NEWSLETTER
The Miami Marlins, having already signed Johnny Cueto to add to their very full rotation, are still highly likely to trade a starting pitcher sometime before Spring Training. I doubt the Chicago Cubs will get involved – other teams would presumably be better able to send a bat that nets a cost-controlled young starter – but I think it remains worth monitoring, including if a competitor of the Cubs’ should get involved.
Like the St. Louis Cardinals.
Per Ken Rosenthal, the Cardinals and Marlins have had preliminary discussions on a Lopez trade, with the Cardinals’ glut of outfielders seemingly at the center. With Jordan Walker on the way (and Alec Burleson a possible future starter, too), the Cardinals could pretty easily afford to move an outfielder in a trade that netted them a starting pitcher. All of Dylan Carlson, Lars Nootbaar, and Tyler O’Neill could be replaceable internally.
And I kinda hate it. The Cardinals’ rotation is a spot where I can see real risk and weakness for the presumptive NL Central favorites (though some quality prospects are coming), and I hate the idea that they’d be able to bolster the rotation by moving an outfield bat who might become superfluous anyway.
As for Lopez, specifically, we discussed him a while ago as a trade candidate, and he’s likely to provide you two years of better-than-average pitching for arbitration salaries. He would be a good get for a Cardinals club that needs a little more depth.
