Cardinals Trade Freese To Anaheim

[Jerry Rapp]

For A Center Fielder named Peter Bourjos, at 26, is one of the game's elite defensive center fielders — when he's on the field.

[Quillback]

Now you have to wonder if John Jay will be traded also.

[stlfisher]

I like the deal for the Cardinals. The prize piece is the 22yr old outfield prospect Randal Grichuk. I am not sure what they do with John Jay...maybe platoon or bench. I always kind of viewed Jay as really good 4th outfielder.

I think with all the outfield depth the Cards have it might signal that Matt Adams is going to be part of a deal to add a shortstop. I hate to see him go, but don't see how fits with us long term...

[Jerry Rapp]

I am thinking trading Adams along with a starting pitcher and a good reliever might get you a very good shortstop in return. If Oscar is the next Roberto Clemente, then this deal doesn't make sense, but Oscar has yet to even have one at bat in the Majors. And as STL said, the 2nd OF is also a potential gem.

[stlfisher]

I don't think the Cardinal's really think that Tavares is a centerfielder. I think they have him projected as more of a RF. I think the trade shows that. An outfield of Holliday, Tavaras, and Craig (Adams at first in this scenario) sounds great offensively, but would be god awful defensively.

I just don't see how you can keep Craig and Adams on the field together long term....unless the cardinals are going to put Craig at Third base, Adam's at First base, Carpenter at second. Or if Tavares is a bust and Craig plays right (not sure how durable Craig would really be in right field long term.)

BTW if you read the Angels message boards regarding the Freese trade they are in full blown meltdown mode. Especially, when the pitching prospect was announced as Salas and not Shelby Miller or one of our top prospects.

[countryred]

Bourjos is a .250 hitter with speed, stealing 41 out of 54.. A true lead off man maybe. Jay to right, Robinson as #4. Oscar and Grichuk will have to earn their way up.

We do need a shortstop that can hit.

[GloryDaze]

Well, what do we do for a 3rd baseman now.... only solution I see is move Carpenter there and put an unproven Wong at 2nd.

In essence, they are putting more value in Wong or Descalso than they did Freese. Personally, I think this was useless, we already have a fast CF with a .250 average and good defense, Shane Robinson.

Now the left side of our infield is suspect..... I know Freese wasn't perfect, but Ill take. 270 15hr and 65-80 RBI over Descalso any day of the week.

[exiledguide]

Good trade I saw Freese regress both at 3rd base and at bat. I really liked the guy and I hope he can jump start his career again. I also know that the Cardinals GM and his staff know a lot more about talent than I do. Jay looked to have become wall shy and a center fielder has to catch the ball. Remember I was the guy that was happy they got rid of the other guy and sent him to Toronto.In the platoffs and WS the Cardinals outfield t was not very good and slow, something needed to change. I was impressed by Bourgeis when I watched him play last year. I have had the baseball package from Direct TV so I got to watch a lot of baseball from west coast after the central division games were over. I'm retired so the last couple of years I bought the MLB package It's probably the best $200 dollars I've spent each year.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Freese was plain awful last year. Way too streaky and he is a proven head case. Rather gamble on an up and comer. While I do wish him well, I think we got the most we were ever going to get out of him.

[stlfisher]

If your a sabertics guy john jay was the worst centerfielder in baseball with a minus 10 rating...his replacement is +13 or so (920 is full of static so it might be off s bit, but is top 5). That is a huge difference.