The trade deadline is a mere 26 hours away and it looks like the first domino has fallen: Justin Masterson has been traded to the Cardinals according to trusted MLB source Peter Gammons. Masterson was not the source of many rumors and his 5.51 ERA may have something to do with that.
The issue that I have with this is that the Cardinals already have 7 capable starting pitchers on the roster. Masterson will apparently join a rotation with Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, and Joe Kelly. Plus, 2013 Postseason star Michael Wacha is working his way back from injury and Trevor Rosenthal and Carlos Martinez would probably both rather be starting. To say that the Cardinals needed starting pitching help is obviously incorrect.
It’s also not as if Masterson was on some sort of roll that belies his season ERA. His last two starts were July 1 and 7, and he went exactly 3.0 and 2.0 innings apiece. That July 7 start saw him allow 5 ER while getting just 6 outs. He’s recovering from a knee injury that I imagine he suffered while mourning that July 7th start and is set to return Friday.
To top that off, the Cardinals currently rank 29th in runs scored and 26th in slugging. They appear to have made a trade for a “veteran prescence” to help a rotation that didn’t need help, while ignoring a poor offense.
More to come as the details surface, but at first blush, I don’t get this one.
UPDATE: Now they got John Lackey. Sending Allen Craig to Boston at least frees up a starting spot for super-prospect Oscar Taveras, and Joe Kelley’s departure eases the pitching logjam, but still…
-Sean Morash
