St Louis Die Hards  > Group Message Board  > A Trade Looms?
April 24, 2009, 03:48 AM
Now, I know all of us St. Louis Die Hards have been on the Cards for months to make the move to get Jake Peavy. And while I'm still very on board with that direction, I think there could be other options out there.

Lately I've been reading a lot about how the Indians desperately want to trade Cliff Lee.

Sure, he has a 1-3 record right now to go along with a 5.25 ERA. But the guy has played some monster offenses in some pretty tough hitter's parks (Texas in Arlington and New York at the new Coors Field). He's also gotten progressively better with each start.

I don't think there's an educated fan alive that doesn't know Lee played over his head last year in winning the AL Cy Young award. Heck, he's already got as many losses this year as he had all of last year. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a valuable addition to the Cardinals rotation.

Cliff Lee would give the Cards something they've been wanting for a long time: A Southpaw in the Rotation. I know, I know...it almost makes you cringe to hear that phrase. Especially after what happened with Mulder.

But I don't think Lee presents the same worries as Mulder. For one, Lee isn't the same workhorse that Mulder was when he was with Oakland. Last year was the first time Lee had ever posted more than one complete game in a season (he had 4). Conversely, Mulder had 22 complete games in the four years before his arrival in St. Louis. Sure, he comes with his own injury concerns...but so do ALL pitchers. They're dainty fellas.

Besides, Lee comes with another advantage over Peavy: He gets to switch leagues. You have to expect at least some improvement in his numbers simply from the fact that he is getting away from those monster AL Offenses and their nasty DH's. Add in the adjustment period for NL hitters...and Cliff Lee could be for the Cardinals, what Sabathia was for the Brewers in 08...

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