Bob Carpenter's Second Favorite 3rd Baseman Traded for Glaus

[ronnynat]

From mlbtraderumors:

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays and Cardinals are "closing in" on a trade of Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen.  Both would have to pass physicals first.  Rosenthal adds that both players agreed to waive their no-trade clauses and the Cardinals might need to cough up some cash as well.

Glaus, 31, hit .262/.366/.473 in an abbreviated 2007 season.  He had nerve decompression surgery for his foot in September, which will hopefully relieve his plantar fasciitis.  Also that month, Sports Illustrated reported that Glaus received multiple shipments of steroids as a member of the Angels.  Glaus is set to earn $12.75MM in '08 and $11.25MM in '09.

Rolen, who will turn 33 in April, hit .265/.331/.398 in a similarly abbreviated season.  He also had September surgery, a shoulder cleaning that involved removing scar tissue.  Rolen also had shoulder surgery in '05, but did show good power for the first five months of '06.  His other wart is a strained relationship with Tony La Russa.  He'll earn $12MM in '08, '09, and '10.   

It's hard to say which team won the swap, though I lean towards the Cardinals.  They get a younger player with a less serious health issue and a shorter commitment.  The reason I think it's close is that Rolen is a superior defender.  Can you imagine hitting a groundball to the left side when Rolen and John McDonald are both on the field?

[ronnynat]

I'd say the Cardinals won this one.

[spidernat]

Only if they let Glaus get back on the juice.

[ronnynat]

Only if they let Glaus get back on the juice.

That dude shouldn't need it. He's enormous for a baseball player. He's actually a pretty solid 3B, too. Rolen may never get back to old form.

[tomterp]

"His other wart is a strained relationship with Tony La Russa"

Understatement of the century.  Those two guys (Rolen and La Russa) hate each other.  It doesn't help that Rolen's in big time decline.  It was obvious this past summer when Zimmerman was obviously the much better player.  Rolen's range is gone, and his hitting is close behind.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Agreed that the Cards won on this one.