davell

I think that one of the main reasons Miller is so high is because I think that overall, the list right now is kind of weak to begin with. But, BA and most scouting outlets look at potential over results and value projection more when evaluating these guys. Miller has tons of upside and even with averagish results, will be highly ranked for another year or two anyway. But, he'll have to eventually show some results or he'll find himself down in Chris Withrow territory.

I really don't get the Lovie extension talk(and probable deal) at all. If it weren't for the Cutler crap that had everyone talking after the game, the talk SHOULD have been on how badly Lovie performed himself. He got a hall pass basically. And there's no way in hell I'll EVER feel comfortable with him gameplanning against any other head coaches out there. I know he's a player coach and all that, but I'm sorry, he's just not anything special and he's not worth what he's about to get either. They should let him coach out this last year and make him EARN an extension. A playoff appearance once every 2-3 seasons isn't enough for me, but it probably is for Bears management, as long as the fans continue to act appeased.

Damn, 6 mill for Purke? I thought it was closer to 4.5 for some reason. The more I'm reading about Hultzen, by the way, is he's up a tick velocity-wise, and could even surpass Purke this year as the top lefty. One scout thinks Jed Bradley is the best lefty in this class too. At any rate, it looks like the top end pitching is strong as hell and we should have an "ace" type guy available at 9. Raisin, what are your thoughts on Cole vs. Bauer? I know Cole throws much harder and has the prototypical build everyone salivates over, but I've heard Lincecum comps for Bauer from a few guys and just wondered if you can see that kind of projection in him?

FWIW, Callis answered a question basically asking how many guys from the 2010 draft would be picked in the 1st round of this upcoming one and he said probably 13ish or so, from the gist of his answer. He also said that after Harper, Taillon, Machado, C Sale, and Pomeranz nobody else goes in the top 15. Which should excite everyone here anyway. Based off of what I've read about opening weekend in CB, the hitters that showed up big were Jackie Bradley and Mikie Mahtook(I think he hit 4 dingers this weekend). The 2 pitchers that looked the best were Cole and Hultzen. Gray started off very rough, but settled in and had an OK outing by the end.

Probably been covered, but the Nets are getting used bigtime in this Melo crap, as they just want to make the Knicks up their offer, which evidently has been accomplished. That said, I like the Nets offer more myself and if I were Denver, I wouldn't accomodate Melo one bit personally. Although, if he definitely won't sign an extension with the Nets, I'm not sure what else they can do in the end......

He did say that there'd be money for a deadline addition, but it also has to do with attendance up to that point. That said, if we're contending, attendance won't be an issue and if we're not, we'd be trying to sell off Aramis and/or Z or Dempster possibly anyway. The flexibility part though, is most likely to make Pujols and Fielders' ears perk up, as to what we may be able to do over the offseason.

I have no problems with Kukudome at all. But, I don't want him back either, especially 3/12 for a guy who will turn 35 at the beginning of next season. He's a lefty/OBP guy and with Colvin/Soriano/B Jackson appearing to be our starting OF in 2012, we actually need a RIGHTY as our main bat off the bench, not a lefty. He just won't be a good fit for how the rest of our roster sets up, plus he's too old to be giving anything more than a one year deal, even if he was a righty.

Anyone looking for how prospects are doing in college need to folow Chris Crawford on Twitter. He's updating stuff like a madman.

After the Milton situation, I think Jimbo and Ricketts would both pass on Cabrera, rightly or wrongly.

They had a funny way of showing it No reason to offer him a record breaking deal until they have to. There is reason to offer him a deal that isn't insulting And you know they didn't exactly how? Reports have been varied, to say the least. And all it may take to tell someone like Pujols(who's said repeatedly he wants to be there) is something like this: "Albert, as you well know, we're not a major market team. It's not that we don't expect to up our ante quite a bit, but we HAVE to protect ourselves as well. That's why our offer now is probably going to be quite different than it is after the season is over. If you were to get hurt, it could cripple our franchise and all we want to do is make sure you're healthy before we show you what you're worth. Not to mention it gives us more time to think of ways as to how we're going to continue to surround you with talent as well. We just gave Matt a longterm deal and everyone here knows you're the face of our franchise. Stay healthy, have a typical season and trust us, we'll show you the money you deserve. We want you here as much as you want to be here, this is just a different situation than anything we've ever been through, but we know we can come up to where everyone is happy in the end" Cards Management

I've heard rumors that McCourt is going to wind up having issues coming up with payroll very quickly. He's already taken advances from FOX on TV money too. They better get their divorce situation resolved very quickly, if they're going to have ANY shot at Pujols. I figure their best chance is if the team is sold. In fact, I think it's their ONLY chance. I still think the Cards get something done. They'll have their tiny window before FA starts and my guess is they wanted to show Albert they're very serious about keeping him, but didn't want to invest 275-300 million until they absolutely had to do it. He's still under contract right now, so why would they commit that much this early? He could get hurt this year. He could have an "off" year. They could find out info(steroids or age possibly) that changes their opinion on him dramatically. These reasons alone are worth ANY team waiting until the last minute to give out that kind of cash. They have to trust Albert when he says he wants to be a Cardinal for his entire playing career though and this is where it's going to get really tricky for them. The closer he gets he gets to FA, why wouldn't he at least take a "look" to see what's out there? He'll be tempted at the very least, unless the Cards give him A-Rod money before anyone else has the chance to.

I think that if he hits FA and if we are serious about signing him, we better have a damn good plan to get really good, really quick. Same with Fielder. In both cases, I'd give them about a 4 year window where they'll produce at or near their current rate. So, we'd better be good then, or else need to be extremely lucky in developing some cheap stars if we're going to contend in the period where they're sliding.

One of the few things I'll actually agree with Andy MacPhail on is this: I'd rather grow arms and spend on hitters in FA, than the other way around.

Personally, I don't think the Mozeliak comments mean anything. Nor do I think the postponement for a day means anything. I'm sure Mozeliak WOULD like to have Pujols under a term sheet. Hell, my guess is everyone that's a Card fan would like the same thing. If the rumors are true and they're off on both years and money, then they've got a long ways to go. And if it's true that Pujols wants 10 years GUARANTEED, then they very well may be watching the last season of him in a Cards uniform.

Mozeliak said that the way he understood it, they need a term sheet signed by the deadline. The rest of the contract language and all that stuff could be finished later.

Wow. They're REALLY trying to save as much as possible off the roster's salary for this year. I really hope it's heading into the system. It's also not a terrible idea with the economy coming back. I'm sure the Ricketts know what they're doing investing wise and the time value of money says that paying less up front isn't exactly a bad thing if you can make up that money with your investments. That being said, almost $10 million in the 3rd year could be disastrous if Carlos gets injured. Yeah, but it's also very smart, considering Dempster and Z will be off the books by then as well as everyone coming off the books after 2011. Soriano will be the lone longterm deal we've got on our books at that point. Making it much easier to allow a slightly backloaded deal for Marmol. Especially since it's his 1st FA year and he'd be making more than that anyway.(assuming he's close to the same pitcher he is right now)

Wow. They're REALLY trying to save as much as possible off the roster's salary for this year. I really hope it's heading into the system.

If he doesn't get hurt, his arb years would probably go 5ish and 9 or so for the final year. Then, his 1st FA year would probably net him 11ish or so per year, maybe slightly more than that even. 3/20 no matter how it's broken down is solid value and worth doing, if you're the Cubs. It's saving close to 5-6 mill if you went year to year with him. What you hope now is you see him pitch great, then you let him walk and collect the picks when the time comes.

Sullivan just tweeted 3/20 and didn't mention "range" or anything else with it.

There's been quite a few Dominican signings over the last week or so. Nothing more than 400,000 or so and most have been of the 100,000 variety, but it'd be nice to see the Cubs announce a couple of these.

Unless their money was quite a bit more than everyone else's I don't think he'd want to DH for anyone. That said, I'd think the Yankees would probably approach Teixeira about moving to DH and if he refused, then maybe ask him if he'd waive his NTC and see what his response would be.

My understanding is it's Pujols who set the deadline, not the Cardinals. Yeah, I think it was Pujols that put the deadline on it too. But, I think that's just a bargaining chip as well, in the grand scheme of things. Which is why I think that if the Cards come up to him midway through ST and say we're going to up our offer in both years and money, he'd listen. But, I am taking this point of view being under the impression that he loves St.Louis and WANTS to play there for his entire career. And that could easily be a mistake on my part for thinking that. As for his possibility of joining the Cubs, if he DOES leave the Cards? I hate to say it, but I think we'd have to be one of the favorites and I certainly don't think that Pujols would have an issue playing for us either. If he leaves the Cards, the bridge is burned. There would be hard feelings on BOTH sides as soon as it's known he's not going to play there. And I think his criteria would then shift to money and what kind of team are you going to put around him? If the Cubs are the most impressive to him, when it comes time to do that, I think he'd be a Cub and not allow stuff in his past to play into his decision.

I truly don't think Pujols wants to leave St.Louis. But, I also think that he probably believes he's given them a huge discount over the course of this past contract and wants to be paid as if he was on the open market this time around. I certainly see his point and I honestly can't see how the Cards wouldn't see that too. I could see him banking on the Cubs rumors' playing on the Cards' emotions and actually getting them to move much closer to whatever his magic number is. And while this thing supposedly has a deadline of Wednesday(pushed back for something honoring Musial tomorrow) I don't think for a second that this thing won't continue to get worked on. It's too important for the Cards to just drop it when the "deadline" expires.

There's a big difference between $30M a year and $43M a year. Can I say I'd sign Pujols and a 3/$13M pitcher? I'd prefer less of the long-term risk tied up in a pitcher, myself. Yeah, I kind of thought about adding that option in too. :D I'm kind of torn as to what way i'd go actually. I think I'd agree with you and take Pujols and whatever kind of 3/13per pitcher I could find, but it'd be tough.

Here's a scenario to consider:(not that it'll happen, but still.....) Pujols and Fielder both make it to FA Sabathia opts out with Yanks and is a FA as well Do you sign Pujols for 10/300? or Do you sign Fielder for 7/175 AND Sabathia for 6/110?