George Bowles — also known as Dr Howl — is a veteran VEB poster, fanposter, and now writer for the site. He loves delightfully rambling and ruminating about baseball, beer, and music.
I am going to need help from you guys on this one. I have become infatuated with trading Nolan Arenado. And I am not good at determining trade scenarios. Unless you want me to just guess. And that I will do! Please let me know what you think of each trade.
Now, I write this because Arenado seems to be hamming it up for Los Angeles now. I suppose I should have employed Occam’s Razor in finding the obvious outcome. He is from there after all, and why would he be comfortable ending his career on a rebuilding team?
Also I am writing this because I must admit, I never thought they would trade Nolan Arenado, and that he would probably just wish to stay here and still compete. I was totally wrong about that and I admit it. Although I was beginning to think he might have to stay because he may no longer be much above a win above replacement level.
Without further speculation and verbiage, let’s take a quick look into some possible matches towards the top of their prospect list that I think might be a good fit for our roster.
- Eduardo Quintero is their 9th ranked prospect. I would suspect we would have to throw in a prospect or two of our own along with Arenado in order to get this done. But if it’s possible, Quintero is a center field possibility. He is from the 2023 international market signings, from Venezuela, and an overall 50 grade prospect. It might be folly for LA to trade a prospect like this for an aging veteran, but maybe if we gave up a highly ranked prospect they would take the bait. Quintero could be our center fielder for years to come, if he translates to MLB. Think good defense, awesome arm, and a little home run pop in center field. I like it.
- Zyhir Hope is the Dodgers 11th ranked prospect and another player I would play in center field. Hope rather than being quite as all around a player as Quintero is a speedster and should be able to be a plus defender in center. If not, he’s still fast and will cover some ground out there, but not only that, he has a cannon for an arm. As a teenager he is already producing exit velocities for 110mph. He has some power too, and 30-30 upside, so this again is wishful thinking. And it will take a lot to pry away prospects like this from the Dodgers high upside system. That said, he is no guarantee and is far from MLB.
- Kendall George is #13 and is even faster than Zyhir Hope. He doesn’t have the strength of either of the guys I’ve listed before him, but he is truly a top tier elite runner and a plus defender. This is a raw speed prospect but he can also make a lot of contact. Another player of their’s I am coveting! What a system.
- Ching-Hsien Ko is #14 and he might have the best plate discipline and a compact swing. He is an overall 45 grade prospect currently with room to grow, since his frame is 6’ 3” and 215 lbs at a young age. He could bulk up and have some home run potential. But I’m not sure if this guy could convert to center field.
- Well ok then that’s enough outfield. If we are losing a third baseman and do not trust our internal third base options, or if we want some insurance on that situation, the Dodgers #21 prospect Chase Harlan might be someone to pick up for Arenado. However, he is only 18 years old. He’s another tall player, but who knows if the Cardinals would be interested in a distant third base gamble.
- Here is an interesting 25 year old player with a total baseball name. #24 ranked Dodgers prospect Austin Gauthier plays outfield, second base, and shortstop. This is just a really flexible player. Athletic and gifted with a natural understanding of the strike zone. He is very average all around but extremely versatile: he has played 18 or more games at third base, shortstop, second base, left field, and right field. A veritable swiss army knife utility guy. He could be the successor to Brendan Donovan for whatever reason. This is an offense first utility player and not really a defensive replacement.
- To round out wishful picking from their top 30, #29 LHP Jakob Wright might be the guy, just because who doesn’t like left handed pitchers? Well ok I just wanted to throw in one of their lowest ranking in their top 30, a pitcher for good measure. His weapon is a sweeping slider that misses bats inside and outside the zone. He also has a very good curveball, a good fastball, as well as a decent changeup. Why not acquire a pitcher?
That’s the matches for the Cardinals in the Dodgers top 30. What prospects and/or players would the Cardinals have to add in with Nolan Arenado to bring these guys to St Louis? Please propose some trades, even if they’re not listed here. After all, that’s all probably wishful thinking. What a system.
Again I am inducting an album into my own personal Hall of Fame of perfect albums. This time I’m going to keep it short and sweet and induct an album with some of the longest possible songs on it. Rush’s ‘Hemispheres’ is their magnum opus, an apex of progressive rock capabilities and sounds. So I induct this ridiculous masterpiece of the 1970’s. I would write more about it but Rush isn’t a band that many people can stand, so I’ll just say that this album is absolutely fantastic to me, as are many Rush albums. It’s just this one is them at their best.
