2007 Rotation

[JTWood]

Yeah, I'm bored during Rogers pitching gem here in Game Two, so I'm going to speculate and toss out random ideas.

2007 Rotation
Carp
Buehrle
Suppan
Weaver
Reyes

with Wainwright closing in Izzy's probable absence.

What do you think? Buehrle is obviously the big-dollar acquisition. Suppan probably won't be cheap, though I doubt he'll be too expensive. Weaver will get the traditional incentive deal, and Reyes is Reyes.

Doesn't seem too far-fetched does it?

[Pogotheostrich]

I could have sworn we already had a topic on this but I don't see it.

ChiSox have an option on Buehrle and I don't see the Cards dealing for him after his 2006 season. Especially after the bad taste of the Mulder deal still fresh.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Buehrle would be nice if he gave a sizeable hometown discount since he's expressed interest in playing in STL several times in the past, but that'd have to be after '07 like Pogo said. I'd rather see Wainwright in the rotation myself, but if Izzy isn't going to be around (is that a distinct possibility? I haven't been keeping up with it much ) Wainwright seems like the obvious guy to step into the role.

I wouldn't be crushed if the opening day rotation was something like:

Carpenter
Reyes
Suppan
Weaver
Wainwright

If Reyes puts it all together (I'm high on him going into the spring, but I'm probably also drinking the Game 1 Kool-Aid ) and Weaver has an entire season like he did once he came to STL then thats a pretty formidable top of the rotation. The big thing is going to be the bullpen IMO. If the guys who've stepped up so far in the post season are for real things *should* be just fine.

[teddy ballgame]

I could have sworn we already had a topic on this but I don't see it.

ChiSox have an option on Buehrle and I don't see the Cards dealing for him after his 2006 season. Especially after the bad taste of the Mulder deal still fresh.

We talked about it here: http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/foru ... p?t=232950

Although that was more about Zito and Schmidt.

[JTWood]

I keep forgetting about Buehrle's option.

Who are the big FA lefties again? You don't think they go get Zito, do you?

[j_d_mcnugent]

I keep forgetting about Buehrle's option.

Who are the big FA lefties again? You don't think they go get Zito, do you?

the biggest is probably ray king or david wells. or did you mean the best?

lefty free agents are: pettitte, ted lilly, glavine, randy wolf, fatty wells, moyer, mulder, bruce chen, and mark redman.

http://mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?order=position

[Pogotheostrich]

I keep forgetting about Buehrle's option.

Who are the big FA lefties again? You don't think they go get Zito, do you?

the biggest is probably ray king or david wells. or did you mean the best?

lefty free agents are: pettitte, ted lilly, glavine, randy wolf, fatty wells, moyer, mulder, bruce chen, and mark redman.

http://mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?order=position

Glavine has options as well.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I keep forgetting about Buehrle's option.

Who are the big FA lefties again? You don't think they go get Zito, do you?

the biggest is probably ray king or david wells. or did you mean the best?

lefty free agents are: pettitte, ted lilly, glavine, randy wolf, fatty wells, moyer, mulder, bruce chen, and mark redman.

http://mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?order=position

I wouldn't want Zito, that's for sure ... at least not for what he's gonna command on the open market. None of the other options really seem that appealing either. What are the chances Mulder comes back? He's probably the only decent one of that bunch .. maybe Wolf.

[Pogotheostrich]

I think Suppan might get more than the Cards are willing to offer.
I read one rumor about $10 million a year which seems utterly ridiculous. But it wouldn't shock me to see him get a deal like Morris got and I don't think the Cards will match that.

[j_d_mcnugent]

I think Suppan might get more than the Cards are willing to offer.
I read one rumor about $10 million a year which seems utterly ridiculous. But it wouldn't shock me to see him get a deal like Morris got and I don't think the Cards will match that.

i am starting to believe the same. i didnt realize soup made just $10MM over the last three years. at 31, this is his best chance to get paid and i wouldnt blame him for taking that opportunity. $10MM a year is a bit much but i wouldnt be surprised to see him get 4/32 since he doesnt have any injury issues and has a 3.00 career playoff era. the cards got good value out of him, now they begin the search for the next bargain pitcher.

i think the odds are slim that mulder is back. jocketty is telling people mulder likely wont be ready to pitch until june. if mulder isnt able to pitch until june he is basically just a luxury item. the cards will have to find 5 starters + mulder. thats difficult, although not impossible, for a budget conscious team to accomplish. signing mulder is a little more doable if the cards think narveson would do ok as a half season fill-in or they bargain shop for the other rotation slots.

fortunately there are several decent candidates for the 2b carousel (bellylard, kennedy, loretta, durham, derosa). also, the bullpen is basically already taken care of. everyone is under contract and outside of izzy & loop everyone is pretty cheap.

i still think they need to rework the outfield. defensively you just cant afford to have duncan and encar man the corners at the same time. the rotation remains the chief priority and the outfield is probably going to have to wait until after 2007.