Colby Rasmus

[jjfanec]

Rumors are the Cards are shopping Rasmus. This makes no sense to me. Even in a down year for him he is putting up ok numbers and is a young, lefty hitting, CF. What type of pitcher could they get in return for him?

[nate82]

Rumors are the Cards are shopping Rasmus. This makes no sense to me. Even in a down year for him he is putting up ok numbers and is a young, lefty hitting, CF. What type of pitcher could they get in return for him?

A really good pitcher. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rays traded Shields for Rasmus but that would be more of a trade they would make during the off season than right now. The Padres would make a fit though they do have Maybin in CF right now I am not sure if they are ready to give up on him yet but if there was a trade I would say Bell would be coming to the Cardinals then. The Nationals also have had interest in Rasmus but I am not sure there is anyone on the Nationals other than prospects that the Cardinals would receive in return for Rasmus from them.

If the Cardinals trade Rasmus for Bell that will be one of the dumbest trades and should get their GM fired the next day type of a move. I don't like the Cardinals but I don't see them moving Rasmus right now maybe in the off season for someone like Shields I could see that happening but not right now.

[Warning Track Power]

I could see the Padres doing something like Bell + a replacement OF (Venable) for Rasmus. In Petco having 2 CF would be beneficial. Throwing Maybin in CF and Rasmus in RF would make for a fast OF in that cavern.

 

FWIW, I think the Cards may be desperate enough to make a deal like this.

[CheeseheadInIllinois]

The Cardinals fans I work with would likely cheer that trade. The way they talk about Rasmus you'd think he had Betancourt's glove and Wil Nieves' bat.

 

More importantly, though, I wonder how highly Rasmus is valued by the Cardinals' organization. Wasn't he pretty much in LaRussa's doghouse his first year in the majors? Did he ever get out?

[jmeks23]

It's pretty well known that La Russa and Rasmus don't like each other, so that's why there's been so many trade talks with him. If there was no issues personally between the two there's no way he would be traded. He has a ton of talent and actually produces most of the time.

 

That being said, they are probably asking for a lot, and the Brewers have absolutely no shot if people still wonder. Not only are the Cardinals tied with the Brewers and will be battling with them the rest of the year, but the Brewers likely don't have the type of immediate talent that St. Louis wants.

[ninja33]

I could see the Padres doing something like Bell + a replacement OF (Venable) for Rasmus. In Petco having 2 CF would be beneficial. Throwing Maybin in CF and Rasmus in RF would make for a fast OF in that cavern.

 

FWIW, I think the Cards may be desperate enough to make a deal like this.

They're not trading Rasmus in exchange for renting Heath Bell and a replacement OF they don't need. If Rasmus is going to be traded it's going to be for an impact player who can be controlled past this year. Probably a starter like Shields or Ubaldo.

[Warning Track Power]

I could see the Padres doing something like Bell + a replacement OF (Venable) for Rasmus. In Petco having 2 CF would be beneficial. Throwing Maybin in CF and Rasmus in RF would make for a fast OF in that cavern.

 

FWIW, I think the Cards may be desperate enough to make a deal like this.

They're not trading Rasmus in exchange for renting Heath Bell and a replacement OF they don't need. If Rasmus is going to be traded it's going to be for an impact player who can be controlled past this year. Probably a starter like Shields or Ubaldo.

FWIW, I seriously doubt Bell would be a rental in StL. I think they would try to (and likely) extend him as soon as he arrived with a fair market deal for closers. As for Shields and Ubaldo, I would want a lot more than Rasmus for either of them but maybe I am not as high on Rasmus as you are.

 

[ninja33]

I think Rasmus can be overrated at times, but he's a 24 year old CF who has already had a season of 20+ HR (.860 OPS and 4.3 WAR last year), has a pretty damn high ceiling, and is under team control for the next three years. And will likely be cheaper than a "fair market deal for a closer" that Bell would get beyond this year. And it would still be a trade for three months of Bell. They'd have every chance to sign him in the offseason and still have Rasmus. There is no way they deal Rasmus for Bell, and if they did Mozeliak should be fired immediately. And I don't even like Rasmus that much.

[Warning Track Power]

I think Rasmus can be overrated at times, but he's a 24 year old CF who has already had a season of 20+ HR (.860 OPS and 4.3 WAR last year), has a pretty damn high ceiling, and is under team control for the next three years. And will likely be cheaper than a "fair market deal for a closer" that Bell would get beyond this year. And it would still be a trade for three months of Bell. They'd have every chance to sign him in the offseason and still have Rasmus. There is no way they deal Rasmus for Bell, and if they did Mozeliak should be fired immediately. And I don't even like Rasmus that much.

I agree with you other points except these. Bell could be a difference maker this season for the Cards between making the playoffs and missing the playoffs. I don't think you could put Rasmus in this category yet. Additionally, there is no guarantee that Bell will make it to FA. With this year maybe being Pujols last season in StL and Berkman playing likes its 2005, this might be StL's year to go all in as well.

[ninja33]

I guess there's a small chance that Bell signs with whatever team he is traded to. But I think it's much much much more likely that he tests the free agent market no matter what. Rasmus had an .860 OPS at 23. You don't trade the next three and a half years of a player with potential like that for 30 innings of a pitcher. And if you do, you deserve to be fired.

[pingman]

Rasmus doesn't get along with LaRussa.....IIRC Rasmus insists on using some outsider as hitting coach, not McGwire.....

 

Whether it's part of a Rasmus deal or a separate one the Cards want another southpaw for their pen who can deal with Prince in the late innings.....it seems logical that they'd want a starting pitcher in exchange for Rasmus

[HiAndTight]

Rasmus doesn't get along with LaRussa.....IIRC Rasmus insists on using some outsider as hitting coach, not McGwire.....

 

Whether it's part of a Rasmus deal or a separate one the Cards want another southpaw for their pen who can deal with Prince in the late innings.....it seems logical that they'd want a starting pitcher in exchange for Rasmus

Yeah, he uses his father.

 

LaRussa said something when McGwire and their other hitting coach was getting questioned about why Rasmus isn't hitting. He said something to the effect of, "they're not the ones working for him. If he's going to give credit elsewhere when he hits, the blame shouldn't come here when he doesn't.