Post by Matt on Feb 2, 2019 21:58:59 GMT -5
Coming into the off-season, the Cardinal front office had one objective: Cut payroll.
They were on the right track when they sent Bill Buckner to the Rangers for a meddling AA catcher (which this writer isn't even going to try and find out what his name actually is).
Also, as that was happening, the front office was engaging in trade talks for multiple players. It's widely known that the Birds are trying to find the right package to move Ace Dennis Eckersley. "We really hate the idea of moving a guy of his talents, but we've pushed our payroll to the point the past few seasons and we're not sure how much longer this is sustainable," Cards GM Matthew Carpenter says. "But we've realized the trade market is tight right now due to multiple factors." Citing ongoing FA, size of his contract and the number of teams currently in the rebuild mode that have no use for Eck. Other names rumored to have been discussed are star 1B Jack Clark, LF Jeff Burroughs, SP Vern Ruhle and utility man Jorge Orta. Carpenter would neither confirm or deny any of those rumors. "We're actively shopping different players and packages to try and gain some relief in payroll.
Then the surprise came on the opening day of FA when they signed 1B/OF Reggie Jackson. "Rumors were flying out of another organization that they convinced Reggie that the only reason we traded for him a few seasons ago was because we knew we could move him down the road. We wanted to show "Mr October" what real post-season baseball was like in Cardinal Nation," smirked Carpenter.
"I wasn't really surprised when my agent let me know of the offer from St Louis," said Jackson. "The communicated with me before that when they acquired me they thought they had a shot at the playoffs, but then we all realized together that the youth wasn't ready. Them trading me was a business decision. I totally understood the situation. I thank them for sending me somewhere that gave me a chance at that ring. Hopefully my experience elsewhere can help me bring something that's been missing in St Louis the past few seasons."
"There's a plan in place, we just have to make sure we execute it as well as we can this off-season," said Carpenter as he closed the press conference.
They were on the right track when they sent Bill Buckner to the Rangers for a meddling AA catcher (which this writer isn't even going to try and find out what his name actually is).
Also, as that was happening, the front office was engaging in trade talks for multiple players. It's widely known that the Birds are trying to find the right package to move Ace Dennis Eckersley. "We really hate the idea of moving a guy of his talents, but we've pushed our payroll to the point the past few seasons and we're not sure how much longer this is sustainable," Cards GM Matthew Carpenter says. "But we've realized the trade market is tight right now due to multiple factors." Citing ongoing FA, size of his contract and the number of teams currently in the rebuild mode that have no use for Eck. Other names rumored to have been discussed are star 1B Jack Clark, LF Jeff Burroughs, SP Vern Ruhle and utility man Jorge Orta. Carpenter would neither confirm or deny any of those rumors. "We're actively shopping different players and packages to try and gain some relief in payroll.
Then the surprise came on the opening day of FA when they signed 1B/OF Reggie Jackson. "Rumors were flying out of another organization that they convinced Reggie that the only reason we traded for him a few seasons ago was because we knew we could move him down the road. We wanted to show "Mr October" what real post-season baseball was like in Cardinal Nation," smirked Carpenter.
"I wasn't really surprised when my agent let me know of the offer from St Louis," said Jackson. "The communicated with me before that when they acquired me they thought they had a shot at the playoffs, but then we all realized together that the youth wasn't ready. Them trading me was a business decision. I totally understood the situation. I thank them for sending me somewhere that gave me a chance at that ring. Hopefully my experience elsewhere can help me bring something that's been missing in St Louis the past few seasons."
"There's a plan in place, we just have to make sure we execute it as well as we can this off-season," said Carpenter as he closed the press conference.
