Post-deadline reactions and trade candidates

You better believe that was a disappointing trade deadline. The Cardinals were never really players for anyone other than Will Ohman and Brian Fuentes, it seemed, as most of the coverage of the deadline focused on Manny Ramirez. The Pirates did really well for Jason Bay and had an overall pretty good trade deadline. They got young guys that can contribute within 2-3 years while selling high on all three of their players, but they should've traded John Grabow as well. Some other names I'm surprised weren't moved: Fuentes, Ron Mahay, Eddie Guardado, Jarrod Washburn, Adam Dunn, and Raul Ibanez. The Mets were uncharicteristically quiet, and the Royals didn't trade off anybody.

I know it's got to be disappointing for Cardinals fans to see Mozeliak stand pat, but the Cards are not done yet. The potential to make a deal via waivers is still there, so don't rule out a move before the end of the season. The Cardinals simply couldn't match up with someone before the non-waiver deadline. Part of it is probably the conception that the Cards farm system is very weak, and that anything other than Colby Rasmus isn't worth having. Another factor is the Cardinals seem to be more willing to absorb salary (see Larry Walker and Woody Williams) than give up prospects, which could make the waiver deadline even more important than the non-waiver deadline. To read up on the waiver deadline rules, check out San Diego front office man and former Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta's blog. I've compiled a list of some guys we could target in more of the salary-dump fashion:

Khalil Greene, SS: Contract that hampers his current team for this season and next? Check. Inconsistent play with a tendency to frustrate fans? Check. Viable trade target with the potential to pass through waivers? Check. Khalil had an inexplicable fall this season, batting merely .213/.260/.339 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI's. If our current shortstop wasn't so bad offensively, I'd totally discount Greene as an option, but the fact that he had a good season as recently as last year and is still relatively young (28) makes the notion of a Greene trade easier to live with. He's making $4.5 million next year and $6.5 million in 2009, which could make it a pure salary dump for San Diego. The only down side is if he doesn't break out of his box next season and stays the .599 OPS hitter he is now. That could be hard to live with.

Mark Gudzielanek, 2B: Per Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, "the Royals remain willing to trade Grudzielanek, who will be a free agent after the season." The fact that he wasn't traded before the deadline signals to me that the asking price was high. Mark will probably be a Type B free agent at the end of the season, which means we'd have to equal or better the value of a 1st round supplemental pick.

Edgar Renteria, SS: Edgar is having a terrible year this year, no question, but there's a trend of him struggling when he goes to the American League. Perhaps a move back to his familiar setting would rejuvenate Edgar for a post-season run. He's making $9 million this season and has an $11 million club option with $3 million buyout in '09. The Tigers might be better without Renteria and could save $3 million by trading him now. He's batting .259/.308/.337 with 5 home runs and 37 RBI's for the season.

Jack Wilson, SS: The Pirates could very well decide to keep Wilson, but, given their trades of Bay, Marte, and Nady, they won't really have a use for Jack anytime soon. Wilson is making $6.5 million this season, $7.25 million in 2009, and has a club option for $8.4 million in '10 with a $0.6 million buyout, which means trading Jack now would save the Pirates about $8 million next year. It's not as if his offense is inherently valuable to the team next season, and the Bucs have guys in the system that could replace him if needed. Since he hasn't been traded already, I'm thinking the asking price was over the top.

You can find some additional info on the Will Ohman trade that never happened over at MLB Trade Rumors. I'm a bit disappointed this one didn't happen, but I'm glad we didn't give in to some pretty rediculous demands.

The Cardinals may surprise us with a waiver deadline trade. You never know. For now, I'm just glad Colby Rasmus is still a Cardinal. Jon Heyman - IN YOUR FACE!