I was disappointed to see that Jess Todd was the PTBNL in the DeRosa deal.   If the Cards do not sign DeRosa past 2009, I believe Chris Perez and Todd was too much to give up to get him.

The Cards have now surrendered Todd, Perez and Brett Wallace in recent deals, three of the primary jewels of their minor league system over the last couple of years.   Three guys we drafted, developed and planned to have on our big-league roster for years to come.    The deals may be worth it if we bring back DeRosa and Holliday, but if those guys leave as free agent's in the offseason and we don't have significant post-season success this year........I'm afraid we'll look back on these deals with a lot of regret.

That said, I applaud Mozeliak and DeWitt for making aggressive moves to try and improve the team right now.   For the last couple of years, the Cards have sat on their hands at the trade deadline, so this is a refreshing departure from the norm.   I am excited about what this lineup can do the rest of 2009 with DeRosa, Holliday and Julio Lugo contributing.   For most of 2009, the Cards have had almost zero production out of the LF and 3B positions.  Holliday and DeRosa in particular are huge upgrades to help alleviate those problems.

I think the thing the Cards still need is one more starting pitcher to replace Todd Wellemeyer in the rotation.   I'm not sure that will happen, though.   With several off-days in the coming weeks, the Cards could easily go to a four man rotation at times, mitigating the need for that fifth starter.   Plus the Cards seem to be committed to the fact that Wellemeyer can get better.   I'm not sure what they base that on, other than his 2008 performance, but I truly believe they should insert Mitchell Boggs into the rotation and dump Wellemeyer.    LaRussa keeps saying they don't have a better option, but there is no way in my mind that Boggs could be any worse than what they've gotten out of Wellemeyer.