The Cardinals didn't do much in free agency during the offseason for the 2012 season. Pretty much, the big news was Albert Pujols leaving for the Angels in free agency. If the Cardinals had given Albert Pujols what he wanted, then they would have their payroll tied up for along time, and couldn't re-new other contracts when the time came for other players (like for example: Adam Wainwright .... in two years or Yadier Molina, who as of now is in his last year of his current deal). After, Pujols left the Cardinals did make moves.
1. They re-signed Skip Schumaker to a two-year deal (he took less money to stay with the Cardinals).
2. They re-signed Rafael Furcal to a two-year deal.
3. They signed free agent LHP J.C. Romero ... (he replaces Rhodes as the second lefty in the bullpen, who the Cardinals won a World Series with .... Romero is younger than him also). Yes, Romero has lost speed off of some of his pitches, but I guess the real question for him is .... can pitching coach Dave Duncan help him out? Romero was also once suspended for steroids, since then he hasn't been that great. But, he can still get lefties out, but if you let him pitch against righthanded hitters .... that's when he gets killed.
4. They signed one of the best outfielders who was on the market, in Carlos Beltran. He showed in 2011, that he still can play, he's also one of the best switch hitters in the game. And is a 6 time All-Star, he was one in 2011 for the first time since 2009. Yes, there are some questions about him heading into the 2012 season, there were also questions about Lance Berkman heading into the 2011 season, he proved people wrong. Now it's time for Carlos Beltran to do the same.
Minor league moves as of now (just depth incase anyone gets hurt or could be September call-ups).
1. INF-OF Eugenio Velez (minor league contract)
2. LHP R.J. Swindle (minor league contract)
My take on the 2012 roster as of now, they could be better than the 2011 team (even without Albert Pujols). Lance Berkman pretty much took over the clubhouse in July, because he didn't like what Pujols was doing to the rookies who were coming up, ever since Berkman did that, the clubhouse relaxed. Furcal even helped by starting the "Happy Flight" chant. And in the 2011 World Series, it was all of the team helping out. Carlos Beltran even got on base a lot more than Pujols did in 2011. Pujols, has even showed that he's on the decline (in the last couple of seasons, he's been hitting into lots of double plays). And some still wonder about his age also. And even with Adam Wainwright coming back, the Cardinals still are the team to beat in the NL Central. Pretty much, the only other team that has gotten better in the NL Central are the Reds. Cardinals and Reds battling it out for the NL Central? I could see that happening in 2012.
As of now, here's the line up and rotation.
Line up: ss - Furcal, rf - Beltran, lf - Holliday, 1b - Berkman, 3b - Freese, c - Molina, cf - Jay, 2b - Descalso, pitcher
note: Allen Craig is out until May, due to knee surgery, it can even take players time to be 100% from knee surgery, so maybe he sees sometime at 1b .... before he sees rf. But, once he does get back, Beltran will share time in cf and rf.
Bench: Skip Schumaker, Tony Cruz, Tyler Greene (out of options), Matt Carpenter (if Mo doesn't find a utility infielder, which he's said to be wanting one or keep Carpenter until Craig is back, since Carp has options and Greene can play some OF if need be), last spot is open as of now (unless the Cardinals find a righthanded bat for the OF who can be on the bench, which they pretty much need).
Starting pitching: Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook.
note: Both, Lohse and Westbrook will be free agents after the season and I don't see the Cardinals re-signing either one, so in 2013 .... Shelby Miller will be in the starting staff (could be a September call up in 012).
Bullpen: Jason Motte, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, Mitchell Boggs/Kyle McClellan, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepcynski, and J.C. Romero.
note: Boggs or McClellan need to be traded, unless the Cardinals wanna go with an extra pitcher to start the season and figure out which one gets traded. If I were the Cardinals, I'd trade Mitchell Boggs and keep McClellan. Since, McClellan can get lefties out if need be.
As of now, if things go the Cardinals way, they should be a 90 win team. It should be interesting to see how new manager Mike Matheny handles the club at first, with his first time being a manager. He might have to learn some stuff at the start of the season, but hang with him folks. He still has lots of Tony La Russa's coaches around him, who can help give him advice (like Jose Oquendo).
All for now, AMF.
