# Redbird Droppings: Winter Meetings Day 2 – Catchers, Dansby Swanson, Broadcast Team

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/redbird-droppings-winter-meetings-day-2-catchers-dansby-swanson-broadcast-team/
- Published: 2022-12-06T12:38:17-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

Some news came out yesterday from the Winter Meetings; unfortunately the biggest
story had nothing to do with the product on the field.

**Danny Mac’s Strike 3**
I thought Danny Mac put his alcohol issues behind him; 
unfortunately for everyone, he hadn’t. [McLaughlin was arrested on Sunday for DWI – Persistent](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/cardinals-announcer-dan-mclaughlin-charged-with-3rd-dwi-pulled-over-in-creve-coeur/article_bff37ac4-4519-5d53-ac63-8983403bbde9.html)
in Creve Coeur, MO. It’s his third DWI arrest (and first since 2011), which makes
this one a felony and carries a maximum sentence of 4-years in prison.

No word yet from the Cardinals, and Bally’s Sports Midwest issued a statement that
they were investigating the incident; he was suspended by Fox Sports Midwest last
time, but later reinstated.

I hate to say this, but it’s time to move on. DWI is a serious matter and now having
3 of them is over the line. It’s unfortunate because Danny Mac is a great announcer
and works well with his broadcast partners. I’m not sure who I’d want to replace
him.

**The Catcher Market**
No progress was made on the Catcher market yesterday, but
more suitors have been named.

The Cardinals are still one of the front runners for [Sean Murphy](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=murphse01,murphy010sea&search=Sean+Murphy&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
with [Cubs](https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1599972246084530176), [Astros](https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1599949745526824961),
[Guardians, Twins, White Sox, Red Sox, and Rays](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/catching-notes-murphy-astros-contreras-cardinals.html)
all showing some degree of interest. It’s also known that the Cardinals would prefer
making a trade for a catcher rather then sign one of the free agents (specifically
[Willson Contreras](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/contrwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
which would cause the Cardinals to lose their 3rd round draft pick). The A’s are
looking for [MLB players rather than prospects](https://theathletic.com/3975468/2022/12/06/mlb-free-agency-rumors-murphy-rodon/),
so names like [Alec Burleson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burleal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Nolan Gorman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gormano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [Lars Nootbaar](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nootbla01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
are in play, along with pitchers like [Dakota Hudson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoda02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
[Matthew Liberatore](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/liberma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
and [Genesis Cabrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabrege01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral);
the Cardinals have young depth pieces for the outfield and pitching, so they have
a good shot here.

[Christian Vazquez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vazquch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
is seeing his market pick up too; the [Diamondbacks and Giants](https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1599947958513909761)
have been most recently tied to the catcher, while the [Guardians, Padres, Twins and Cubs](https://theathletic.com/3971929/2022/12/05/mlb-free-agent-news-verlander/)
join the Cardinals in that pursuit. He’s a fall back option for the Cardinals, and
he’s also seeking up to a 4-year deal, something the Cardinals might not want to
do for a 32-year-old.

The Toronto front has been quiet, but they are probably waiting to see Murphy go
off the board and what Oakland gets in return.

**Dansby Swanson?**
The most surprising report from yesterday was [Jon Paul Morosi](https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1599820715360153607)
reporting that the Cardinals and Cubs were front runner for shortstop [Dansby Swanson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swansda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
a name that was not previously linked to the ‘Birds. Derrick Goold explained that
if the Cardinals were to trade for a catcher, they’d have financial flexibility 
to get in on a shortstop.

> There is a series of moves for the [#stlcards](https://x.com/hashtag/stlcards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> that begins with trading for their catcher and thus creates payroll space for 
> them to then bid on a free-agent, such as one of the shortstops. 
> How [#Cardinals](https://x.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> are 'keeping things alive' this week…[https://t.co/rsdhlzT7vn](https://t.co/rsdhlzT7vn)
> — Derrick Goold (@dgoold) [December 6, 2022](https://x.com/dgoold/status/1600165319217074186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

GM John Mozeliak has repeated stated the team is prepared to go into the season 
with [Tommy Edman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edmanto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
[as the starting shortstop](https://theathletic.com/3951194/2022/11/29/mlb-free-agent-rumors-padres-astros/)
and [Paul DeJong](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejonpa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
[as a bench option behind him](https://twitter.com/jmjones/status/1599943874247823360).

Getting Swanson would be an upgrade for the team; it allows Edman to stay at second
and use [Brendan Donovan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donovbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
as a utility player and Gorman as a DH. At the same time, they could also use that
money on an outfielder, as I believe they’ll need an everyday player there; I think
[Dylan Carlson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=carlsdy01,carlso001dyl&search=Dylan+Carlson&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
will take a step forward, but I’m not sold on Nootbaar as an everyday option.

I also believe that if they miss on Swanson, they’ll stand pat; [Xander Bogaerts](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bogaexa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
and [Carlos Correa](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/correca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
will cost too much. They also have [Masyn Winn](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=winn--000mas&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
in the pipeline, so they don’t want to block him for too long; I anticipate he’ll
be ready for an everyday role by mid-2024.

**The Lottery Draft**
The MLB Draft will be changing in 2023 and we get our first
hints of it tonight; as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, [the 18 teams that missed the post-season will have a chance at the first 6 picks of the draft](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-draft-lottery-unlike-any-other).
This won’t impact the Cardinals though, but it’ll make for an interesting story.

**Around the Web**

 * [Viva El Birdos](https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2022/12/2/23486924/international-free-agents-the-cards-might-sign)
   looks as some international players the Cardinals could be interested in.
 * Cardinal fans frustrated? [The Cold Wire](https://www.thecoldwire.com/cardinals-fan-expresses-frustration-after-trea-turner-signing/)
   looks at the fallout of the [Trea Turner](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turnetr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)
   signing.
 * [The All MLB Team](https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/2022-all-mlb-team-unveiled).
   Congrats [Paul Goldschmidt](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goldspa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
   [Nolan Arenado](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral),
   and [Ryan Helsley](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/helslry01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral).
 * [Yardbarker](https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/skip_schumaker_discusses_albert_pujols_final_run_with_cardinals/s1_13132_38206861?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=sportspyder)
   breaks down [Skip Schumaker](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schumsk01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=&utm_medium=referral)‘
   s first interview as the Marlins manager.

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