St. Louis Cardinals: Failed vesting options could add to the Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals starting rotation will likely be stocked in 2018 with young arms, but should they fail to sign an extension for one of their own, there lays a 12-year veteran likely available via team buy-out.

The St. Louis Cardinals do not really need pitching; this much is true. But should they fail to re-sign Lance Lynn, there could exist a need for a new veteran arm. This would be compounded if the St. Louis Cardinals decide in the offseason to become honest about the future of Adam Wainwright.

And in truth the 12-year veteran in question who is likely available thanks to a team buy-out by his failed vesting option, Ricky Nolasco, is pretty much in the same boat as Waino: aging and losing value through poor performances. I’ll take a look anyway.

Nolasco owns a team option of $13MM for 2018 that he would turn to a player option if he reaches 202 1/3 innings pitched. According to MLBTR, this doesn’t look very likely. This means that the team maintains the option and is likely to buy it out for the $1MM required.

Nolasco would then be essentially released by the Angels and looking for work. While he has never been a stellar pitcher- his best year was 2008 when he posted a 3.52 ERA across 34 games for the Marlins- he has logged respectable work loads. Nolasco’s lowest innings pitched were in 2007 when he appeared in only 21.1 to his greatest number pitched in 2008 when he appeared in 212.1.

With relatively high ERAs across his 12-year career, Nolasco will likely be overlooked by many clubs. In addition to this, Nolasco will be 35 when the 2018 campaign begins providing yet another reason for a club to overlook this name.

Enter then some creativity. I suggest that the St. Louis Cardinals approach Nolasco with either a minor league contract or an MLB contract lasting only 1-2 years. In these years, I suggest that the Cardinals move Nolasco to long relief to extend his baseball life. If this works, then Nolasco AND Waino could spell some outstanding arms coming out of the pen in 2018 to support the young guys who climb the hill.

While it is admitted that the St. Louis Cardinals likely do not need another starter, a cheap pick up makes plenty of sense.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation in 2018 looks to be Carlos Martinez, Lance Lynn (if re-signed), Luke Weaver, and then question marks.

Will Alex Reyes be in the rotation right off of Tommy John surgery or will he perform better in the pen? Will Wainwright return to his starting form or will the pen be a more welcoming home? Will Jack Flaherty be a reliable solution as a starter?

These questions will need answering and could find answers in the likes of Nolasco as discussed in the previous slide but they might also be answered through yet another starter pick up thanks to a failed vesting option. This suggested solution comes way of Seattle to whom the St. Louis Cardinals “gifted” Mike Leake in 2017.

Enter the idea of Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma, according to MLBTR, needed 125 innings pitched to vest his $15MM option but his DL stint this season has prevented this achievement. This failed vesting provides that the Mariners have two options: a $10MM option or a $1MM buyout. It is assumed that the M’s will opt for the latter.

Iwakuma’s best year was in 2013 when he appeared in 219.2 innings and posted a 2.66 ERA. Since then, however, Iwakuma has battled shoulder inflammation that has aided a ballooning in his ERA. This very inflammation is what has kept him from earning his vesting option in 2017.

While Nolasco would bring a 12-year career, Iwakuma would bring stronger promise from a younger arm who might simply need a new start. Too bad Dave Duncan is no longer with the St. Louis Cardinals as he was famous for reclamation cases like this.

Could the Cardinals get lucky with a cheap Iwakuma option? I think it would be worth the shot.

The St. Louis Cardinals seemingly found a great shortstop with pop in DeJong, but picking up a veteran for a year or two could allow additional options for DeJong.

The St. Louis Cardinals could be seeking options for third base during the upcoming offseason. Gyorko has done well at third and could remain there but another option at third could be Paul DeJong. This would only happen if the Cardinals found a different shortstop.

One such shortstop facing a failed vesting option is J.J. Hardy. According to MLBTR, Hardy returned this season from the disabled list too late to achieve the required 600 plate appearances to get his $14MM option. Instead, the Orioles can now pay a mere $2MM buyout and are looking to do so.

Hardy is a two-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and one-time Silver Slugger. These came during his best three seasons shown below:

His 2017 numbers aren’t terrible but are certainly affected by his injury(ies). While the Orioles are likely to “sell” this offseason including the likes of Manny Machado (with whom the St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly interested), J.J. Hardy will likely be auctioned by a few clubs.

A general double-digit home run hitter per season will bring some interest in Hardy and should bring interest from the St. Louis Cardinals.

If the Cardinals were to pick up Hardy, they could have a left side platoon of Gyorko/DeJong at third, and Hardy/DeJong at short. And if the Cardinals were so inclined, they could “sell” Gyorko this offseason and swap him for someone like Josh Donaldson (or Machado).

Picking up a shortstop, while at first glance might not seem too necessary, would add value to the 2018 St. Louis Cardinals. Until questions are answered regarding Wong, Gyorko, and Carpenter, the Cards would be wise to consider someone like Hardy.

The St. Louis Cardinals have, of late, been rather disappointing when it comes to moves via trade, etc. It is safe to assume this trend will continue.

The St. Louis Cardinals promised a busy trade deadline and failed to deliver. We have heard Mozeliak speculate that the overloaded outfield will afford the organization to be busy this offseason and while I want to believe that, while I want to think that the club will consider some out-of-the-box options like the kinds listed in the previous slides, I’m not so sure it will happen.

More from Redbird Rants

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• What’s next for the St. Louis Cardinals after Contreras signing?
• Report: Cardinals Emerge As Mystery Team for Carlos Rodon
• Cardinals: Trade targets after signing Willson Contreras
• Reflecting on the 2013 Cardinals’ top 30 prospects

I predict, based on the track record from this season, that Lance Lynn will walk. I predict that Adam Wainwright will be reinserted in the starting rotation. I predict that Matt Carpenter will man first base and that Gyorko will remain at third.

I likewise predict that the promising young arms we are getting glimpses of here in September will once again begin the 2018 season in the minors. Let me be clear that I believe that some of the young arms will do well to begin the season in the minors, I do not believe that ALL of them should have that outcome.

Bottom line is that the St. Louis Cardinals do not need to repeat 2017, or 2016 for that matter, and unless they do something, it is likely that they will see the repeat of poor performances. Especially if they intend on keeping Mike Matheny in the managerial role.

Next: #BestCardsMoments

Time will tell as to whether these predictions are correct or not and fans must now suffer through the remainder of September as the St. Louis Cardinals toy with all of our hearts. Stay tuned and we’ll update you on all things Cardinals as the season expires.