A plethora of pitchers could be on the move this season, as trade rumors continue to build heading into the All-Star break.
One team that was looking for pitching was my hometown St. Louis Cardinals. Though the Cardinals entered the season with a solid group of starting pitchers, injuries to Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny weakened the back end of the rotation. Minor Leaguers such as prospect PJ Walters are not ready to carry the load and have largely struggled at the Major League level. Thus, the Cardinals inked a deal with former pitcher Jeff Suppan.
Suppan had been released by the Milwaukee Brewers Monday. Now Suppan rejoins the club which rejuvenated his journeyman career. The Cardinals will pay Suppan a prorated league minimum salary. The club had been rumored to be interested in Baltimore's Kevin Millwood, but seemed leery of paying the remainder of his $12 million salary.
Other pitchers who could be on the move via trade include Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie, Seattle's Cliff Lee, and Houston's Roy Oswalt. Don't forget about potential starters who have not yet signed with a club for the season.
These options include Pedro Martinez, who joined the Phillies in July of last season and aided their run to the World Series, and John Smoltz, who split the 2009 season between the contending Red Sox and Cardinals.
As the summer heats up, so will the trade talks as contending teams look to add immediate production while rebuilding teams seek long-term value.
Feel free to email me at sandlotsabermetrics@gmail.com with fantasy questions to feature in my weekly Help Me Help You blog.
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