Thursday, May 8, 2014

Could the Cardinals trade Matt Adams to make room for Oscar Taveras?

With the outfield logjam in the Cardinals system, I have recently speculated that potentially Matt Holliday or Allen Craig could be traded to open up a spot for top prospect Oscar Taveras.  The thinking is that the Cardinals could shed some salary while improving their outfield defense.

However, there is another option out there.

According to Buster Olney (ESPN Insider required), a rival talent evaluator suggested that Matt Adams could be the one to be traded, with Craig moving to first and Taveras playing right field.  The scout suggests that defensive issues are preventing the Cards from promoting Taveras, as he is better suited for a corner outfield spot than center.

I agree that Taveras is unlikely to be a long-term solution in center and that playing him in center field this year would weaken an already poor outfield defense.  Holliday is not going to win any Gold Gloves and Craig is not much better.  Adding Taveras to the mix would create more gaps, due to the limited range of all three.

Peter Bourjos' recent hot streak (he's 5 for 8 in his last 2 games) may give him another opportunity to prove himself capable of handling the everyday center field job, where his range and plus defense is much needed.

At the same time, trading Adams would improve the Cardinals defense in right field (i.e. Taveras > Craig), while not losing much (if anything) at first.

In addition, trading Adams would probably net the Cards more in return, as he is cheaper than either Holliday or Craig and under team control through 2018.

Overall it makes sense, but its unlikely to happen anytime soon.  The Cardinals will likely promote Taveras sometime in June and then rotate their outfielders and first basemen for a time until the July trade deadline.

That is when we will see what, if anything, the Cards do about the logjam.

1 comment:

  1. DON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE UNTIL THE GUYS START HITTING THE BALL EVERYDAY, SEEMS LIKE MOST GOT PAY RAISE'S AND THEY JUST OUT THERE PLAYING AND NOT HUNGRY ENOUGH TO WANT TO WIN ENOUGH,I'M A DIE HARD CARD FAN AND WANT THEM TO BE MORE THEN RESPECTABLE , LETS SHOW EVERYONE WHAT IS LIKE TO BE A CARDINAL. GO CARDS

    ReplyDelete