Sunday, June 29, 2014

Should the Cardinals trade Oscar Taveras to get David Price?

There's been much speculation surrounding the Cardinals and David Price lately.  The Cards starting rotation is hurting and Price would certainly provide the team with a one-two punch, along with Adam Wainwright, that could match any other team in baseball. 

The problem is that, to acquire a player like Price, the Cards may have to part ways with top prospect Oscar Taveras. 

The Rays have a history of trading off their top pitchers before they become free agents and getting some high quality prospects in return.  In 2011, they traded Matt Garza to the Cubs for Chris Archer (and others) and in December 2012 they traded James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals for Wil Meyers and Jake Odorizzi (and others). 

All Meyers and Archer did was to finish 1st and 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting last season and Odorizzi is making a case for this year's award. 

However, none of those pitchers the Rays traded have the pedigree of David Price.  Price won the Cy Young in 2012, is a 3-time All Star (in his first 5 seasons) and has a career 3.35 ERA, with a good chunk of his games coming against the tough AL East opponents.

So, if the Cardinals were to come calling, one would certainly expect that the Rays would ask for Taveras in return.

And, if they do, both Ken Rosenthal and Bernie Miklasz say the Cardinals should just say NO.

Their thinking is that the lack of quality sluggers in the majors makes a slugger with the potential of Taveras all the more valuable.

The Cards certainly have an abundance of outfielders and trading from that surplus makes sense.  But, when you have a player with the offensive upside of Taveras, does it make sense to trade him for 1 1/2 years of Price?

On the flip side, the Cardinals could use some help on the mound.  The injuries are mounting and a guy like Price could be the missing piece to send the team back to the promised land.  Besides, a year after winning the ROY, Meyers has struggled this season for the Rays, proving once again that prospects are just that until they prove themselves in the majors.

The Cardinals have plenty of talent in the majors and minors, perhaps enough to land Price without offering up Taveras.   But, I would not be upset if the Cards decided to trade Taveras for Price.  Maybe I'm a bit of a gambler, but I also believe that pitching wins championships and that this team needs the kind of wake-up call that Price could provide.

What do you think?  Would you trade Taveras to get Price?  I will put a poll on the front page for your answer.

9 comments:

  1. You don't trade a guy like Taveras who is part of the solution for the teams most glaring need which is offensive production. I wouldn't even trade him straight up for Price. Price would be a one and a half year rental. We can't afford to sign him after the 2015 season. The pitching will stay afloat as it is.

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    1. I agree that the offense is the biggest problem with this team, but I think the solution is for guys like Holliday and Craig to get their bats in gear and start hitting.

      If we do keep Taveras, then where do we play him? Somethings got to give, so why not Taveras if it gets us an ace like Price.

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    2. 1 and 1/2 years is the key. he will not re-sign, and what if you sign taveras now at a discount? future's so bright I gotta wear shades! albert ring a bell?

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  2. WHAT DOSE IT MATTER , NO PITCHER CAN WIN IF YOUR TEAM DOSE NOT SCORE ANY RUN'S, THESE GUYS NEED TO TAKE SOME PRIDE AND START PLAYING WHILE HAVING FUN, RELAX AND PLAY BALL

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  3. I agree with Patrick,the team needs to startn hitting.if the cardinals go after price they should trade allen craige and bourgus.
    joe

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  4. All I've heard was about Taveras and his potential. LA brings up Puig, look what he done...Pirates bring up Polanco, look what he does..Rays bring up Kiermayer, look what he does. And these are just a few. Cards bring up Taveras and he hits a home run his second time up. And that's it?? Where's the potential. First, how about we get a hitting coach that can bring out this whole team's offensive potential

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    1. Bet you didn't find any problem with Mayberrys hitting instruction last year! Why put the bulk of the blame on the hitting coach?

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  5. Forget Price--- the Cards don't need more pitching---what they need is hitting and speed---the perfect player for the Cards right now is Jose Altuve from Houston----he has everthing the Cards need---- GO GET HIM MOZELIAK

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    1. And why would the Astros trade Altuve? The Astros have him locked up through 2019 (including 2 option years) at reasonable salaries. They'd be nuts to trade him.

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