Get it done. They need a middle infielder that can actually play defense, and they’re dumb enough to do something like this.

I’m sure every fan base in the league is trying to figure this out. If I were the Cards, I’d fire LaRussa over this. It was bad enough with Rolen, and frankly, even the Adam Kennedy thing was idiotic, but at this point, the problem has to be LaRussa, right? And we’re talking a 23-year old kid not even in arbitration yet, is a good hitter, can play center (although he’s had problems out there this season).

Obviously, I’d try to lowball them first. Don’t know what they’d want. Hard to say which, if any, prospects I"d be willing to give up, since so many of them made big leaps. You’d have to consider it (although not Myers or Hosmer, obviously), given Rasmus age and skill…

That aside, if I couldn’t completely rip them off (and as much as I still like Gordon, Gordon for Rasmus would be a rip off), I’d so Soria for Rasmus in a second if I was running the Royals — that would favor KC pretty heavilty.. Wouldn’t have to think about it. Butler for Rasmus I would also do.

I like Rasmus, probably too much.

I’d do Soria straight up, though they wouldn’t (shouldn’t anyway). Soria and DDJ? If they throw in a half decent prospect I’d do that too.

How are you even a halfway competent GM if you let your manager, any manager, hound out one of your best young hitters?

I had to look up Rasmus’ numbers because I don’t really follow the NL all that much, but… really? I know he’s young and has good pop and an objectively good OBP, but I would want a package that included Rasmus for Greinke or Soria. Butler – yeah, trade him straight up even though he’d have no position (but value wise that’s fair).

I’m just surprised you guys think Rasmus is equal to Matt Holliday or something when my ignorant eyes see Corey Hart.

Therefor I think that Soria might be more than enough to get it done. Franklin retiring, their bullpen sucks as it is, Soria on a team friendly contract for a few more years….

With Greinke and Rasmus both fairly unhappy (and maybe Billy but they don’t want billy) we might be able to work something there but it’d be a much more from the Cards.

but try to lowball first. Presuming Dave Duncan is returning, play to their fetish for reclaiming broken pitchers. Try Bannister or Davies as the start of a deal. Other pieces would obviously be necessary and I’ll let others do the speculating on those.

It might be best to try trading several players rather than one-for one.

The above scenario of Soria-DDJ-JohnnyG might try Ed Lucas instead of JohnnyG, thus eliminating someone who would have to go on the 40-man. (Not that I expect the team to protect Lucas or use him next year, but we might as well try to get something out of an impressive season in AAA, even for a 28-yr old.) Or, perhaps they would do DDJ-Davies-Lough?