Young outfielder Colby Rasmus, the crown jewel of the Cardinals' farm system, had a mediocre, injury-plagued season at Memphis this year in his first exposure to Class AAA ball. But that doesn't mean that he couldn't make the Cardinals' club out of spring training next year.
In a chat with STL Today (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), general manager John Mozeliak said, "If he shows up in shape (Rasmus had a sprained left knee) and has a strong spring, then you will watch him wear a St. Louis Cardinals uniform." If that is the case, the Cardinals probably would have an outfielder or two for trade, and they might not even wait that long. Presuming Chris Duncan will be recovered from the surgery he had to repair a disk in his neck area, the Cardinals already have four regular outfielders without Rasmus -- Duncan, Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick.
But Ankiel, too, is coming off surgery for a sports hernia-type condition, so there is no guarantee about his health either. Since he can be a free agent after next season, it's not impossible that the Cardinals would consider moving him.
Ludwick, who hit .299 with 37 homers and 113 RBIs, is the most likely to stay put. All the aforementioned outfielders but Ludwick is a left-handed hitter.
Given the Cardinals' predominance of right-handed power in first baseman Albert Pujols, Ludwick and third baseman Troy Glaus, the outfield must have at least two left-handed-hitting starters.
