Brett Wallace traded for Matt Holliday!

[Wes]

All the people bashing the Cards for this deal are nuts.

Enjoy Brett Wallace, the next Daric Barton.

As someone who has followed Wallace since high school you'll definitely be eating those words. If Holliday returns to his 07/08 form and resigns then the deal will be fine for STL. If he doesn't, this is a huge mistake as not only will they have to offer arbitration to even get draft picks, which will cost $14-16 million - A LOT more than an outfielder of his play this year would command on the free agent market - but they'd also have given up their top remaining prospect. Wallace is going to be at worst a productive #5 hitter in the major leagues. The type of player who hits .300 with his eyes closed.

I agree he can swing it, but there is only one place where he can ultimately play - first base. That wasn't going to fly in St. Louis.

I think he's got a shot to stick at third for the first couple of seasons, and of course he isn't blocked at first base either in Oakland. He's certainly better than Daric Barton.

I agree with you, Wallace has A LOT of POTENTIAL (Key word here). It could be that the cardinals just traded away the next Mike Schmidt or Brooks Robinson....however, I highly doubt that is the outcome. What the Cardinals did do was trade a "Maybe or Possibly" for a .319 career avg. Major League Ballplayer--I really dont think they went wrong, especially when the Cardinals are pretty deep with talent in the minors....and as stated before, they really should not have any problem resigning him since there will be quite a bit of money left from people leaving.


TK

Where do you get that they are deep in the minors? Seems like you pulled that out of thin air as they have graduated Rasmus, traded Perez, and now traded Wallace and Mortensen - four of their top six prospects. Am I missing some top prospects? They're left with a couple of potentially AAAA hitters and probable relievers.

Claiming Holliday as a .319 hitter completely ignores the fact that he has been awful in his only season away from Coors Field, a place he won't be calling home in St. Louis.

 

[Jaypers]

Jason (Chicago): How soon will Brett Wallace be playing in Oakland?

Jim Shonerd: I would expect him to come quickly, and certainly by September.

 

[MacK]

All the people bashing the Cards for this deal are nuts.

Enjoy Brett Wallace, the next Daric Barton.

As someone who has followed Wallace since high school you'll definitely be eating those words. If Holliday returns to his 07/08 form and resigns then the deal will be fine for STL. If he doesn't, this is a huge mistake as not only will they have to offer arbitration to even get draft picks, which will cost $14-16 million - A LOT more than an outfielder of his play this year would command on the free agent market - but they'd also have given up their top remaining prospect. Wallace is going to be at worst a productive #5 hitter in the major leagues. The type of player who hits .300 with his eyes closed.

I agree he can swing it, but there is only one place where he can ultimately play - first base. That wasn't going to fly in St. Louis.

I think he's got a shot to stick at third for the first couple of seasons, and of course he isn't blocked at first base either in Oakland. He's certainly better than Daric Barton.

I agree with you, Wallace has A LOT of POTENTIAL (Key word here). It could be that the cardinals just traded away the next Mike Schmidt or Brooks Robinson....however, I highly doubt that is the outcome. What the Cardinals did do was trade a "Maybe or Possibly" for a .319 career avg. Major League Ballplayer--I really dont think they went wrong, especially when the Cardinals are pretty deep with talent in the minors....and as stated before, they really should not have any problem resigning him since there will be quite a bit of money left from people leaving.


TK

Yeah, the way I view it is that we traded Brett Wallace for a player which we hoped Brett Wallace would turn out to be in the future.

We must win now. Pujols is 29, and Holliday is 29. Re-sign them both. Please.

 

[MacK]

JAYPERS (IL): Your thoughts on the Wallace/Holliday trade?

Jim Shonerd: The Cardinals needed an infusion of offense for their outfield. But their farm system was already on its way down our organization rankings, and now it's gotten even thinner. Wallace steps in as the best lefthanded bat in Oakland's system, and he's no longer blocked from moving to first base or DHing should that need arise.

How is this possible? If I do believe, the Cardinals system has been around the #7 mark for about two seasons now. They haven't dealt nearly anyone worth while in that time, while a few guys even graduated from the rankings. They drafted Shelby Miller (yes, he still has to sign), and signed Wagner Mateo just about a month ago, so how can the system be falling?

 

[Jaypers]

JAYPERS (IL): Your thoughts on the Wallace/Holliday trade?

Jim Shonerd: The Cardinals needed an infusion of offense for their outfield. But their farm system was already on its way down our organization rankings, and now it's gotten even thinner. Wallace steps in as the best lefthanded bat in Oakland's system, and he's no longer blocked from moving to first base or DHing should that need arise.

How is this possible? If I do believe, the Cardinals system has been around the #7 mark for about two seasons now. They haven't dealt nearly anyone worth while in that time, while a few guys even graduated from the rankings. They drafted Shelby Miller (yes, he still has to sign), and signed Wagner Mateo just about a month ago, so how can the system be falling?

Simple. Colby is no longer a prospect, and Perez was traded.

 

[MacK]

JAYPERS (IL): Your thoughts on the Wallace/Holliday trade?

Jim Shonerd: The Cardinals needed an infusion of offense for their outfield. But their farm system was already on its way down our organization rankings, and now it's gotten even thinner. Wallace steps in as the best lefthanded bat in Oakland's system, and he's no longer blocked from moving to first base or DHing should that need arise.

How is this possible? If I do believe, the Cardinals system has been around the #7 mark for about two seasons now. They haven't dealt nearly anyone worth while in that time, while a few guys even graduated from the rankings. They drafted Shelby Miller (yes, he still has to sign), and signed Wagner Mateo just about a month ago, so how can the system be falling?

Simple. Colby is no longer a prospect, and Perez was traded.

And the addition of Wagner Mateo and the possible addition of Shelby Miller doesn't offset that?

 

[Jaypers]

[quote="Skorris CCBC":fo75k459]

JAYPERS (IL): Your thoughts on the Wallace/Holliday trade?

Jim Shonerd: The Cardinals needed an infusion of offense for their outfield. But their farm system was already on its way down our organization rankings, and now it's gotten even thinner. Wallace steps in as the best lefthanded bat in Oakland's system, and he's no longer blocked from moving to first base or DHing should that need arise.

How is this possible? If I do believe, the Cardinals system has been around the #7 mark for about two seasons now. They haven't dealt nearly anyone worth while in that time, while a few guys even graduated from the rankings. They drafted Shelby Miller (yes, he still has to sign), and signed Wagner Mateo just about a month ago, so how can the system be falling?

Simple. Colby is no longer a prospect, and Perez was traded.

And the addition of Wagner Mateo and the possible addition of Shelby Miller doesn't offset that?[/quote:fo75k459]

I would venture to say if you combined the two, Colby would still be a better prospect.

 

[RandomH]

I will laugh so hard if the Cardinals don't make the playoffs....

 

[darocker80]

I will laugh so hard if the Cardinals don't make the playoffs....

+1.

But i don't see the brewers or cubs or reds passing them up.

 

[MacK]

[quote="Skorris CCBC":5zh0rg2w]

JAYPERS (IL): Your thoughts on the Wallace/Holliday trade?

Jim Shonerd: The Cardinals needed an infusion of offense for their outfield. But their farm system was already on its way down our organization rankings, and now it's gotten even thinner. Wallace steps in as the best lefthanded bat in Oakland's system, and he's no longer blocked from moving to first base or DHing should that need arise.

How is this possible? If I do believe, the Cardinals system has been around the #7 mark for about two seasons now. They haven't dealt nearly anyone worth while in that time, while a few guys even graduated from the rankings. They drafted Shelby Miller (yes, he still has to sign), and signed Wagner Mateo just about a month ago, so how can the system be falling?

Simple. Colby is no longer a prospect, and Perez was traded.

And the addition of Wagner Mateo and the possible addition of Shelby Miller doesn't offset that?

I would venture to say if you combined the two, Colby would still be a better prospect.[/quote:5zh0rg2w]

Hm, interesting.

 

[George_Calfas]

I will laugh so hard if the Cardinals don't make the playoffs....

+1.

But i don't see the brewers or cubs or reds passing them up.

As a fan it is nice to see them making moves during the season to improve. Laugh all you want but they have started more rookies and are in 1st place prior to this trade

 

[THREADKILLER-crohrer]

Get his butt to NYC now!!!! Brett needs run support!!! Let Wallace debut in the Bronx!

 

[jcmint]

Few comments here. How many people actually believe pujols is really 29.

Holliday is a fine hitter but his power numbers were exposed when he left coors field. His numbers this year reflect poorly on his salary. The Cards will definately be looking to sign him past this year or this deal will be a disaster. He is probably looking to break the bank. 15-16 mill a year for what he brings to the table.

 

[cowboysrule48]

I'm going to get blasted for this, but I feel that Billy Beane is vastly overrated as a GM. Sure, he makes moves that keeps his teams competitive, but he still has nothing to show for it. He's only made it to the ALCS once, and they got swept. I just don't understand the love-fest with the guy when despite all of these "steals" the A's haven't even made the World Series. He's widely considered the best GM in baseball, and it just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Anthony K.]

I will laugh so hard if the Cardinals don't make the playoffs....

+1.

But i don't see the brewers or cubs or reds passing them up.

And yet you ignored the team that just SWEPT the Cardinals and are currently tied for second place.

The Astros.

I could HONESTLY see the Astros keeping the Cardinals out of the playoffs. One, out of blind homerism. And two, the fact that the Astros are a notorious hot second half team.

Plus, they are beating teams without Berkman and Lee completely healthy or playing not at all.

Once the bats are all healthy, if the pitching keeps its end of the deal, gonna be real tough for the Cardinals to hold off the Astros.

 

[Mozzie22]

I will laugh so hard if the Cardinals don't make the playoffs....

+1.

But i don't see the brewers or cubs or reds passing them up.

And yet you ignored the team that just SWEPT the Cardinals and are currently tied for second place.

The Astros.

I could HONESTLY see the Astros keeping the Cardinals out of the playoffs. One, out of blind homerism. And two, the fact that the Astros are a notorious hot second half team.

Plus, they are beating teams without Berkman and Lee completely healthy or playing not at all.

Once the bats are all healthy, if the pitching keeps its end of the deal, gonna be real tough for the Cardinals to hold off the Astros.

I hear you, the Astros are the only team in the division that scares me as a Cardinals fan.

 

[notoriousrmb]

Well I'm honestly crushed by this trade. I was thrilled to watch Wallace develop to hopefully someday wear the birds on the bat. I have nothing against Holliday, but the amount we gave up for potentially a 2 month rental AND still having to pay $4.5M of his salary is just rediculous.

Good luck Cards, I'm going to enjoy this playoff run but I see nothing but failure in the upcoming years when we keep giving up our prospects.

 

[Codasco07]

Few comments here. How many people actually believe pujols is really 29.

Probably the same amount that believe we landed on the moon.

 

[Super Mario]

Holliday wearing 15.

 

[thenumberonemetfan]

Holliday wearing 15.

Wants to be like Beltran...I understand