# Redbird Droppings: Winter Meetings, Catchers, Jose Quintana

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/redbird-droppings-winter-meetings-catchers-jose-quintana/
- Published: 2022-12-05T11:24:24-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

The Winter Meetings start today and I expect the Cardinals to leave with their catcher
and little else. The team still wants Jose Quintana. And a look at some links from
around the web.

**Catching a Catcher**
Late Sunday night, [rumors started to come out that Oakland Athletics’](https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1599538550932131840)
catcher [Sean Murphy](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=murphse01,murphy010sea&search=Sean+Murphy&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
was on the move. Originally, it was listed that the Braves were the likely destination;
[it’s since come out that they are standing pat](https://twitter.com/JustinCToscano/status/1599551200830971905)
for now with [Travis d’Arnaud](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darnatr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[William Contreras](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/contrwi02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [Manny Pina](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pinama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
as their backstops. It’s expected that Murphy is moved before the end of the meetings.

The Cardinals are [one of the teams involved for Murphy](https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/outrunning-injury-strewn-year-cardinals-tyler-oneill-has-a-plan-to-regain-powerful-pace/article_83be3244-9c88-578c-bc16-be17b03ccd25.html);
the [Guardians, White Sox, Rays, and Red Sox](https://theathletic.com/3959604/2022/12/01/mlb-free-agency-rumors-dodgers-brewers/)
have all checked on him as well.

The Cardinals have also reached out to the Blue Jays about their available catchers:
[Danny Jansen](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/janseda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Alejandro Kirk](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kirkal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [Gabriel Moreno](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morenga01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral).
They also have spoke with free agent [Willson Contreras](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/contrwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
while they are checking out [Christian Vazquez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vazquch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Omar Narvaez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/narvaom01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [Mike Zunino](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zuninmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral).

Off these options, there is no perfect choice. The Cardinals haven’t been known 
to make a big free agent splash; with draft pick compensation on the line for Contreras,
that might hinder his appeal. Narvaez is a horrible defender, while Zunino is the
opposite; Vazquez is somewhere in them middle. I like the trade options better, 
but Murphy might cost a top prospect like [Jordan Walker](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=walker000jor&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
or [Masyn Winn](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=winn--000mas&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral).
Jansen might be the best pick; he’s a good defender (which is needed to be the heir
to Yadi) and took a step forward with the bat. He’s got 2 years of control left,
so the Cardinals can see if [Ivan Herrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herreiv01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
takes a step forward in Memphis this year and have a year of split time with Jansen
in 2024. The Blue Jays are looking for a mid-rotation starter and an outfielder;
a deal around [Tyler O’Neill](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=oneilty01,oneill001tyl&search=Tyler+O'Neill&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
and [Matthew Liberatore](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/liberma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
could do it with a prospect added in.

**[Jose Quintana](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/q/quintjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
On The Radar**
I was surprised to hear the [team was still interested in reuniting](https://theathletic.com/3959604/2022/12/01/mlb-free-agency-rumors-dodgers-brewers/)
with Jose Quintana; as of right now, the Cardinals rotation consists of [Adam Wainwright](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Miles Mikolas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mikolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Jordan Montgomery](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=montgjo01,montgo001jor&search=Jordan+Montgomery&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Jack Flaherty](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Steven Matz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/matzst01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Dakota Hudson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoda02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and Liberatore, along with guys like [Andre Pallante](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pallaan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Genesis Cabrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabrege01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Zack Thompson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompza02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodfja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
[Jake Wood](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=woodja01,wood--002jak&search=Jake+Wood&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
ford who could all be starters if given the chance.

That’s why trading a starter (or 2) would make way for Quintana to return. Hudson
and Liberatore would be the 2 most attractive options; both are young still and 
have potential. I doubt anyone would want to take on Matz right now; for the contract,
they’d want to see if he’s healthy. Flaherty could be a trade option; he’s got another
year after 2023, but seems destined to leave the Cardinals for the west coast.

Quintana would be a welcome addition to the staff; outside of Mikolas, there are
various degrees of question marks: age (Waino), health (Flaherty, Matz), effectiveness(
Montgomery [who faded at the end of the season], Hudson, Liberatore).

**Other Winter Meeting Stuff**
Outside of catcher, we can expect to hear about the
Cardinals talking to players and nothing major getting done; maybe a depth piece
or 2, a reliever, and some minor league deals. We’ll see other teams make a splash
and Cardinal fans on complain about “DeWallet” and how the team never makes a big
splash.

I believe the catching trade happens; historically, the Cardinals have traded for
[Paul Goldschmidt](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goldspa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
Wainwright/[Ray King](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingra01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)/
[Jason Marquis](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marquja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Edgar Renteria](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/renteed01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Ozzie Smith](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithoz01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Rollie Fingers](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fingero01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)(
who ended up being traded away before playing a game), and [Bruce Sutter](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttebr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral).
The free agent signings haven’t been as fruitful; they brought in [Jason Isringhausen](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/isrinja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
and [Darrell Porter](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/porteda02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
as bigger deals, and they signed [Chris Carpenter](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=carpech02,carpech01&search=Chris+Carpenter&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
which ended up becoming a big deal once he was healthy.

We’ll see minor moves in the Rule V Draft; we might lose [Inohan Paniagua](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=paniag000ino&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
or [Dionys Rodriguez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rodrig006dio&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
in the MLB portion. They could consider a bench player or relief pitcher in the 
MLB portion. They’ll lose a guy or 2 in the minors, while grabbing 2 from other 
organizations.

**Around the Web**

 * [Viva El Birdos](https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2022/11/30/23485439/the-cardinals-dont-need-a-short-stop-and-wont-sign-one)
   explains why the Cardinals don’t need a shortstop while [Clutchpoint](https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-cardinals-seen-as-likely-dansby-swanson-landing-spot-if-he-doesnt-return-to-braves)
   checks out a [Dansby Swanson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swansda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
   rumor.
 * [Redbird Rants](https://redbirdrants.com/2022/12/04/predictons-stl-cardinals-winter-meetings/),
   [Viva El Birdos](https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2022/12/3/23490153/winter-meeting-predictions),
   and [The Cold Wire](https://www.thecoldwire.com/cardinals-fan-asks-important-question-as-winter-meetings-begin/)
   preview the Winter Meetings.
 * [Ryan Loutos](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=loutos000rya&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
   is [the Cardinals Nations](https://thecardinalnation.com/tcn-2023-st-louis-cardinals-prospect-no-40-ryan-loutos/)#
   40 prospect.
 * [The Cardinal Nation 24/7](https://www.cardinalsnation247.com/post/outfield-targets-internal-or-external)
   looks at potential outfield options.
 * [Cards Conclave](http://www.cardsconclave.com/2022/12/02/exit-interview-2022-john-mozeliak/)
   continues their Exit Interview series with John Mozeliak.
 * [Call To The Pen](https://calltothepen.com/2022/12/05/st-louis-cardinals-trade-oakland-athletic-sean-murphy/)
   explores a Cardinals/Athletics trade for Murphy.
 * The Cardinals Top Prospect Report according to [Baseball America](https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-st-louis-cardinals-top-mlb-prospects/).

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## Comments

### By: Robert Burns

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/redbird-droppings-winter-meetings-catchers-jose-quintana/#comment-37108
- Published: 2022-12-05T17:07:19-06:00

TRADE GORMAN LIBERATORE ANDWODFORD FOR KIRK OR MURPHY,THEN TRADE CARLSON HUDSON 
TO MIAMI FOR LOPEZ.SIGN BELLINGER TO ANCHOR CENTERFIELD AND COME ON BACK HOME