Why The Cardinals Should Trade Matt Adams
Matt Adams has been a top prospect in the Cardinals organization for a couple of years now. He’ll certainly have a good MLB career, but I just don’t think it’ll be with the Cardinals.
Adams has absolutely steamrolled over AAA pitching. Last year at AAA Memphis, Adams hit. 300, with 32 home runs, and knocked in 101 runs. Those are MVP caliber stats right there.
Adams has long been a victim of MLB depth at first base. Not that that’s a bad thing for the Cardinals, but it is for Adams. It’s hard for a first basemen to get his call to the majors when there’s a guy named Albert Pujols in his position.
Now that Pujols is gone Adams is certainly lined up for a starting MLB job soon, right?
Wrong.
First off, six-time all-star Lance Berkman is signed through 2013 so if he stays healthy that keeps Adams away from a starting job for another 2 years and then you have Allen Craig and David Freese.
Craig, who really came out of no where in the 2011 campaign, could be a future first basemen as well. In fact, many people think he’s the Cardinals first basemen of the future. He’ll be Berkman’s back up at 1b when he’s healthy again. If Craig can continue to produce it is likely he’ll swoop in and steal the 1b job away from Adams.
David Freese also has the making of a first basemen. Freese’s defense at third has been a little shaky which is why a move to first base could be in the future for him too. A Freese switch to first would also make a spot for third base prospect Matt Carpenter at his natural position.
A position change for Adams is a possibility, but not likely. For one, Adams doesn’t really want to switch positions himself. Also, the likely position to switch to would be third and as I said earlier that’s clogged up by Freese and Matt Carpenter.
I think there is a slim chance that Adams makes the big league club out of spring training considering there’s not going to be a true first basemen to back Berkman up for the first couple weeks as Craig nurses his injured knee. If this happens and Adams does considerably well coming off the bench it could force the Cards to find him a spot in the big leagues.
I think a lot of teams would be interested in Adams. Teams that maybe lack organizational depth at 1b or just want to invest in a future star, which Adams definitely is. Plus, just imagine what you could get for him.
It’s too early to tell who exactly, would be interested, but I still think an Adams trade is something the Cardinals should consider and in my opinion, something they should do.
Thanks for reading.
-Zack
Great observation! If I’m the Cards I hold on to him one more year. It’s a good problem to have no matter how you look at it. I’m thinking he would make good trade bait though.
Ron
Yeah if you wait too long he could lose value. You never know where some minor leaguer’s careers will go. But like you said, either way a good problem to have.
Zack