Cardinals go Greene

The Cardinals have made 2 moves for a better 2009 this week. First, they finalized a deal for lefty reliever Trevor Miller from the Tampa Bay Rays. Miller will be a nice pickup if it works out. However, recently they found out he has a tear in his pitching arm but should be okay for Spring Training. I've heard this story before from the Cardinals (i.e. Mark Mulder, Chris Carpenter) it doesn't go so well at times.

Second the Cardinals have traded for Khalil Greene (SS); the Cardinals needed to address the shortstop position and they have been rumored for the last 2 years to get this guy. Greene in 2007 had great numbers and excellent defense. However, in 2008 he hit .213, 10 homeruns and struck out 100 times in 105 games. In 2004-2007 he was 3rd in homeruns among active shortstops, so the potential is there. I'm not sure how I feel about this until I see what we gave up for him in the trade. There aren't that many shortstops out there and with a more friendly hitters park in Busch Stadium he could turn it around. Defensively he will be an upgrade and that is what killed us many times in 2008 with a poor pitching staff.


The Cardinals still need to go after one or two more pitchers, a second baseman, and one more outfielder. We are far away from having a playoff team, BUT with the fall of the Brewers (after they lose Sabathia and Sheets) and the Cubs being the Cubs we could win the division if all falls into place.