Two Eyes on St. Louis: Could Cards Land David Price ?

Oct 4, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen checks his bat before game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

As the eyes of Pittsburgh Pirates fans are focused on the 2014 season, it’s very important to keep two eyes on the St. Louis Cardinals.  Has there been a team that has been more talked about in the NL Central this offseason?  The Cards are looking for a shortstop.  The Cards are getting Tulo.  The Cards are signing Carlos Beltran.  The Cards are letting Beltran walk.  The Cards are moving their talented arms for J.J. Hardy, and David Price, or David Price.  It’s Hot Stove at its’ finest.

Today Jim Bowden, former GM of the Reds and the Nationals, had six trade scenarios on ESPN -subscriber only– for David Price.

Guess who checked in at number four.  The glow that surrounds the Cardinals is undeniable.  The club has talent, but it’s the perception of this talent by other clubs that scares me a bit.  Numerous of the teams young players had solid seasons during their run to the 2013 World Series.  It seems every GM in baseball wants to talk about that talent.

Here is the small portion of what Bowden speculated in his six trades for David Price scenario article

"If GM John Mozeliak wants David Price, he can outbid anyone in baseball from a trade perspective."

Yeh, that’s probably true.  So many players got big league experience and did so with serious success.  Bowden discusses an Oscar Tavares for Price trade in the article.

"Tavares, along with Myers and Longoria, would give the Rays a solid middle of the lineup for years to come. If the Cards re-sign Carlos Beltran and they still have Allen Craig and Matt Adams, they could then trade Tavares for Price.The Cardinals could get Price if they were willing to part with a combination of their young pitching and the Rays have interest in Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, Carlos Martinez, Joe Kelly, Seth Maness and Kevin Siegrist. Two of Lynn, Kelly and Siegrist would be enough to at least start on a deal. However, I think the Cardinals will hold on to all of their young pitching talent, re-sign Beltran and upgrade both shortstop and center field."

Well that sucks if Bowden is right.  I think it would be great if the Cards gave up some of that pitching talent.  I think it would be smart for the Cardinals to let Beltran go.  I think their shortstop is fine.  I think their center field position is fantastic too.

Pray Bowden is wrong and pray that the Cardinals give up some of those pitching arms, maybe even overpay and for once, make a mistake or two that allows the Pirates some time to close the gap.