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Young Drachma · 11-17-2024, 06:17 PM

Cardinals Find Their Depth Through Veteran Acquisitions

The St. Louis Cardinals, still stinging from their World Series Game 9 loss, have addressed their pitching depth in dramatic fashion, acquiring veterans Taner Peterson and Everett Morrow in separate deals while also upgrading their catching situation with Lance Murphy.

The New Six-Man Rotation
1. Urban Henry (20-11, 3.03 ERA)
2. Mark Wleh (14-9, 3.99 ERA)
3. Oscar Regalado (16-8, 3.88 ERA)
4. Luke Legler (13-9, 3.50 ERA)
5. Everett Morrow (11-10, 4.21 ERA)
6. Taner Peterson (9-11, 5.14 ERA)

The most fascinating addition might be Peterson, whose career arc reads like a baseball odyssey. The 37-year-old has pitched for Cleveland, New York (AL), Boise, and San Antonio, compiling over 3,000 innings with remarkable durability (his "Iron Man" injury proneness rating is rare for a pitcher his age). His 5.14 ERA in 2062 doesn't tell the whole story - he's just two years removed from a 2.84 ERA season with New York.

Morrow, acquired separately from Houston, brings a similar veteran presence. His 4.21 ERA across 186 innings in 2062 represents exactly the kind of stability the Cardinals were seeking. More impressively, he's pitched at least 180 innings in seven of the last nine seasons.

The catching upgrade came in the form of Murphy, whose defensive ratings (90 blocking, 81 framing) represent a massive improvement over the departed Ralph Judd. While his .238/.274/.356 line won't scare anyone, his ability to handle this veteran staff could prove crucial.

The Strategy
St. Louis is clearly betting on veteran stability over upside. With a six-man rotation, they can better manage Henry's age-39 season while giving Regalado and Wleh extra rest between starts. It's a luxury made possible by adding two pitchers who've shown they can consistently take the ball every fifth (or sixth) day.

"In a 162-game season, depth isn't just important - it's essential," one NL scout noted. "The Cardinals now have six legitimate starters. How many teams can say that?"

The cost wasn't insignificant - they dealt away several prospects including Troy Charter - but for a team in clear win-now mode, turning future potential into present stability makes sense.

11-17-2024, 06:17 PM	#91
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Cardinals Find Their Depth Through Veteran Acquisitions The St. Louis Cardinals, still stinging from their World Series Game 9 loss, have addressed their pitching depth in dramatic fashion, acquiring veterans Taner Peterson and Everett Morrow in separate deals while also upgrading their catching situation with Lance Murphy. The New Six-Man Rotation 1. Urban Henry (20-11, 3.03 ERA) 2. Mark Wleh (14-9, 3.99 ERA) 3. Oscar Regalado (16-8, 3.88 ERA) 4. Luke Legler (13-9, 3.50 ERA) 5. Everett Morrow (11-10, 4.21 ERA) 6. Taner Peterson (9-11, 5.14 ERA) The most fascinating addition might be Peterson, whose career arc reads like a baseball odyssey. The 37-year-old has pitched for Cleveland, New York (AL), Boise, and San Antonio, compiling over 3,000 innings with remarkable durability (his "Iron Man" injury proneness rating is rare for a pitcher his age). His 5.14 ERA in 2062 doesn't tell the whole story - he's just two years removed from a 2.84 ERA season with New York. Morrow, acquired separately from Houston, brings a similar veteran presence. His 4.21 ERA across 186 innings in 2062 represents exactly the kind of stability the Cardinals were seeking. More impressively, he's pitched at least 180 innings in seven of the last nine seasons. The catching upgrade came in the form of Murphy, whose defensive ratings (90 blocking, 81 framing) represent a massive improvement over the departed Ralph Judd. While his .238/.274/.356 line won't scare anyone, his ability to handle this veteran staff could prove crucial. The Strategy St. Louis is clearly betting on veteran stability over upside. With a six-man rotation, they can better manage Henry's age-39 season while giving Regalado and Wleh extra rest between starts. It's a luxury made possible by adding two pitchers who've shown they can consistently take the ball every fifth (or sixth) day. "In a 162-game season, depth isn't just important - it's essential," one NL scout noted. "The Cardinals now have six legitimate starters. How many teams can say that?" The cost wasn't insignificant - they dealt away several prospects including Troy Charter - but for a team in clear win-now mode, turning future potential into present stability makes sense.