Trade Possibility with Cardinals, Would Alexei be a good replacement for Furcal? Options

[Lillian]

The Cardinals need a replacement for the injured Furcal, who will miss the entire season, in the last year of his contract.
Alexei Ramirez has a fairly expensive contract, and the Sox have Carlos Sanchez as a possible replacement.
10 of the Cardinals top 15 prospects are RHP. If the Sox could land one of the better ones, in exchange for Ramirez, and clear some
salary for a potential signing of a big left handed bat(Grady Sizemore in June), would that make sense?

[southsider2k5]

We are not going to cripple ourselves to help St Louis.

[Balta1701]

I was with you until you called Grady Sizemore a "big left handed bat" and acted like he would cost anything.

If you make this type of move, it's a season punting move, so talk to me if we roll out of the gate 15-30 or if the Cards give us a major league piece.

[Jose Paniagua]

The realities are we're built for win now. So Carlos S. for Alexei goes in the face of that.

Plus it's a sell-low moment for Alexei, so there are a few angles not to like on it.

As with all things of course, for a legit haul there's obviously some point where we wouldnt say no.

[southsider2k5]

I was with you until you called Grady Sizemore a "big left handed bat" and acted like he would cost anything.

If you make this type of move, it's a season punting move, so talk to me if we roll out of the gate 15-30 or if the Cards give us a major league piece.

If you trade Alexei, there is no reason to sign a guy like Sizemore.

[Lillian]

I just really like Sanchez and would like to see him get a shot. I know that he's very young, but the scouting reports say that he can play.

[southsider2k5]

I just really like Sanchez and would like to see him get a shot. I know that he's very young, but the scouting reports say that he can play.

The problem is that I don't think any of his tools grade out as better than Ramirez.

[Balta1701]

I just really like Sanchez and would like to see him get a shot. I know that he's very young, but the scouting reports say that he can play.

He will get a shot, it just might not be this year. And it shouldn't be this year, at least not with a team wanting to be competitive.

He's got a very good chance of taking Beckham's spot next year.

[flavum]

I just really like Sanchez and would like to see him get a shot. I know that he's very young, but the scouting reports say that he can play.

I think Carlos Sanchez is going to pan out too, but he's not even 21 yet. I'd love it if he played 130+ games at Charlotte this year. Get more PA's against good pitching and be ready to come up in September to give the Sox something to think about for 2014.

[Eminor3rd]

You'd have to get more than Alexei is currently worth on the market given he had a horrible season last year. If the Cardinals want to pay what he's worth if he regresses, then you can think about it. But the team would revolt, too. It's an obvious downgrade for this season.

[Lillian]

Let's just hope that Alexei can improve on his OBP. I understand that he was dealing with a very sore wrist after the collision with de Aza, but
how does that explain taking just 16 walks, and having an OBP of .287?

[Eminor3rd]

Let's just hope that Alexei can improve on his OBP. I understand that he was dealing with a very sore wrist after the collision with de Aza, but
how does that explain taking just 16 walks, and having an OBP of .287?

I saw a stat on Fangraphs that had Alexei as among the worst in the Majors last year at swinging at pitches out of the zone.

[Lillian]

There is still $26.5 million remaining on Alexei's 3 year contract, and his play last season was not close to that value.
He's getting pretty old to expect much improvement, but I hope that I'm wrong.

A big intangible in Sanchez' favor is that he is an ideal #2 hitter, something the Sox lack. Keppinger is currently slotted there, but that is not
where he batted last year, in his best offensive season.
By contrast, Alexei is not capable of hitting in the two hole, and doesn't really profile especially good in any spot in the lineup.

This post has been edited by Lillian: Mar 7, 2013 -> 05:09 PM

[southside_hitman]

There is still $26.5 million remaining on Alexei's 3 year contract, and his play last season was not close to that value.
He's getting pretty old to expect much improvement, but I hope that I'm wrong.

Yes, you are wrong.
8-1 Sox over Cubs in the 9th!

[Lillian]

Yes, you are wrong.
8-1 Sox over Cubs in the 9th!

I wish I had your confidence.