10 OD.xls

 

 

.

SAINT LOUIS MLS thru '09 season Figures as of Opening Day 2010 salary + p-r bonus

.

Pos'n ML Srv Agent Length / Total Value 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

.

Holliday, Matt lf 6.000 Scott Boras Corp. 7 yr/$120M (10-16)+17 v opt $17,000,000 $17.000 $17.000 $17.000 $17.000

.

Pujols, Albert 1b 9.000 Dan Lozano, Jeff Borris 7 yr/$100M (04-10)+11 cl opt $16,000,000 $5.000

.

Carpenter, Chris rhp-s 12.080 Bob LaMonte 5 yr/$63.5M (08-11)+12 cl opt $14,500,000 $15.000 $1.000

.

Lohse, Kyle rhp-s 8.092 Scott Boras Corp. 4 yr/$41M (09-12) $9,187,500 $12.188 $12.188 FA

.

Penny, Brad rhp-s 10.000 Brian Peters 1 yr/$7.5M (10) $7,500,000 FA

.

Ludwick, Ryan rf 4.109 Dan Horwits 1 yr/$5.45M (10) $5,450,000 Arb 3 FA

.

Wainwright, Adam rhp-s 4.027 Steve Hammond 4 yr/$15M (08-11)+12-13 cl opts $4,837,500 $6.688 opt

.

Molina, Yadier c 5.123 Alan Nero 4 yr/$15.5M (08-11)+12 cl opt $4,312,500 $5.313 $0.750

.

Franklin, Ryan rhp 9.022 Jay Franklin, Jeff Frye 2 yr/$6.5M (10-11) $3,000,000 $3.500

.

Miller, Trever lhp 9.095 2 yr/$4M (09-10)+11 opt $2,000,000 opt

.

Reyes, Dennys lhp 11.039 Oscar Suarez 2 yr/$3M (09-10) $2,000,000 FA

.

Schumaker, Skip 2b-lf 3.051 2 yr/$4.7M (10-11) $2,000,000 $2.700 Arb 3 FA

.

Lopez, Felipe inf 7.027 Beverly Hills Sports Council 1 yr/$1M (10) $1,000,000 FA

.

LaRue, Jason c 9.150 1 yr/$0.95M (10) $950,000 FA

.

McClellan, Kyle rhp 2.000 1 yr/$0.425M (10) $425,000 Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3 FA

.

Ryan, Brendan ss 2.082 1 yr/$0.425M (10) $425,000 Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3 FA

.

Rasmus, Colby cf 1.000 Paul Cohen 1 yr/$0.418M (10) $418,000 Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3

.

Motte, Jason rhp 1.027 1 yr/$0.411M (10) $411,000 Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3

 

 

.

Kinney, Josh rhp 2.122 Alan Nero 1 yr (10) Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3 FA

.

Boggs, Mitchell rhp-s 0.125 1 yr/$0.402M (10) $402,000

.

Hawksworth, Blake rhp 0.108 1 yr/$0.402M (10) $402,000

.

Anderson, Bryan c 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Craig, Allen 1b-3b-of 0.000 1 yr/$0.4M (10) $400,000

.

Freese, David 3b 0.028 1 yr/$0.4M (10) $400,000

.

Garcia, Jaime lhp 1.147 1 yr/$0.4M (10) $400,000 Arb 1 Arb 2 Arb 3

.

Greene, Tyler ss 0.000 Scott Boras 1 yr (10)

.

Hamilton, Mark 1b 0.000 Scott Boras 1 yr (10)

.

Jay, Jon of 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Jones, Daryl of 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Mather, Joe 3b-lf 0.098 1 yr/$0.4M (10) $400,000

.

Norrick, Tyler lhp 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Ottavino, Adam rhp 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Pagnozzi, Matt c 0.012 1 yr (10)

.

Robinson, Shane of 0.014 1 yr (10)

.

Samuel, Francisco rhp 0.000 1 yr (10)

.

Stavinoha, Nick of 0.115 1 yr/$0.4M (10) $400,000

.

Walters, P.J. rhp 0.038 1 yr (10)

.

TOTAL - STL - O/D $94,220,500 $67.389 $30.938 $17.000 $17.000

 

 

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.

 

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They are willing to jump in pay roll over the next few years, into the 100 millions. I'm telling you right now the money issue is not what's going to hold this deal from getting done. It would be Houston's asking price. They are not only asking for top tier talent, but major league ready guys. I mean, I don't think anyone has the pieces to make that trade.

 

Like someone already said, I don't think the Astros want to trade in the division and they are also acting like their a player or two away from contention. The Cardinals could trade Shelby Miller, with I don't know Brendan Ryan, and then a few decent prospects and get it done because that is what Houston wants. I don't think it's worth it, and it looks like Mo is calling their bluff, so we'll see how stubborn the Astros FO is.

On prospects: most baseball people ...

 

St. Louis is thin, no doubt. Shelby Miller alone though could get a deal done, with a few average players.

St. Louis is thin, no doubt. Shelby Miller alone though could get a deal done, with a few average players.

 

No, he couldn't

 

The Astros are looking for a young major league player, 2 top prospects and another prospect.

 

St. Louis doesn't have that available.

They are willing to jump in pay roll over the next few years, into the 100 millions. I'm telling you right now the money issue is not what's going to hold this deal from getting done. It would be Houston's asking price. They are not only asking for top tier talent, but major league ready guys. I mean, I don't think anyone has the pieces to make that trade.

 

Like someone already said, I don't think the Astros want to trade in the division and they are also acting like their a player or two away from contention. The Cardinals could trade Shelby Miller, with I don't know Brendan Ryan, and then a few decent prospects and get it done because that is what Houston wants. I don't think it's worth it, and it looks like Mo is calling their bluff, so we'll see how stubborn the Astros FO is.

 

You may think the money issue is no big deal and St. Louis may have said they are willing to jump in payroll over the next few years, but believe me, they are talking about that in order to extend Pujols. They'd have to add 30+ million to extend Pujols and acquire Oswalt. That's not easy to do for even teams with the highest payrolls.

St. Louis is thin, no doubt. Shelby Miller alone though could get a deal done, with a few average players.

 

Is this serious? The Astros aren't going to trade Roy Oswalt to a division rival for one top prospect. Zero chance.

St. Louis is thin, no doubt. Shelby Miller alone though could get a deal done, with a few average players.

 

You have to be joking? Miller is really good but the price goes up even more when you trade within the division. No way Miller and a few B prospects get a deal done. NO CHANCE!

* Braves GM, Frank Wren, said that he believes he can strengthen the Braves OF internally instead of trading for help.

 

He is crazy if he thinks that!

* Braves GM, Frank Wren, said that he believes he can strengthen the Braves OF internally instead of trading for help.

 

He is crazy if he thinks that!

 

The move they need to make most at this point has nothing to do with a trade. They have got to get McLouth out of there.

The move they need to make most at this point has nothing to do with a trade. They have got to get McLouth out of there.

 

The OF situation is this.

 

Nate McLouth

Jason Heyward

Melky Cabrera

Matt Diaz

Eric Hinske

Jordan Schafer

 

In the minors you have:

 

Gregor Blanco

Willy Tavares

Josh Anderson

 

Unless I'm forgetting someone that's basically it. There isn't really anyone "internally" that is going to strengthen that group enough to make a difference late in the season. Phillies are making a run and the Braves need a more potent bat in the lineup to help because of the recent struggles from Troy Glaus.

 

They need to go all out and try to win this year, go after Bautista, Hart, Ross, Young, Upton, Crawford, etc.

 

 

I still think they'll make a move but I'm not sure as to how big of one yet.

The way it's looking now is that the White Sox will give their young pitcher, Hudson, one more start on Friday. If he struggles again, they could go out and get a pitcher, instead of the big bat. You figure Kenny Williams will do something, Saturday can't get here soon enough. :lol: