Thoughts on these trade possibilities?

I live in Florida but with MLB Extra Innings, the only Cards games I have missed are the ones on Saturday afternoon that Fox has decided in its infinite wisdom that we should not be able to see so they can force feed us the Stankees and the Dead Cox.

Now that I am done venting

I have been pouring throught he stats for various teams looking for a team in need of: 1) Starting Pitching and 2) a quality upgrade at 1st base or 3) the need to get younger (Cheaper) in the OF and 4) the ability to downgrade in OF.

All avenues come back to the Pirates.  The latest reports have them around the bottom of the heap in starting pitching.  They are ranked #1 in the OF and from what I have read, they cannot wait to dump LaRoche.  Does this sound interesting to anyone yet?

How would you like to see a trade, once our starters return and prove they are healthy of:

Anthony Reyes (I think he needs a change of scenery) and Chris Duncan for either Jason Bay or Xavier Nady.  I think this benefits both teams.  The Pirates are going nowhere for a  while and can afford to give up one of their studs in the outfield.  They get a Starting Pitcher that they desparately need and a quality upgrade in a young Chris Duncan at 1st.  It also allows Duncan to get back to the position he can excel at.  He sucks as an outfielder though he has improved greatly. it also gives the Cards the added punch they need behind Pujols so Ankiel can go back to hitting 2nd where he has been hitting the cover off the ball.

The Cardinals already have too many outfielders with 5 and if you add Rasmus in the middle of the season that is 6.  So if the Cardinals do make a trade I don't think it will be for an outfielder.  Plus, I'm not a big Nady fan but if Bay could get back to where he was a couple years ago I would love to have him on the team.  I think the Cardinals need to make a trade for a good hitting middle infielder.  Does anyone have any trade ideas for a middle infielder?  I would be curious to see what everyone else says and if we could actually pull a good trade off.

The problem I see there is that we need some protective power behind Pujols.  The lineup is anemic except for 2 though 5.  Add that to the fact that there aren't any power hitting middle infielders available.  I just thought the idea makes sense.  Also, the way I look at it, we have 3 adequate to awesome outfielders on the team: Ankiel (awesome), Skippy (good) and Ludwick (adequate).  I see Barton as a utility pinch hitter and Duncan as an extra and definitely not an adequate outfield option.  His greatest benefit is as a backup to Pujols but I have seen Ludwick play first fairly adequately.  I think Ludwick is much more suited to come off the bench than as a starter.  I have watched all but two of the games and Duncan has yet to impress me with his offense and I hold my breath every time a ball is hit to him.

If Rasmus could lead off, that would leave Skippy the odd man out when they eventually call him up.  If not, maybe they make an alternate trade in the middle infield to get a guy that can lead off. 

For the moment anyway, I don't think we make any trades.  Our young outfield looks capable, and is very crowded.  We're solid at the corners and behind the plate.  Even our middle infield looks decent at the start.  AK is much improved over last year, and Izturis isn't hitting nearly as poorly as expected.

I think we hold off and evaluate the team until at least the All-Star break.  We will know our needs much better by then, and hopefully we end up with a surplus of serviceable starting pitchers that we could move in a trade........

My personal opinion is we will decide we could use one more impact bat at the middle infield positions....... Isn't this Hanley Ramirez's last year before the Marlins fire sale him?  Do we have the cash to pursue him for a trade/long term contract?

Cubsblow, I think you are correct in saying that right now the Cardinals do not need to make any trades.  They have started out the year very well and looks like they will continue.  I am still not sold on Kennedy being much improved.  Before last nights game he was only batting .219 but he had a 3 hit game which brought him up to .286 I think.  He has made some really nice plays in the field but he has also made some really easy should be routine throws look like bad.  One of them almost hurt Albert.  But I am content with him right now. 

If the Cardinals had a chance to get Hanley Ramirez without having to give up the farm I would love to see that move.   His bat and speed would look really nice in the heart of the Cardinals lineup.

I agree that han ram would be a great pickup, but i don't know if its really possible.  But I would definately be willing to give up Ryan, Duncan, Reyes, and Perez for him if we could sign him long term.  Imagine this:

SS Ramirez

CF Rasmus

1B Pujos

RF Ankiel

3B Glaus

C Molina

2B Kennedy

Pitcher

LF Skip/Barton

Rotation: Carpenter, Wainright, Mulder, Clement, Pinero

The first trade mention would be good, but not much better, if any then what we already have. Hanley would be a great addition, but realistically we'll have no shot in a trade for him without giving up the top prospects.

I think they should have put Pinerio in the pen for awhile at least till one of the SP blow up. Why mess with something that was going so well. At the rate he's going to be the one that will be put in the pen when Mulder comes back. What is the news on Mulder anyways? I heard that he could be back in about three weeks. 80% Mulder is a much better pitcher then 100%Pinerio.

As well as Wellemeyer has been pitching I still believe that Reyes should have had the opportunutiy to Start. Reyes has been excellent in the pen, minus the first game.

I honestly think that the pitcher have the mindset that any game could be there last because of the depth that we have. Right know we have 3 people in the pen, well 4 if you count Franklin. In other words they don't to lose there position in the rotation.

Guys please give Duncan a break.  He not that bad, he had 2 errors all of last year and and only six in the first year in the OF. His defense is imp