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Cardinals pursuing lefty relievers

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As the market for lefthanded relievers revved up with the Giants' signing of Jeremy Affeldt on Monday, the Cardinals apparently have focused their courtship on two lefties to add to their bullpen while keeping tabs on other options. "The ball is rolling," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. Lefthanded relief "is a market that will move quickly. It's kind of like the draft, where catchers go fast. There is a limited supply and they typically don't last until January." Will Ohman, one of the lefties the Cardinals are pursuing, received an offer from his 2008 team, the Atlanta Braves, on Monday, his agent said. Mozeliak spoke with Ohman's agent, Page Odle, on Monday to reiterate the club's interest. No offer has been made. The other lefty the Cardinals have targeted is veteran Arthur Rhodes.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Arthur Rhodes, Al Bello/Getty Images Arthur Rhodes, Al Bello/Getty Images
November 18, 2008  08:07 AM ET

Page 1

November 18, 2008  08:38 AM ET

And that's all he wrote ....

November 18, 2008  09:15 AM ET

But wait..there is more...
Post 3...

November 18, 2008  09:16 AM ET

I am going to shoot Mozeliak in the face. He is on pace to being the worst GM currently in MLB and in the history of the franchise. Neither one of these guys is the answer to the problem in the bullpen. What an idiot.

November 18, 2008  10:06 AM ET

I had nearly the same thought, Superheat. He's going to the bargain basement guys right off the bat. Ohman isn't much of an upgrade over Villone.

The Lefty relievers that can have an impact are Fuentes and Beimel.......these freaking guys aren't going to help at all.

November 18, 2008  05:22 PM ET

We'll be dumpster diving for pitchers before you know it. Duncan's great, but we might be better off if they couldn't count on him coming up with the temporary magic he works on cast offs.

Just sign an above average left-handed reliever, please! No, these two are not above average.

November 18, 2008  07:43 PM ET

I see that Marte signed with the Yankees even though they declined the option remaining on his contract. After Fuentes, Marte was the most interesting left-hander in play. Damn Yankees!

Comment #8 has been removed
November 18, 2008  11:27 PM ET

I agreed with passing on Holliday considering the asking price in talent for a one year rental. I also want them to focus on pitching - good pitching. I don't want another season of blown save after blown save. We would have made the playoffs this year with even an average bullpen.

Yes, Peavy and a top reliever would probably be all we'd need to give the Cubs all they can handle in a fight for the division.

And please, please don't sign a defensive liability at short. <cough><cough> Rentaria. You have a pitching coach who preaches ground balls and sinkers. You'd better be able to field those ground balls with good range. Rolen's not over there to allowing the shortstop to cheat up the middle anymore. Glaus is fine defensively; but, he doesn't have Rolen's exceptional range to cover part of short.

November 19, 2008  12:03 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

Cards are too damn cheap at this point. They didn't trade for Holliday, they aren't interested in Peavy... They need to spend a little cash to contend.

This wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't know they had the cash freed up this off-season. I've heard them say for two years now that they would be big players this off-season, because of all the payroll coming free at the end of 2008. Instead of that actually happening, they pass on Peavy, and then set their sights on the likes of Ohman and Arthur Rhodes. Just more coupon-cutting for shopping at the Dollar Tree, rather than being serious about adding to the needs, specifically the bullpen.

November 19, 2008  06:37 AM ET

Will the Cardinals be able to resign Pujols this time if they don't show some signs of wanting to compete? I doubt it. Albert isn't going to give another discount just to make Dewitt richer. He'll go to NY or LA for A-Rod money.

November 19, 2008  09:19 AM ET

I wonder if they are trying to save payroll $$$$ in order to extend Albert next year?

November 19, 2008  12:12 PM ET

Hey MO, Cardinal nation is getting fed up with you just collecting a free pay check why don't you practice some job security and get us some damn talent before you end up out on the streets(where you belong)

November 19, 2008  12:44 PM ET

MO is only doing what his budget will allow. Don't blame him...blame the owners. I don't want to spend out of hand either, but daaaaayyyyuuuummmm. Ya gotta let go of some of the bucks just to keep us interested.

 
November 19, 2008  02:28 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

MO is only doing what his budget will allow. Don't blame him...blame the owners. I don't want to spend out of hand either, but daaaaayyyyuuuummmm. Ya gotta let go of some of the bucks just to keep us interested.

I do wonder how much Mozeliak gets his hands tied by DeWitt........but, the budget does allow some spending this off-season, they just don't seem inclined to do it.

They've talked for over a year about how this winter would be the year they step up and spend money to improve the team because of all the payroll flexibility they would have. Now, they have the flexibility but appear to cheap to do anything substantial. So, it seems it was just hot air that was spewing out earlier.

This team is not good enough right now to catch the Cubs.......and it isn't going to get their by signing bargain basement players like Will Ohman and Arthur Rhodes. The Cards should have gone hard after Peavy and Fuentes, then they'd be in a spot to make a run for the division.

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