Holliday to the Cards?

Taking Ludwick is a foolish gesture at trying not to upset the apple cart. As rox girl notes, Ludwick had a career year likely not to be repeated again. While he has three years of arb left, they will be for ages 30, 31, and 32. Considering Ludwick’s late arrival and old player skill set, you’re likely getting the expensive years of his eventual decline. Ludwick will hit with power if he comes over, but his defense was already sliding and now he would have to cover a much larger outfield. An outfield of Ludwick-Spilborghs-Hawpe would be less than ideal for a pitching staff not made of five Aaron Cook’s.

Sure, Rasmus hits left handed, as many Rockies do…BUT, he’s going to play most of next season as a 22 year old, he was voted the top prospect in the PCL despite a lost season, is consider a plus defender in either center or a corner, and has a more dynamic offensive profile. Just one year ago, Rasmus dominated the TL, coming a homer shy of 30 in a minor league season, and was on everyone’s wish list. A knee injury and some frustrations may have tanked his AAA season, but he was beginning to find it before being shelved for the season. The core of the team offensively appears to be Tulo, Iannetta, Stew, and Fowler. Would it not make sense to add another one in that age and arb level? If they all pan out you have an offensive jauggernaut for several years.

Ludwick would be okay if the secondary parts were great. That would mean Chris Perez, and possibly another starting pitcher prospect. I don’t think you can get Chris Perez or even Jaime Garcia if you ask for Rasmus as well, but the Cardinals still have a surprisingly deep pool of 2-3 type pitchers. Jess Todd is a bulldog of a pitcher that could become a better late inning arm. Clayton Mortensen took his lumps in AAA, but he’s still throwing a power sinker to get groundouts. Plus, the Cardinals do have interesting C grade guys to round out a trade.

I believe a deal can get done with the Cardinals, but if Ludwick is the main course I hope the side dishes are to die for.

Now the Phillies… there’s an interesting trade partner. Not coming in a Holliday trade will be Shane Victorino, and honestly, that’s just fine. Victorino won a gold glove despite being the third best centerfielder in his own division, according to plus/minus. He may be an upgrade to Taveras, but Coors’ dimensions seems to surpress plus/minus totals in the outfield, and Victorino would be coming from the smallest to the largest outfield, skewing expectations. Offensively, he’s okay, but if people want to talk about Holliday’s home/road splits, Victorino isn’t exactly a force outside his band box.

What the Phillies do have are near ready prospects in needed positions. Carlos Carrasco has to be an enticing arm, in that his stuff is lively, it can be molded to a groundball oriented approach, and he has the upside of a durable number 2-3, with an outside shot at becoming a 1. Carrasco competes for the fifth spot in the rotation from day one and stand to make a nice longterm impact on the pitching staff.

After Carrasco, the Rockies should be able to request Jason Donald. Donald is a middle infielder that’s likely to find a permanent home at second, but should be playing in the bigs quickly. Donald seems to carry the same mentality to the game as the other young Rockies, and has a well rounded offensive profile. Donald reminds me of Kinsler minus a little pop, and could be a pleasant surprise. Obviously, he’s blocked in Philly, so I think the Rockies could request Donald as well.

Happ is the other mentioned name, but at this point in his career, he’s teetering on “throw-in” status. As a tall, soft throwing lefty, there’s a chance for a back end role, but at 26, he may need to stick in the pen or become unwanted roster clutter. I’d like to see a relief talent with the possible third player in a Philly deal.

As to the last rumor of the evening, I like the idea of pursuing Cuddyer in conjunction with an Atkins trade. My fear here is that the Rockies would be lucky to get Blackburn or Slowey straight up for Atkins, let alone with Cuddyer. Perhaps Kevin Mulvey/Cuddyer? I suppose there are still better deals.