Cardinal Offseason - Part 1: Outfield

We start this five part segment (outfield, infield, starting rotation, bullpen, and minor league system) regarding the Cardinals offseason with the outfield. We start here simply because the first comment I received was from "bird watcher" asking about Chris Duncan:

"Dave, I've always had this idea in the back of my mind about trading Chris Duncan while he's young and fresh. We've all seen how horrible he is in the field, and he'll never play first base because of Pujols. In the National League, his value is dwindling every time he takes the field because he can't catch a fly ball. However, he is obviously valuable at the plate. What are your thoughts on trading him off while he's young for somebody who could be more useful for the Cardinals in the long run?"

Thanks for the comment Oh Holy Bird Watcher. Although I agree with much of your assessment about Chris Duncan, I do think, however, that he is capable of catching a fly ball. Just not when it's hit directly to him.

So what to do with Chris Duncan? I think this is probably the biggest question in the outfield when it comes to the Cardinals. Should we trade him now while he has some value? Should we keep him and try to stash him in right field and hope his bat makes up for his defense? Should we force him to play winter ball all offseason and hit fly balls at him in the dark until he has instincts like Jim Edmonds? What to do?

Well, Bird Watcher, here's the truth. Chris Duncan doesn't have any trade value. Or at least he doesn't have enough value to trade him, lets put it that way. What can we get for a guy who's terrible in the field, and got hot with the bat the first time Major League pitchers pitched him? Maybe a sub-par middle reliever? Maybe? Do you remember Bo Hart? Although the comparison between Hart and Duncan doesn't make much sense when it comes to the type of player they both represent, it does hold some merit. Often times hitters come out of the minor leagues and get red hot for a month or so until major league scouts can get tapes on them, once they are scouted and pitchers understand how to get them out, these hitters cool off drastically. This was the case with Bo Hart, and could be the case with Chris Duncan. Obviously Dunc has power, but power means nothing when you can't make contact. I don't mean to completely play "playa-hata" on Dunc here, I think he can become a solid major league player - both in the box and on the field, but he needs practice. And I think he'll get that practice in the Cardinals organization. With the a potential talent like his, I don't see the point in trading him right now. His value isn't worth the risk.

All that said, I wouldn't expect the Cardinals to hand him a starting outfield spot next year. They will need a back-up plan, and that's where this offseason could get interesting (although, not really).

Truth be told, I don't see the Cardinals doing anything with their outfield this off season outside of taking Jim Edmonds' option for another year, and resigning Preston Wilson. Now, don't throw your hands up here about the Edmonds deal and start screaming "SHENANIGANS!!!" For those of you who don't think he's worth the $10 million he's do next year, consider the following: his playoff worth is tremendous (continually), his defense saves three runs every five games (I promise), and when he's hot he provides a scary clean-up option for Pujols. Yes, yes, yes, I know he strikes out a lot and I know he gets hurt a lot and as my dad always says "he's the only player ever to play Major League Baseball that demands hate from you one inning and absolute love from you the next." He's that kind of player, and we've dealt with him this long. So deal with him one more year. He's a leader, the heart of the club. And in all honesty, with a $3 million buyout, can the Cardinals do better than Edmonds for $7 million? Hardly.

The only reason we wouldn't sign Edmonds back is if his money gets in the way of Suppan's, and it won't because both players are unselfish. Edmonds has renegotiated his contract three times now so that the Cardinals could sign a pitcher, expect him to do it again. Plus, outside of Suppan the Cardinals aren't going to spend any money anyway, so what's $10 million on Edmonds?

Now that I've given a strong case for keeping Edmonds, let me present this: sign Edmonds and then trade him and Chris Duncan for a starting pitcher, probably a third starter??? Not many people have considered this option, and I don't expect it to happen considering the class of the Cardinals organization and their commitment to their players. But if this were the Yankees......

Sign Preston Wilson because he's a descent outfielder with an ok bat and he won't cost much. He's a fine bench player, and spot starter against lefties when Duncan rides pine.

Encarnacion stays put. Unless you send him and Dunc in a deal for a pitcher, which is more likely than Edmonds/Duncan for a pitcher. But I see Encarnacion being here until at least the All-Star break.

As far as I can see it, here's how the Cardinals outfield stacks up for next year:

Encarnacion - LF (even though his natural position is right)
Duncan/Wilson -RF
Edmonds - CF
Taguchi- B
Spiezo -B
Schumaker - B
Bigbie - B

Two surprises? Larry Bigbie and Skip Schumaker? Well, Bigbie has been here and proved he can put wood on the ball (in Colorado, however). Although it sounds laughable, in all honesty Bigbie could compete for that third outfield job. Or he could vanish from the face of the earth. Schumaker has spent the last couple of years in the Memphis, and I think he's probably ready for a bench spot at the big league level. He was with the team all post-season getting to see what its like at pressure levels, and I think he's a fine option at centerfield to back-up Edmonds.

J-Rod? Where did he go, Dave? Well, I'm not even really sure why he is in our organization much less on your big league roster and, even more disgusting, pinch-hitting in a World Series game at a crucial time.Hopefully he's gone. The Cardinals have no need for a par-level defensive outfielder who strikes out 75% percent of the time at the dish.

So there's that. Let me hear your thoughts. I can't wait. POST. POST. POST.

Oh wait....did you guys want me to include Ronnie Belliard in the outfield scheme, or just deal with him when we get to the infielders?

As of October 31, at midnight, these outfielders have declared free agency, and a quick thought on their possibility as a Cardinal: Darin Erstad (maybe, in price range), Gabe Kapler (not worth it), Trot Nixon (too old), Matt Stairs (probably too expensive), Shannon Stewart (no), Bernie Williams (too old,plus he's a former Yankee), Jay Payton (maybe because of price, but doubtful), Mark De LaRosa (no), Carlos Lee (that would be nice, wouldn't it? Probably depends on how much we want to spend on pitching), Gary Matthews Jr.(kid can D, I'd like him in left), Frank Catalanotto (to big of a name, won't fit on jersey), Brian Jordan (farewell tour? He always was my favorite player growing up), Juan Pierre (who? We have our leadoff hitter, Juan. Stay in Chicago), Todd Hollandsworth (too old, does anybody else think Oral Herschiser when they see Hollandsworth name?), Cliff Floyd (we don't like losers), Michael Tucker (we don't like old losers), Ricky Ledee (no), Dave Roberts (too old), Moises Alou (he urinates on his hands to make them tough), Barry Bonds (Ha!), Jose Guillen (way overpriced), Alfonso Soriano (not a contract year, he'll complain the entire season. I hope he and Bonds go to the Yanks).