Apparently when it rains in St. Louis it also pours. Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright have both delivered lightning bolts for the Cardinals and today starter Chris Carpenter offered up this little doozy...
"It's not up to me," said Carpenter. "If the Cardinals wanted to trade me, obviously I would go. There's no question about that. I'm not going hold back or veto or do anything like that if they're looking to move me.
"I'm not concerned about it, though. I'm concerned about getting myself ready to pitch at the beginning of the season."
If you are reading between the lines like myself it sounds like Carpenter is willing to leave right away if the Cardinals want to trade him. Carps, 36, in the final year of his contract with $15 million owed this season with a club option for $15 million in 2012 sounds like he wants to go to a team who can contend for a World Series. Carps is reaching the tail end of his career and is still got a ton of trade value. The Cardinals could look to go full rebuild mode starting now by trading Carps for some prospects. Besides Shelby Miller in the minors the Cardinals have very little young talent up and coming. If they could somehow convince Pujols to waive his no trade they could get a ton for the slugger who looks to be on his way out.
So what do you do if you are St. Louis? Continue to rely on a few aging superstars who could leave in a year with little compensation or do you try to resign them, up your payroll significantly and go the Yankees way by adding more veteran starters?
