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St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: The St. Louis Cardinals Blockbuster scenario

By Daniel R. Campbell

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 28: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready to make a play as Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals gets a lead from first base at Chase Field on September 28, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 28: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready to make a play as Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals gets a lead from first base at Chase Field on September 28, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 15: Bill DeWitt Jr., managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals addressing a change in the manager during a press conference prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on July 15, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 15: Bill DeWitt Jr., managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals addressing a change in the manager during a press conference prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on July 15, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

The amalgamation of these deals would result in a monstrous 2019 Opening Day lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals. It may bring a price with it, but there are ways around that, making this scenario an exciting one for Cardinals fans.

If my scenarios were followed above, let me show you my opening day lineup and rotation:

Rotation:

Trevor Bauer/Noah Syndergaard

Zack Grienke

Miles Mikolas

Carlos Martinez

Jack Flaherty/Michael Wacha

Lineup:

3B:  Matt Carpenter

1B:  Paul Goldschmidt

RF:  Bryce Harper

LF:  Marcell Ozuna

SS:  Paul DeJong

C:  Yadier Molina

2B:  Kolten Wong

CF:  Harrison Bader

What would result from my deals above would be the best starting rotation and the best lineup in the National League (and perhaps in the MLB).  I know we did not address the bullpen in this piece, but the dollars are such that (especially if you do not get Greinke) the St. Louis Cardinals can afford to buy relievers in free agency, or go with internal options.

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The first year, the Cardinals may exceed the luxury tax threshold by a few million dollars, however, that goes away if you do not trade for Grienke or if you can find a take for Dexter Fowler and some of his contract.  You could also increase the prospects to Arizona to get them to eat up to a third of Grienke’s contract to make the financials work.  That said, the financials are only a problem in year one, or year two with current obligations outstanding.

On this team Dexter Fowler would be your fourth outfielder, and you would have a bench of Kelly/Knizner or a veteran catcher that we sign, Yairo Munoz, Lane Thomas, Jedd Gyorko, and a couple of other spare parts.  The deals are just proposals, but they outline what I think could get a deal done for the players mentioned.

Next. Missing out on Donaldson isn't necessarily bad. dark

The St. Louis Cardinals could pull off all of the deals above (with Grienke’s no trade clause being the only potentially insurmountable hurdle).  The Cardinals could have a super team going into 2019 and be the NL favorites.  The Cardinals could win the offseason and be great.  It remains to be seen what the Cardinals WILL do, but do not let them off the hook when you know what they COULD accomplish.

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