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TALKING REDBIRDS PODCAST - EMERGENCY TRADE EPISODE
November 20, 2061
MIKE: "Well folks, just when we thought the Cardinals were going to stand pat, they drop a bombshell on us. The Birds have acquired Mark Wleh from the Rangers in what can only be described as a franchise-altering move. Dan, I'm still processing this one."
DAN: "Mike, this is the kind of trade that shows you're truly all-in. Mark Wleh isn't just any pitcher - we're talking about a guy who's put up a 66.2 WAR over his career. His 2061 season with Texas? Twenty wins, 3.39 ERA, 264 strikeouts. And the advanced metrics love him even more - that 125 ERA+ tells you everything you need to know about his dominance."
MIKE: "The price tag is steep though. Spencer Van Doren, Benson Amobi, Troy Burgess, plus two prospects in René Novas and Geraldo Amado. That's a lot of young talent walking out the door."
DAN: "But here's why I love this deal - it pairs Wleh with Urban Henry at the top of the rotation. You want to talk about a playoff rotation? Those two veterans together... that's how you win in October. And Wleh isn't some rental - he's signed through 2064. Dan, I can't help but think back to that 2058 Rangers team"
MIKE: "That's exactly where my mind went. Urban Henry and Mark Wleh were absolutely untouchable for Texas that year. And now, three years later, the Cardinals have managed to get the band back together. If you're a Cardinals fan who remembers watching those two dominate in the '58 Series, you've got to be ecstatic. The thing that jumps out at me is Wleh's durability. This is a guy who's thrown over 200 innings eight times in his career. Even at 30, he just gave Texas 249 innings. That kind of workhorse mentality fits perfectly with the Cardinals' pitching philosophy."
DAN: "And let's be honest about what we gave up. Van Doren and Amobi are talented, no doubt, but we've been waiting for them to take that next step. Sometimes you have to give up potential for proven elite talent. The Rangers taking on 75% of Van Doren's contract and 75% of Amobi's makes this even more palatable."
MIKE: "This feels like a statement from the front office after that NLCS loss to the Mets. They're saying the window is now, and they're pushing their chips to the center of the table."
DAN: "One hundred percent. And remember - Wleh isn't just great, he's consistent. His worst ERA+ in the last five years is 102. His worst! Most pitchers would kill for that as their average. The Cardinals just got themselves an ace who makes their rotation arguably the best in baseball."
MIKE: "Final thoughts before we take some calls?"
DAN: "When you have a chance to pair two elite starters like Henry and Wleh, you take it. Yes, the prospect cost hurts. But flags fly forever, and this trade makes the Cardinals better right now when they're already a 100-win team. That's scary for the rest of the National League."
DAN: "We've seen plenty of teammates reunited over the years, but rarely two pitchers of this caliber who've already proven they can win it all together. The rest of the National League has to be shaking their heads right now. The Cardinals just took a 100-win team and added a proven ace who has built-in chemistry with their current ace."
MIKE: "Alright, let's take some calls. First up is Tony from South County... Tony, what do you think about getting the other half of that Rangers championship duo?"
Talking Redbirds is recorded live from St. Louis and airs daily on KFNS 590
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