Cardinals clear outfield space with Liberatore trade. What’s their next move?
Whether or not it is their signature move of the off-season, the St. Louis Cardinals made a move that was a long time coming when they shipped outfielder Randy Arozarena and designated hitter in waiting Jose Martinez to the Tampa Bay Rays for left-handed pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore.
The last two winters, the Redbirds gave up highly touted outfield prospects for little or nothing. So, to clear the outfield logjam by landing a guy who could be a front of the rotation starter is a welcome outcome — even if he never plays in St. Louis.
Liberatore seems to fit the Cardinals mold previously filled by the likes of Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Andy Benes and Matt Morris. He’s a big boy, measuring in a 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. He could be an excellent complement to budding ace Jack Flaherty in two or three years.
But the Birds could go another way and choose to flip their new trade chip in a bigger move.
If the Colorado Rockies want a package of “top prospects” and St. Louis is unwilling to let go of Dylan Carlson, Liberatore and Nolan Gorman together create an attractive bounty for one of the best third basemen in baseball.
The Redbirds also still have Harrison Bader and Tyler O’Neill as appealing major league-ready trade chips if they are truly in on Arenado, as reported. The Cardinals also got catcher Edgardo Rodriguez who gives the team some low minors depth at the position.
Might that make another catching prospect available in a package for a trade?
Should the Cardinals feel a deal for Arenado isn’t in their best interests, clearing up the outfield glut puts them in position to make a free agent signing or two. Marcell Ozuna was probably encouraged to see two fly chasers hit the bricks as he waits to figure out if he’ll get his old job back in 2020.
I really liked Arozarena. He could fly and seemed like a guy who had the potential to bat at the top of the order and rack up doubles and triples. But Arozarena was too slight to ever be a feared slugger and, like they say, you’ve got to give up something of value to get value in return.
As far as Martinez goes, he seemed like a great teammate and was a dangerous hitter off the bench. But his fielding was never going to be up to par, which is limiting for a National League player. By shipping him to the DH league, the Cardinals did Martinez a favor, giving him a chance to play every day and sink or swim in the big leagues.
Now what becomes of Liberatore? Stay tuned.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 12:53 PM.
