Taveras for Profar redux

St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Derrick Goold responds to the idea that the St. Louis Cardinals would trade Oscar Taveras for Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar. Blame former Reds/Nationals general manager Jim Bowden. He’s the one that brought it up on the ESPN Insider pages.
Mar 19, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Oscar Taveras (87) rounds third base and scores a run in the fourth inning during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Goold notes that neither general managers of either team are talking about it. Not in public, at least. Well, to be honest, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak was quoted by Goold in the article.

"“I understand why people connect the shortstop-outfielder and on a low level find a way for that to help both teams,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Friday. “But the reality is we have just gotten to the point we wanted with our farm system — with more elite talent back and set to contribute to the major-league club. I’m not in the mood to start breaking it up.”"

The Cardinals fan in me says no way does Taveras get traded for Profar because you don’t trade the next coming of Albert Pujols.

At the same time, Profar is suffering from the same problem as Matt Adams. He is a great player but is unable to find the at bats at the major league level. Worse for Profar is that he has no position at the major league level. Unlike Adams, Profar is the overall number 1 prospect in the minors according to Baseball America and yet, he’s unable to play with the Rangers unless they move him to another position–which will not happen unless second baseman Ian Kinsler moves over to first base.

On paper, in theory, it is a win-win for both clubs assuming both players reach the level they are projected. Both players, according to an unnamed AL executive interviewed by Goold, are the once in a decade type players.

If Pet Kozma is not the Cardinals short stop of the future, look for the answer to be a player such as Jake Lemmerman, Vance Albitz, Greg Garcia, or Alex Mejia.