St. Louis Cardinals acquire Andrew Kittredge

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded leftfielder Richie Palacios to the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge, 33, was 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA, 14 games, 1 hold, 1 save, 11.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, and 2 walks in 2023. 

Kittredge had his best season in 2021. That season, Kittredge was an All-Star and was 9-3 with a 1.88 ERA, 57 games, 4 starts, 7 holds, 8 saves, 71.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, and 15 walks. The ERA was a career best for Kittredge. The wins, games, holds, saves, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Kittredge. 

In 2019, Kittredge had a career high 7 starts. 

Overall, Kittredge has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Kittredge is 18-7 with a 3.65 ERA, 181 games, 15 starts, 15 holds, 15 saves, 214.2 innings, 206 strikeouts, 56 walks, and a whip of 1.23. 

Palacios, 26, hit .258 with 9 runs, 24 hits, 6 doubles, 6 home runs, 16 RBI's, 2 stolen bases, and 6 walks in 2023. The batting average, runs, home runs, and RBI's for Palacios. 

In 2022, Palacios had career highs in hits (26), doubles (6), stolen bases (2), and walks (9).

Overall, Palacios has played 2 seasons in the MLB. Palacios has played 86 games with 16 runs, 50 hits, 12 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBI's, 4 stolen bases, 15 walks, and a .244 batting average. 

The trade should help both teams. The Cardinals needed bullpen help and Kittredge should be a great addition for it. The Rays were looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder, after they traded Luke Raley to the Seattle Mariners. 

Do the Cardinals add another bullpen arm or two to go with Kittredge? To me Kittredge is now the Cardinals second best bullpen arm. 

St. Louis Blues Trade Robert Bortuzzo to New York Islanders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded defenseman Roberto Bortuzzo to the New York Islanders for a 2024 7th-round pick. Bortuzzo, 34, currently has played 4 games and is a plus 2 in 2023-2024. 

In 2018-2019, Bortuzzo helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup. Bortuzzo had his best season in 2017-2018. That season, Bortuzzo played 72 games with 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, and a plus 11. The goals and points were both career highs for Bortuzzo. In 2013-2014, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bortuzzo had a career high 10 assists. Bortuzzo had a career high 73 games in 2021-2022. 

Overall, Bortuzzo is currently in his 13th NHL season. Bortuzzo has played 537 games with 20 goals, 54 assists, 74 points, and a plus 41. In the playoffs, Bortuzzo has played 55 games with 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, and a plus 1. 

The trade is pretty much a salary dump for the Blues. The Islanders were also in need of a defenseman. It should help both teams.

St. Louis Cardinals Trade Tyler O'Neill to Boston Red Sox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded leftfielder Tyler O'Neill to the Boston Red Sox for RHP Nick Robertson, starting pitcher Victor Santos. O'Neill, 28, hit .231 with 27 runs, 55 hits, 14 doubles, 9 home runs, 21 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and 28 walks in 2023. 

O'Neill has won 2 Gold Glove Awards: (2020, and 2021). O'Neill, 28, had his best season in 2021. That season, O'Neill hit .286 with 89 runs, 138 hits, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 34 home runs, 80 RBI's, 15 stolen bases, and 38 walks. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and walks were all career highs for O'Neill. 

Overall, O'Neill has played 6 seasons in the MLB. O'Neill has played 477 games with 239 runs, 363 hits, 67 doubles, 3 triples, 78 home runs, 217 RBI's, 40 stolen bases, 136 walks, and a .248 batting average. 

Robertson, 25, was 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA, 18 games, 1 start, 22.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, and 9 walks in 2023. It was Roberton's 1st MLB season. 

Overall, Robertson has played 4 minor league seasons. Robertson is 7-8 with a 3.61 ERA, 150 games, 3 starts, 23 saves, 184.2 innings, 231 strikeouts, and 61 walks. 

Santos, 23, didn't pitch in 2023 due to an injury. Santos last pitched in 2022. In 2022, combined between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, Santos was 10-12 with a 4.97 ERA, 28 games, 25 starts, 2 complete games, 145 innings, 126 strikeouts and 34 walks. The wins, games, starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Santos. 

Overall, Santos has played 5 minor league seasons. Santos is 32-29 with a 3.72 ERA, 101 games, 71 starts, 3 complete games, 1 save, 445 innings, 403 strikeouts, and 76 walks. 

The Cardinals got what they could for O'Neill. If you thought that a team would give up a lot for him, I'm sorry but they wouldn't. That's because O'Neill has only had 1 good season and has problems staying healthy. Maybe O'Neill just needed a change of scenery? Sometimes players like that do better with a different team. It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with the money freed up from O'Neill being traded.
 

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Sonny Gray

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Sonny Gray to a three-year contract, worth $75 million. The contract includes a team option for 2027, worth $30 million and it comes with a $5 million buyout. The buyout is included in the overall guarantee. 

Gray, 34, was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 184 innings, 183 strikeouts, and 55 walks with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. Gray finished as the runner-up to New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the AL Cy Young. 

Gray has been an All-Star 3 times: (2015, 2019, and 2023). 

Gray had his best season in 2015, with the Oakland Athletics. That season, Gray was 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, 31 games, 31 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 208 innings, 169 strikeouts, and 59 walks. The wins and shutouts both tied career highs from 2014 for Gray. The ERA was a career best for Gray and the complete games were a career high. In 2014, Gray had career highs in games (33), starts (33), and innings (219). Gray had a career in strikeouts (205) in 2019, with the Cincinatti Reds. 

Overall, Gray has played 11 seasons in the MLB. Gray is 98-85 with a 3.47 ERA, 279 games, 270 starts, 6 complete games, 4 shutouts, 1,571 innings, 1,521 strikeouts, 544 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

How does Gray look against the other teams in the National League Central? 

Against the Chicago Cubs, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA, 11 games, 11 starts, 60.1 innings, 79 strikeouts, and 14 walks. 

Against the Reds, Gray is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 1 game, 1 start, 7.2 innings, 4 strikeouts, and 1 walk. 

Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 13 games, 13 starts, 70.1 innings, 91 strikeouts, and 30 walks. 

Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gray is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA, 10 games, 9 starts, 51.2 innings, 53 strikeouts, and 16. 

As of right now the Cardinals starting rotation looks like it could be Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Steven Matz. Gray would be a good no.2 if the Cardinals were to acquire a no.1 starter. On paper, the Cardinals have improved their starting rotation slightly from last season. Again, a no.1 starter would be if they were to find a way to accomplish that. In order to do that, Matz would probably need to be traded or moved to the bullpen. Matz has trouble staying healthy. 

I think the Cardinals probably shift to the bullpen next. I think if the Cardinals had a good bullpen last season, they would have made the playoffs. It's also nice to see the Cardinals being active early and making moves, I don't think many people thought they'd do anything early. 

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Kyle Gibson

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Kyle Gibson to a one-year contract, worth $12 million. The contract includes a team option for 2025. Gibson, 36, was 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA, 33 games, 33 starts, 192 innings, 157 strikeouts, and 55 walks with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023. Gibson also had 17 quality starts, which ranked 2nd on the Orioles. The wins were a career high for Gibson. 

Gibson was an All-Star in 2021. In 2018, with the Minnesota Twins, Gibson had career highs in both innings (196.2) and strikeouts (179). 

Overall, Gibson has played 11 seasons in the MLB. Gibson is 104-100 with a 4.54 ERA, 300 games, 294 starts, 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 2 holds, 1,696 innings, 1,359 strikeouts, 589 walks, and a whip of 1.38. 

Gibson is also reunited with former Twins and Texas Rangers teammate Lance Lynn. Gibson and Lynn were both on the Twins in 2018, and then on the Rangers in 2020. Have the Cardinals upgraded their starting pitching? A tiny bit. Both Gibson and Lynn can eat innings. The Cardinals have had a problem the last couple of seasons with pitchers not eating innings. You'd see a lot of them just go 5 innings or fail to even get to 5 or 6 innings because they'd get too tired out early. The Cardinals need to add an ace or a no.2 next in order for Gibson and Lynn to help. 

Lance Lynn Returns to Cardinals; Daniel Descalso added to coaching staff

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Lance Lynn to a one-year contract, worth $10 million. Lynn can earn an additional $3 million from incentives. The contract also includes a team option for 2025, worth $12 million or a $1 million buyout. Lynn, 36, was 13-11 with a 5.73 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 183.2 innings, 191 strikeouts, and 67 walks combined between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. 

Lynn has been an All-Star 2 times: (2012, and 2021). 

Lynn had his best season in 2019, with the Texas Rangers. That season, Lynn was 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA, 33 games, 33 starts, 208.1 innings, 246 strikeouts, and 59 walks. The innings and strikeouts were both career highs for Lynn. In 2012, with the Cardinals, Lynn had a career high in wins (18). 

Overall, Lynn has played 12 seasons in the MLB. Lynn is 136-95 with a 3.74 ERA, 341 games, 317 starts, 4 complete games, 2 shutouts, 4 holds, 1 save, 1,889 innings, 1,906 strikeouts, 660 walks, and a whip of 1.27. 

The Cardinals have also hired former Cardinals utility player Daniel Descalso as their new bench coach. Descalso, 37, played 5 seasons with the Cardinals (2010-2014). 

In 2011, Descalso helped the Cardinals win the World Series. Last season, Descalso was a baseball operations assistant for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe McEwing, 51, will move into the Cardinals front office as a special assistant to John Mozeliak. 

On paper Lynn looks like a good signing for the Cardinals. Lynn knows the Cardinals well and can eat innings. Lynn also isn't afraid to speak his mind if needed. I think that is something the Cardinals missed a bit last season. Sometimes in a clubhouse you need a player who isn't afraid to speak their mind to wake other players up a bit or light a fire under them. 

If the Cardinals actually upgrade the rest of their starting rotation with two other starters, the rotation should be fine. Right now, you have a solid 3 starters in Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, and Lynn. Now you just need an ace and a good no.2 if possible. Then you just need to upgrade the bullpen. 

Descalso should be an upgrade over McEwing for Marmol's staff. It seems to help other teams to have a player who has played recently on their staff. A lot of that is because they can help relate to other players. 

St. Louis Cardinals Trade Jack Flaherty to Baltimore Orioles

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Cesar Prieto, starting pitcher Drew Rom, and starting pitcher Zack Showalter. Flaherty, 27, is currently 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA, 20 games, 20 starts, 109.2 innings, 106 strikeouts, and 54 walks in 2023. 

Flaherty had his best season in 2019. That season, Flaherty was 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA, 33 games, 33 starts, 196.1 innings, 231 strikeouts, and 55 walks. The ERA was a career best for Flaherty. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Flaherty. 

Overall, Flaherty is currently in his 7th MLB season. Flaherty is 41-31 with a 3.58 ERA, 122 games, 118 starts, 633 innings, 706 strikeouts, 242 walks, and a whip of 1.18.

Prieto, 24, is currently hitting .349 with 49 runs, 117 hits, 20 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 49 RBI's, 7 stolen bases, and 23 walks combined between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. The triples, stolen bases, and walks are all career highs for Prieto.

Prieto had his best season in 2022. That season, Prieto hit .273 with 57 runs, 127 hits, 28 doubles, 11 home runs, 57 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and 20 walks combined between High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie. 

Overall, Prieto is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Prieto has played 200 games with 106 runs, 244 hits, 48 doubles, 2 triples, 17 home runs, 106 RBI's, 12 stolen bases, 43 walks, and a .305 batting average. 

Prieto ranked as the Orioles 16th best prospect. The Orioles had signed Prieto out of Cuba in January 2022, after he won the batting title in 2021. 

Rom, 23, is currently 7-6 with a 5.34 ERA, 19 games, 18 starts, 1 complete game, 86 innings, 100 strikeouts, and 46 walks in Triple-A Norfolk in 2023. 

Rom had his best season in 2022, combined between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. That season, Rom was 8-3 with a 4.43 ERA, 26 games, 25 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 120 innings, 144 strikeouts, and 47 walks. The games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Rom. 

In 2021, combined between High-A Aberdeen and Double-Bowie, Rom had a career high 11 wins. 

Overall, Rom is currently in his 5th minor league season. Rom is 32-15 with a 3.79 ERA, 99 games, 87 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 1 save, 439.2 innings, 514 strikeouts, and 158 walks. 

Rom ranked as the Orioles 18th best prospect. 

Showalter, 19, currently is 0-2 with a 2.37 ERA, 9 games, 8 starts, 30.1 innings, 41 strikeouts, and 14 walks combined between the Florida Complex League and Single-A Delmarva.

It's Showalter's 1st minor league season.

Showalter was unranked, but Baseball America ranked him as the Orioles 16th best prospect in their rankings. 

The Cardinals got a pretty good trade for Flaherty. It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with their prospects they've received over the past couple of days. Some of them appear close to be MLB ready. Possibly, as soon as 2024. Do the Cardinals even maybe use a few of the prospects to upgrade the pitching staff via the trade route in the offseason?