November 4, 200323 yr c/o rotoworld.com Cardinals declined second baseman Fernando Vina's $4.5 million option for 2004. The Cardinals looked into trade possibilities, but they found no one willing to pay Vina $4.5 million for 2004. The second baseman gets a $1 million buyout. The Cubs, Marlins, White Sox and Red Sox are among the teams that may look to sign him. Coming off an injury plagued season, Vina could sign for a bargain and would make a nice replacement for Castillo. Signing Vina would also mean limiting Hooper's ABs! After pitching seven scoreless innings yesterday, free agent Hansel Izquierdo has a 1.38 ERA in the Mexican Pacific League. Izquierdo has given up 19 hits in 32 2/3 innings over five starts. The former Marlin struggled in both of his Triple-A stops last season, but the strong performance in Mexico should guarantee that he'll get some minor league contract offers. He pitched well for us at some point and I think he's worthy of a minor league contract.
November 4, 200323 yr c/o rotoworld.com Cardinals declined second baseman Fernando Vina's $4.5 million option for 2004. The Cardinals looked into trade possibilities, but they found no one willing to pay Vina $4.5 million for 2004. The second baseman gets a $1 million buyout. The Cubs, Marlins, White Sox and Red Sox are among the teams that may look to sign him. Coming off an injury plagued season, Vina could sign for a bargain and would make a nice replacement for Castillo. you guys would be very lucky if you could get Vina, if he has to go to another team, i'd rather he went to Florida than Chicago.............i hope you guys get him! (this is speaking from the cardinal fan's view..............) :thumbup
November 4, 200323 yr well it's an option, but I'd really think they're looking to SAVE some money on the 2nd baseman, since so many other positions will be looking at a raise. By replacing Castillo with Vina, they're still looking at basically the same salary. I'm not sure how much of a bargain he'd get... Worth a look though. If it's down to the 2.5 area, you have to consider it. If nothing else, Vina can get hit by 75 pitches to get on base.
November 4, 200323 yr I have the greatest respect for Fernando Vina but at this stage of his career, and his level of compensation, I don't see as a good fit with The Fish. Realizing that there is a core group of Hooper and Hart haters here, nonetheless if Castillo is gone, I would like to see either player in a Marlins uni next season. I saw Kevin in three games last spring and he has pretty good range and a terrific arm, not to mention he's a smart, gritty guy. Hart, while admittedly the Cardinals third choice at 2b last season, appears to be a human highlight film. Vina is clearly not the player he was a few years ago. If we can't replace Luis' bat, I'd be willing to go with youth 2b in 2004.
November 4, 200323 yr Is Bo Hart projected to start in St Louis? Because that would spell doom for Vina. I think Vina would be an interesting fit here, but I agree that it would have to be at a very, very low price ($1.5-2.5MM). That said, I think Hooper would be a solid choice to bring in here and maybe even Medina (does play 2B, right?). And, could Bo Hart be had? Maybe the Cards would give us a deal with Lee...I dont know what else we could get though... I too thought maybe the Marlins will give Vina a look. But there is Eric Young out there too...
November 4, 200323 yr Vina plays good defense. He is slipping with the bat. But he is gritty. For 1-2 million he wouldnt be a bad option. Not an EY fan.
November 4, 200323 yr Not to say I've been reading "expert" opinions but I did visit a few Cardinals related message boards today and the impression I got was the majority of people thought Vina had been terrific for the team over the years but he had tailed off over the last couple of seasons. There weren't any "throw the bum out" kind of posts, more the "time for a change", "he used to be great but now..." kind of stuff. Seems to me at the kind of money he'd be looking for, and our need to economize at some positions we need a 2b man who is affordable and has some upside rather than a guy who heading to retirement. Now watch, the Marlins will be signing him in the next ten minutes lololol
November 4, 200323 yr I hope we get Vina. Castillo may be re signed though, I heard it on the News but if he goes Vina will be great to have. He slumped alot last year but still got on base, He is a hard working solid player. Another Pierre on the team!
November 4, 200323 yr Author Not to say I've been reading "expert" opinions but I did visit a few Cardinals related message boards today and the impression I got was the majority of people thought Vina had been terrific for the team over the years but he had tailed off over the last couple of seasons. There weren't any "throw the bum out" kind of posts, more the "time for a change", "he used to be great but now..." kind of stuff. Seems to me at the kind of money he'd be looking for, and our need to economize at some positions we need a 2b man who is affordable and has some upside rather than a guy who heading to retirement. Now watch, the Marlins will be signing him in the next ten minutes lololol Thats just the problem 2003. We have nobody down on the farm with any upside. Hooper maybe projects as a late innings defensive replacement guy. Remember he hit awful, doesn't walk, and has no power in the best minor league park/league. I'd say go with Vina for 2yrs/7million. Thats his market value right now unless theres a bidding war and then we have no choice but to go with pencil bat.
November 4, 200323 yr Author how about Wilson Valdez or one of them Cuban defectors? I'd say no on both unless using a minor leaguer (cheap) for 2B helps us resign our studs and maybe nab some cheap relievers.
November 4, 200323 yr Another Pierre on the team! Woohoo! Two of them! And yes, if for some reason Castillo leaves and we can't have Vi?a at a reasonable price, the cuban defector second baseman might not be a bad idea. We should bring him in for ST to see what he can do.
November 4, 200323 yr Are we talking about the same Kevin Hooper who hit .400 in spring training? As for Albuquerque, he had a rough start, but they all did, and almost as a mirror image of the parent team, they all blossomed in the second half and won their division. I'm sure the Marlins front office (Jennings, Beinfest) know alot more about the guy than we do. I'm not here to tout the guy, I'm just saying if he winds up starting in 2004 I'd give him a chance to succeed.
November 4, 200323 yr We NEED to try and get Castillo back. First and foremost over any of our other FA's. If we can't do it, I would settle for Vina.
November 4, 200323 yr Author We NEED to try and get Castillo back. First and foremost over any of our other FA's. If we can't do it, I would settle for Vina. I'd say Lee is more important because of the homers, but its a close call.
November 4, 200323 yr We NEED to try and get Castillo back. First and foremost over any of our other FA's. If we can't do it, I would settle for Vina. I'd say Lee is more important because of the homers, but its a close call. I'd say Mike Lowell and Pudge are more important than either of the two.
November 4, 200323 yr We NEED to try and get Castillo back. First and foremost over any of our other FA's. If we can't do it, I would settle for Vina. I'd say Lee is more important because of the homers, but its a close call. Castillo is the best two-hole hitter in the NL, and possibly MLB. He's a two time All-Star. He's going to win his first career gold-glove tommorrow. Castillo and Pierre are the foundation of this offense. Without a foundation, your house falls apart.
November 4, 200323 yr Author We NEED to try and get Castillo back. First and foremost over any of our other FA's. If we can't do it, I would settle for Vina. I'd say Lee is more important because of the homers, but its a close call. Castillo is the best two-hole hitter in the NL, and possibly MLB. He's a two time All-Star. He's going to win his first career gold-glove tommorrow. Castillo and Pierre are the foundation of this offense. Without a foundation, your house falls apart. LOL! So all those #2 hitters with 20+ homers are chopped liver? Give me a break man.
November 5, 200323 yr Is Bo Hart projected to start in St Louis? i believe he is. but not leadoff, i don't think. he was better in the 8 hole at the end of the season.
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