My Uncle sent me this. Cardinals report discussing the possibility or probability of them trading for Elvis or Kinsler. I think they're crazy...

...." The major idea is for the Cardinals to target Elvis Andrus. That’s a big goal, but if any team had the depth to pull it off, it would be the Cardinals. Andrus is one of the top players in the game and is still young (24). Not only that, but he’s still under team control for two more years. Such a player would command quite the haul.

Could the Cardinals pull it off?

I think so. It might require offering blue-chip prospect Oscar Taveras, though. As a 20-year-old in Double-A last year, the center fielder batted .321/.380/.572 with 23 home runs. There is a major issue with this hypothetical offer, though; Taveras might not be ready to jump straight to the majors, and with the Rangers still in contention, they might want more direct compensation. "

Read it all at ; http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1483889-elvis-andrus-to-the-cardinals-might-work-for-both-sides

Pretty much this exact scenario was discussed HERE yesterday. I don't see what's so funny about it. I refuse to read an article on BleacherReport, but it makes sense for us to move Elvis, and it makes sense for the Cards to acquire a SS. Seems like a fit to me.

They've got to try the Martin experiment in cf first so tavernas still would have time to season in the minors.

Taveras and Lynn and you got my attention.

Taveras for Elvis (plus/minus whatever) sounds excellent. The kid kills baseballs without striking out a ton, and that makes me happy.

Bleacher Report; DR

If in fact the Cardinals are targeting Andrus it does and tells several things. It tells us that the Cards are not sure Furcal is ready to go for 2013, and above all, it drives up Elvis' value simply because he is targeted. Use Bleacher Report for what it is, an individual writers perspectives from another team's point of view. In that it has some value if nothing more than a reverse barometer.

The Cardinals trading their top prospect for a 2 year player they know they won't resign doesn't fit in their plan. Unless they feel their farm system is drying up (it isn't), and their team is getting old fast (it isn't), and think they need Andrus to help them win now (he would) because they aren't excited about the future. Or there is the possibility they are so excited about their farm system that they think they can risk trading their top prospect for Andrus, and still have plenty to compete for years to come while adding a piece to help them win now. I don't think it's something they would do though. The writer, however, is very wrong about the Rangers wanting a player that's MLB ready. They may want a pitcher, but they certainly don't need taveras with Martin coming up this year. It would be nice to see an outfield in a couple of years featuring Martin and Taveras. I would definitely make that trade from the rangers perspective, and seriously entertain it from the cards side, though I don't think it fits with Jockety's philosophy of promoting from within.

Taveras isn't a CF. AT least from anything I've heard from prospect people. He took a major step forward last year turning himself into a solid COF. That being said I'd definitely consider a deal centered around Elvis for Taveras+.

i think a trade between these two organizations just makes so much sense.... and they are both tight lipped and who knows, maybe they are working on something....

I'd be very happy with Taveras and Lynn for Elvis... maybe we'd have to throw in Grimm....

My guess is, unless JD gets a great deal for Elvis now, he won't be traded at this time and he'll just wait till the trading deadline... JD knows that he can't let Elvis stay around till next year (and it makes no sense to resign him), when his trade value deteriorates markedly... If he doesn't get the deal he wants now, my guess is, he takes the best available deal at the deadline...

by the way colt, Jockety has been gone since 2007 and is the GM for the Reds. The Cards Gm is John Mozeliak...
(until I looked it up yesterday, I thought Jockety was still their GM, as well)...

If Furcal is not fully recovered, they are in a pretty bad bind. Kozma played really well at the end of last season, but that small sample size was totally aberrant to all of his minor league history. Ryan Jackson, from what i've read, is their next best shortstop prospect, but probably isn't someone they could count on...

St. Louis is World Series material but they are weak at SS and 2nd...they may feel they have a really good chance of winning two more WS if they can solidify their SS position. Maybe they'd trade their top prospect in order to have that option...

And, while we assume there is no chance that the Cardinals would be able to or would want to resign Elvis if traded to them, it's not an absolute foregone conclusion (though my guess is, they'll be bidding against the yankees).... that they wouldn't.

I think Elvis can continue to grow as a hitter and he makes spectacular play after spectacular play night after night...

@MM thanks, I guess I slept through that one, but as soon as you said that did jog my memory. I guess I was just so accustomed to Jockety's in St Louis I reverted back.

So you are JD, the Cardinals just offered you Taveras and Lynn for Andrus and Grimm, how many seconds do you wait to call back? Towers, worried he may not get a top prospect now, panics after the Tigers will not include Castellanos in a Porcello - Upton deal, calls JD, okay can we work something out. The Tigers still want a right handed bat in left field. A three way deal results: Cruz to Detroit for Porcello, then Olt and Porcello and a left handed bat to back Kubel [ Borbon ] for Upton. Would you do the trades? The end result for the Rangers is gaining Upton, Taveras, and Lynn for two that have made AL all star teams [ Andrus and Cruz ], plus a top . 20 MLB prospect [Olt is 18th , Castellanos is 23rd ] , Grimm and Borbon. The Rangers outfield nearly over nite becomes Taveras / Martin / Upton with Murph in his best role as a #4 of, and Profar becomes the full time ss. Keep in mind that the Cardinal trade was suggested by a pro-Cardinal writer, even suggesting that if Lynn [ which would solve the need for a #5 starter, and an 18 game winner in 2012, for years, he is 25 ] was not sufficient then sub Shelby Miller in his place, or on the Rangers' side Perez instead of Grimm, or for that matter both, knowing that the Rangers 5 would be locked in until 2017?

Taveras is great, but in recent years the Rangers OF farm has grown significantly. I would much rather want a deal centered around Miller. Getting Miller probably gives the Rangers one of the best rotations in the MLB until 2017. With a lot of good guys coming up through the minors during that time as well.

Who is elivs?

Doubt the Cardinals think about trading Taveras, but things could definitely get interesting if Furcal isn't healthy by opening day. JD is playing this perfectly.

@les
I love the idea of having that OF. I doubt we could get Porcello for Cruz, but that would be nice. I don't think we really need the Tigers to make those moves. We could sell Cruz to the highest bidder and flip it to Arizona. Or do the same with Murphy, bc he would become redundant if Taveras was here since both are lefties and he would obviously net a higher piece. Either way, I like the thought.

I'd take 6 years of Tavares or Shelby Miller for two years of Andrus any day.