Cardinals 2012 offseason plan

I have officially anointed myslef as the GM of the cardinals for a day. Here are my ideas of fixing this team for next season. My overall philosophy is to build the team on pitching and defense. The starting pitching free agent class is very weak in my opinion, so my team will definitely be able to field.

Here are my ideas:

1) Get rid of la russa.

This is no surprise to anyone who knows me, but its long overdue for his departure. Forget the name Tony La Russa for a minute. If any other manager had the performance that La Russa has had the last 5 years (1 playoff appearance which was a sweep), every cardinals fan would be calling for that manager to be fired (and rightfully so).

2) Do Not Sign Albert Pujols

This is probably the most controversial part of the post, but I just don't see the point of committing $28-30 million a year to one player when you're not the Yankees or Red Sox. As I will try demonstrate later, you can sign 2 or 3 good players for that kind of many and have a much better team.

The St. Louis Cardinals have won 9 out of their 10 championships without these two men. I think the cardinals will somehow survive without them.

3) Buy out Chris Carpenter. Renegotiate a contract.

I would exercise the $1 million dollar buyout on Chris Carpenter's contract and renegotiate a new contract. Carpenter's Cy Young days are clearly over. He is not worth the $15 million that the cardinals would have to pay him if they pick up his option. I would try to sign him to a 1-2 year contract at about $5 million a year plus incentives. Worst case scenario I would sign him to a 1 year 10 million dollar contract.

4) Buy out Rafael Furcal. Renegotiate a contract.

My philosophy is to build your team on pitching and defense. Furcal's offense hasn't been very good this year but he is very good defensively. So I think its worth taking a risk on him for a 4-5 mil a year contract.

5)Sign Ryan Ludwick

With La Russa gone in my plan, Ludwick should be able to fit right in back with the cardinals. He the best defensive right fielder available. Also, I believe he still has the ability to hit like he did with the cardinals.

6) Resign Berkman. Put him at First.

I would try to sign Berkman for about 10 million a year for 2-3 years. He will fill the void at first base with Pujols gone.

7) Sign Omar Infante

Infante is a huge defensive upgrade over the schumaker/theriot duo and has a .275 career batting average.

8) Sign Heath Bell
Since we can't really upgrade our starting pitching this off season due to a weak free agent class, we need to try to shorten the game with a very strong bullpen. Bell is one of the best closers in the game. The trio of Bell, Motte, and Salas would be exciting to see and make it much easier on our rotation. I would not be afraid to sign Bell to a 3 year, 8-10 mil a year contract.

9) Resign Jackson. Westbrook gets mop up duty.

Again, the starting pitching free agent class isn't very good. So, we are basically adding by subtracting from the rotation. The westbrook trade/signing has been a disaster. the team is not going eat 8 million dollars, so I've put him in the bullpen as an innings eater when the team has a comfy 10 run lead.

10) Trade Kyle McClellan
Because I didn't have room for him on my roster. Plus, I think hes overrated as a pitcher anyway.

Because I'm lazy, I haven't run through the number on all of this but I think it would work. In my plan, your taking away pujols's contract, saving money on Carpenter, and Infante and Ludwick wouldn't really cost that much.

The starting pitching hasn't really improved much outside of Wainwright, but by strengthening the bullpen, I think it will really help out the pitching staff. It will be a lot better if loshe, jackson, and garcia only have to go a max of six innings.

So is this reasonable?

Jay -CF
Furcal - SS
Holliday- LF
Berkman- RF
Freese - 3B
Ludwick - RF
Infante - 2B
Molina - C
Wainwright - SP

Bench:
Schumaker
Craig
Laird
Descalso
Patterson

Rotation:

Wainwright
Carpenter
Garcia
Loshe
Jackson

Bullpen:
Mclellan
Westbrook
Dotel
Rzepczynski
Salas
Motte
Bell

possible roster for blues next year

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR

FORWARDS
Andy McDonald ($4.700m) / David Backes ($4.500m) / Brad Boyes ($4.000m)
Alexander Steen ($3.362m) / David Perron ($2.150m) / Jay McClement ($1.450m)
Philip McRae ($0.854m) / TJ OShie ($3.000m) / patrik berglund ($2.000m)
Brad Winchester ($1.300m) / Vladamir Sobokta ($1.500m) / Matt Dagostini ($1.200m)

DEFENSEMEN
Barrett Jackman ($3.625m) / Alex Pietrangelo ($3.166m)
Erik Johnson ($2.600m) / Carlo Colaiacovo ($2.125m)
Ian Cole ($1.300m) / Roman Polak ($3.000m)
Eric Brewer ($2.500m)

GOALTENDERS
Jaroslav Halak ($3.750m) /Ben Bishop ($1.000m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $59,400,000; CAP PAYROLL: $53,083,332; BONUSES: $2,775,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $6,316,668

Randy Moss being traded.

According to multiple news outlets, Randy Moss is about to be traded to the Minnesota Vikings.






Where art thou Billy Devanney?

Blues final roster.

The blues today sent down Ian Cole and Nick Drazenovich to Peoria to finalize their roster.

I have no idea if this was the correct move since I haven't had the chance to watch much of training camp but from what the twittersphere is saying it sounds like Cole deserved to stay.

I give up on doing this prospect stuff with the blues. Just get on the ice and perform or go home!

Enough. Hes coming back!

I'm sick and tired of this "drama" with Tony La Russa. Will he stay or will he go?

I'll answer the question below.



















HES COMING BACK!

HES COMING BACK!

HES COMING BACK!

HES COMING BACK!

There you go. Does that make it clear? Can we move on now?

(although if by some miracle he does leave, I will be throwing a party for all of St. Louis)

Blues Prediction.

Yes, I have been very skeptical about the blues this year since they decided not to pursue any scoring help in the offseason. Still, I am very excited that the season is about to begin. Mostly because the blues are going to do what I have been asking for a while.

LET THE KIDS PLAY!!

I never understood the Blues so called "youth movement" these last few years. Especially under coach Andy Murray with his treatment of Perron and almost every other young player.
Also, the front office's baby treatment of Pie is something I have never understood.

And, yes I'm probably the only one in St. Louis who is still skeptical about the Halak move.

Still, I'm excited for this season. Finally, the blues seem to be telling the young kids to "get out there and show us what you got."

Which is what I wanted to see the last couple of years, but didn't happen. My biggest worry about the season is the blues seem to be moving "all in" this year with the youth. If the blues take another path like last year, then what?

But my gut tells me that won't happen. We'll see.

my projected blues roster.. (yikes! in my opinion)

2010-11 St. Louis Blues (via capgeek.com)

PLAYER BONUS CAP HIT

FORWARDS
Andy McDonald -- $4,700,000
Brad Boyes -- $4,000,000
Alexander Steen -- $3,362,500
* David Perron -- $3,000,000
David Backes -- $2,500,000
Jay McClement -- $1,450,000
T.J. Oshie -- $1,275,000
Patrik Berglund -- $1,246,667
* Cam Janssen -- $1,000,000
B.J. Crombeen -- $872,500
Vladimir Sobotka -- $750,000
* Brad Winchester -- $700,000
Matt D'Agostini -- $550,000

DEFENSEMEN
Eric Brewer — $4,250,000
* Erik Johnson — $4,000,000
Barrett Jackman — $3,625,000
Alex Pietrangelo - $3,166,667
* Carlo Colaiacovo — $2,125,000
* Mike Weaver — $1,200,000
Roman Polak — $1,100,000

GOALTENDERS
* Jaroslav Halak — $4,000,000
Ty Conklin — $1,300,000

BUYOUTS
Jay McKee — $1,333,333

LOST VIA REENTRY WAIVERS
NONE

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
ROSTER SIZE 22
SALARY CAP $59,400,000
PAYROLL $51,506,666
BONUSES $3,175,000
CAP SPACE $11,068,33