St. Louis Cardinals: Questions about the pursuit of a big bat part two

The St. Louis Cardinals opened up the second half of the season with a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, as trade talks involving a big bat heat up.

I’m not going to get into the St. Louis Cardinal’s loss last night. The St. Louis Cardinals are at a point where losing to lesser teams can’t happen. How can the Cardinals expect to make the playoffs if they cannot overcome lesser teams and keep pace with the Cubs and Brewers? The loss only proved the need of a big bat in the lineup.

After scoring two runs in the first inning, the St. Louis Cardinals went cold. They had plenty of opportunities to score, but, as we know, lack a big bat to deliver a final blow. As frustrating as the loss was, it’s more frustrating not knowing which direction the Cardinals’ front office is going to go with trade talks.

More from Redbird Rants

Earlier this week, I wrote about some comments made by Derrick Good of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the pursuit of a big bat. I came up with some questions I think most Cardinals’ fans want answered.

Then, Thursday’s news came around.

Both the Cubs and the Brewers made move to makes their teams better, so you’d think the Cardinals will follow suit, right?

However, Bob Nightengale made some comments on the Kevin Wheeler Show yesterday on Twitter that certainly make me question the direction of the team.

Check out the tweets below:

".@BNightengale on the #STLCards acquiring a big bat at the deadline: “Who is that guy? He might not be available now. Maybe this winter?”— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017.@BNightengale on the #STLCards acquiring a big bat at the deadline: “Who is that guy? He might not be available now. Maybe this winter?”— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017"

".@BNightengale on Giancarlo Stanton: “I can’t see that… I would much prefer keeping the money & going after Machado in a year.” #STLCards— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017.@BNightengale on Giancarlo Stanton: “I can’t see that… I would much prefer keeping the money & going after Machado in a year.” #STLCards— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017"

".@BNightengale says unless the Blue Jays fall apart or they’re completely blown away by a deal, he doesn’t expect Donaldson to be dealt.— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017.@BNightengale says unless the Blue Jays fall apart or they’re completely blown away by a deal, he doesn’t expect Donaldson to be dealt.— Kevin Wheeler Show (@WheelerShow101) July 14, 2017"

I don’t like to be skeptical, but if those comments don’t make you wonder where the team is going, I don’t know what will. I’ll take each tweet and try to make sense of what was said. I’ll ask some questions, and try to answer them to get a feel of where this club is going with their trade talks.

“Who is that guy?”

You’d think with all the rumors flying around the St. Louis Cardinals, they’d have their guy. However, Nightengale’s comments suggest the Cardinals may not know who that guy is. Maybe his comments are exaggeration, but it would be very concerning to me if the team really didn’t know who their guy is.

Not knowing who your guy is, to me, a sign of the Cardinals front office of staying pat this summer. At the very least, it could also mean the Cardinals are just being patient. However, my point is this: If the Cardinals truly do not know who their guy is right now, do not be shocked if the team does not make a move at all and washes this season. Will it infuriate me? No question about it.

To Nightengale’s point, he suggests maybe the move happens in the winter. The only problem with this is what would change in between the summer trade block and the winter? Would the Cardinals know who their guy is then? I’m not sure that would be the case. If the Cardinals are willing to wait till winter, then SELL, and ditch this big bat talk.

Comments on Giancarlo Stanton

At this point, its hard to tell what is fact or rumor surrounding Giancarlo Stanton. Early on in June, Stanton’s name was the topic of interest with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, Nightengale’s comments about the star slugger suggest otherwise.

Nightengale essentially is saying there is no way the Cardinals will land Giancarlo Stanton. In fact, this lines up with some of the comments made Derrick Goold in my part one piece. If in fact no substantial talks have happened between the Cardinals and Marlins, then the team needs to figure out what to do quickly.

Related Story: Stanton or Machado

Personally, I would love to have Stanton on the Cardinals. He is the type of hitter the Cardinals need in the lineup. He is the type of hitter that turns a 2-2 game against the Pirates into a 5-2 win over the Pirates. Is he only thing the Cardinals need, no. However, it would be a huge step in the right direction.

There is one thing that I will question about these comments by Nightengale. Is the pursuit of Stanton, or lack of pursuit, due more to the Cardinals unwillingness to give up prospects or the Cardinals not willing to take on the contract? You’d think to land Stanton it would take both, but if we find out one of those two things out weighed this move, what does that say about the front office at this point?

Comments on Josh Donaldson

The other big name being tossed around in St. Louis is Josh Donaldson. Here at Redbird Rants we have pleaded for a trade for Josh Donaldson before, but nothing has come of it. Unfortunately, what Nightengale says about Donaldson and the Blue Jays is absolutely right.

The Toronto Blue Jays are in the same boat as the Cardinals. The only slight difference is the Cardinals are slightly closer to their first place leader than the Blue Jays. It will be interesting to see where the Blue Jays end up over the next couple of days. Should the Blue Jays falter even further, you’d have to think they will move certain pieces.

The one problem is the Toronto Blue Jays are not a bad team. Sure, their pitching could use some help. However, like most teams this year, the Blue Jays have played under expectations. What if the Blue Jays have conceded the season already, and have decided to reload this winter? If that’s the case, it wouldn’t make sense for the Blue Jays to deal Donaldson to the Cardinals, or at all.

Nightengale suggests the only way to get Donaldson is by throwing prospects and more prospects the Blue Jays. After seeing what the Cubs paid for Quintana, I’d be okay if the Cardinals passed up on Donaldson. That’s not to say he isn’t a great player, but given his contract situation, I’m not gambling the future away for a rental.

Next: All-Star Break Summit

While I feel the Cardinals need to make a move, it’s beginning to feel like the team may not do anything. If that is the case, then quit talking about a big bat and sell the movable pieces while you can.

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