Win Now?

Regardless of the quality of trades made at the trade deadline, that specific time of year always excites me. I think of it as a way to shake up the game and give players new starts. Seeing players in new uniforms, with new teammates, and new environments always gives me a kind of satisfied feeling. I mean, even after Rasmus has left, I continue to follow his career in Toronto, and hope he is doing well. But that is beside the point.

After reading many, MANY articles of goings-on around the league during the trade deadline fiasco, I noticed a term that became more and more used when discussing trades (especially in and around the Cards organization). That term is “A win-now trade”.

For those of you curious, a win-now trade refers to the ballclub’s decision to, when trading, go for a stronger team now, and perhaps sacrifice a player that may be helpful in the future. This is not to say that those who engage in a “win-now” trade will do away with their entire farm system. It simply means that this team is looking for help on the field right now, and are willing to part with a young up and comer.

I saw this term being thrown around a lot this trade deadline in regards to the Cardinals, and I’d have to agree with it. The Cards gave up Rasmus, who at one point was deemed the Cards future, for help in the bullpen and starting rotation for this year. They also gave up a young guy for Furcal, who may be past his prime with 32 years and injuries under his belt. Now, for what the Cardinals were looking for, I think these were actually good trades.

However, the fact remains, the Cardinals made “win-now” trades….but aren’t winning now! I mean, they do win some games, but as of this point, they are 7 games back of the Brewers in mid-august. If they don’t start winning-now, they are going to lose the season, soon. And if that does happen, it seems those “win-now” acquisitions are negated, and the Cards may be left with a hole in the potential of the future club. Now, I don’t claim to be a triple-A enthusiast, and I admittedly know not much about the Cardinals farm system. What I do know, is that the Cardinals made trades this deadline in order to win now, and while they are winning here and there, it isn’t enough.

I just hope that the trades made this season and in past seasons don’t lead the Cardinals into being a team that continues to sacrifice bits and pieces of their future, for wins right now, especially when those wins aren’t coming.

My apologies if it seems I am being too critical, I really don’t intend to be. Like I said, I actually was in favor of the trades that the Cards made this season, and they have worked out as well for the most part. Furcal has hit well, and the bullpen has improved by leaps and bounds. I just hope the Cardinals put it together late this season, or the Brewers fall apart. Otherwise, another year of Cardinal-less playoff ball is ahead of us.