Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - TRADE BUZZ: How The St. Louis Cardinals And The LA Angels COULD Make a DEAL work For Nolan Arenado

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Cardinals really want to trade Nolan Aranato. One of the teams rumored to be interested in him are the Los Angeles Angels. Today we cross it over with the Super Halo brothers from Locked on Angels as we try to figure out how these two teams can come together on a deal involving the Future Hall of Famer. This is Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on MLB crossover. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hey, thanks for making Locked-on Angels and Locked-on Cardinals your first listen of the day, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, where it's your team every day, and the number one sports podcast network in all the land.

Starting point is 00:00:47 And today's show is brought to you by Fanduel. If you want to be right in the middle of all the action this season, visit fandle.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. Thanks for being here for this crossover edition of Locked on Angels and Locked on Cardinals. My name's John Frisch. I'm one half of Locked on Angels. With me is my brother Mike. We make up the Super Hale Bros and the hosts of Lockdown Angels. And then we have J.D. J.D. Haffronos, Cardinals fans know him very, very well. Guys, this is an awkward position for me because, Mike,

Starting point is 00:01:18 you're my co-host on Lockdown Angels. J.D., you're my co-host on Lockdown MLB Game Night during the regular season. So no fighting, okay? No fighting over me. We need to keep it civil. We need to keep it clean, all right? We talked about just getting rid of you and doing a show together, right? Exactly.

Starting point is 00:01:33 I don't know. scoot aside, John. I've had enough of you. Well, listen, you know, during the off season, we're here a few times a week talking Angels baseball, talking Cardinals baseball, and then we'll ramp back up in early February as we continue our conversation, get ready for 2026. Now, the Aeronado to the Angels rumors have been heating up. And as Angels fans, we have our doubts if it's the right move, especially after getting

Starting point is 00:01:57 rid of the Albatross over at third base known as Anthony Rendon. So what would it take for the Cardinals to be willing? to do to sweeten the deal and what would it take to get it done. But first, J.D. of Lockdown Cardinals is here to convince us why we should want Aronado. Mike, why don't you get us started here? Yeah, J.D., we spoke about Aronado this week on our show. We've talked about him a few times over the past few weeks. And we see that there's a real decline in his offense over the last few seasons.

Starting point is 00:02:29 But he would be an upgrade for the Angels at third base offensively and defensively, because they sucked last year. They were not good last year. He strikes out less. He plays better defense than Yon Moncada and Luis Rehnhifa. We had both of them at third base last year. Biggest thing is that this feels like a real Artie Moreno move for us and our everydayers, Angel fans get rid of a bad contract just to add another bad contract in Aeronado.

Starting point is 00:02:54 But Aeronado has name value and Arty loves name value. He loves going and getting those guys that will put the butts in the seats. He really likes that. Now, there is a no trade clause. we know that about Aeronado. So he would have to say yes to this. He previously said no, which was probably a smart decision being an angel fan.

Starting point is 00:03:11 This team's kind of a mess. But, Janey, you have been hounding us, particularly John, about the angels taking Aeronado. And you need to take breath and maybe do some yoga. But we thought it would be great to have a conversation. We want to give you the floor. Is there any world where angel fans could feel good about the halos taking on?

Starting point is 00:03:34 on Nolan Aeronado. Ready, set. The floor is yours. All right. So start off, you're going to get your hands on a future Hall of Favor. All right. There's something to be said about that. It wasn't that long ago that he was still pulling in votes for the MVP. So there's still some juice there. He's a great clubhouse guy. I'm not sure how the clubhouse works in L.A. for it with the angel side of things, like how that's been over the last few years. But Aronado's been that guy that's, you know, he fits in seamlessly with just about everybody. He's more of a veteran guy. So certainly he and Mike Trout would get along great, being the veterans on the team and taking on that leadership role. He's not one of those guys. I will

Starting point is 00:04:20 say this. He's not one of those guys that's like, you know, let's go. You got to do this and stuff. He's not there to teach the kids, but he can show you. He's one of those guys that the young guys can watch on an everyday basis and learn from of how he goes about. He's not. He's not there. about his business, even as great as he's been over all these years. Like he's still so tedious about what he does when he's preparing for games, whether it's watching video, whether it's in the field. So it'd be a good example for the younger guys that are on the squad. I still believe he's got something to prove.

Starting point is 00:04:51 Like he came into this last year, like, look, I know I could do this still. And he just got hurt. And that was a problem. Obviously injuries as you get older is it is an issue. But I can tell you this much, he hasn't quit on the sport of baseball like that last guy. You guys gave 200-something million two. So that won't be an issue. He would certainly get a kick out of being on the West Coast again.

Starting point is 00:05:14 He's a California guy, which, you know, people tend to, you know, when you're younger, there's always those nerves that you're not going to, you know, play well in front of your home crowd and your family. At this point, Aronado's career, like he would cherish that. And I feel like that would give him even something more incentive to play for and do well again, being back in Cali. And he's really good at the hot corner still. And I know that he didn't win the gold glove and he hasn't really been in the voting

Starting point is 00:05:42 the last couple of years. I don't watch Key Brian Hayes play third every day or Matt Chapman or many of these other guys that have won the gold glove over him the last couple seasons. But I've been watching Golanarado over the last few years day in and day out. And the dude is still as slick as he has ever been. The arm strength isn't a cannon like maybe it was four years ago. but he's dead on accurate and he just still makes the routine plays like no big deal you can do those in his sleep but he makes the difficult plays look routine like the barehanded plays

Starting point is 00:06:16 like it's it's amazing how easy he makes these plays look and this year when he had the injuries you know we got to see what it was like having a third baseman not named no one aranato we had a guy named nolan gorman who was supposed to be one of our top prospects you use the word suck. That's what it felt like watching human being play third base. Because we've been spoiled over the years to have Nolan Aronado and his greatness over there at third base defensively. It's a treasure to watch him do it.

Starting point is 00:06:46 Like it really is. If somebody who really appreciates defense the way Cardinal fans usually do defense and stolen bases, that's always been one of the cardinal things, the cardinal way. But defense is always very important. And he's incredible still over at third base. Again, the injuries cost him time. First time he's really dealt with missing a lot of games due to an injury, which was unfortunate because when we talk about the offensive side of Nolan Aronado, you know, June, he was starting to really heat up. He's been a slow starter.

Starting point is 00:07:19 A lot of his career in St. Louis, I don't remember what he was like with Colorado, but it was always like, you know, as the weather got warmer, so did Nolan Aronado. When things were picking up in June for him, and then the injuries happened. It was hitting 246. with 10 home runs and 42 ribbies in the first half last year. The total OPS plus was at 106. Had he remained healthy, had he doubled those numbers, 20 plus home runs, 80 plus RBIs. You're talking about a guy who would have been in the top five among all third baseman in home runs and RBIs.

Starting point is 00:07:50 Like people just brush that aside like he was having this horrendous season. It's just when the injuries came, he never fully recovered and wasn't able to get back to what he was doing in that first half. So I think there's a lot of reason to be optimistic about Nolan Aronetto, but I completely understand the pessimistic side as you see the age and you see the numbers, you know, on the decline in the last couple seasons. I just think there is still some reason to have faith in a guy who's got the determination of a Nolan Aronado.

Starting point is 00:08:20 He's one of the great character guys in the game. And I hate that the Cardinals are trying to get rid of them. I wish he could stick around and prove everybody wrong in St. Louis. but the place that they are timetable-wise with what Arnada wants to do with his career and chances to win and go to the playoffs again doesn't really line up with what's going on in St. Louis right now. Not because it's his fault, but the organization as a whole failed him and a lot of people over the last couple of years. And hence why they've been selling some people off. So those are a lot of the positive points about Nolan.

Starting point is 00:08:53 And I think he's fantastic. And if you were to, and you already know he looks good red and white. So he's got the time with you guys. So there's a lot of good things still going on about Aronado that I think fans would be happy about. And, you know, change of scenery is, it's a thing, you know, certain players, you know, you wear out, you welcome in a certain area and things get mundane and dull. And then something new happens if it sparks you up. Talk about like, John, just moved, right?

Starting point is 00:09:20 You just moved to different homes. And now there's a new energy around the household. Exactly. I feel like that could happen with Nolan Aronado in the right spot. California, L.A. feels like one of the places that he might flourish. Here's why we struggle with this. We have so many players that have come to Anaheim in the last few years,

Starting point is 00:09:38 and they fit some of the categories that you just talked about. Oh, he's going to be a great veteran. He's going to teach these people how to do these things. He's going to be a great leader in the clubhouse. The problem is on the field hasn't been a help at all. Canley Jansen was the only guy that didn't fit that category. He actually came in and did the clubhouse stuff, but then he performed on the field.

Starting point is 00:09:57 and that's why we loved him. And so that's the biggest struggle for our everydayers for me and John is we'd want to get a guy who's another clubhouse guy. We want a guy who can perform on the field. So what I heard from you is it's the injuries that slowed him down because he had his career low before this year. He never hit below 400 slugging, right? This year was under 400. So what I'm hearing is the injuries really played a part in his decline this long. last season. And if he wasn't hurt, he probably would have put up really strong numbers. Am I hearing

Starting point is 00:10:32 you correctly? Yeah. And before this year, the previous year as well, it's been a, and I'm not going to BS anybody. It's been a nagging back injury that continues to pop up. You know, old man back injuries that they happen. And maybe it's because no one's out there trying to be the everyday guy still. And maybe he doesn't need to be. Maybe he needs to be more of like 120 games a season. type of guy and be told, dude, you've got to sit down. Okay? This is like, it's not working. It's knocking you out for weeks at a time instead of you pushing through for one game. But it's been a back thing.

Starting point is 00:11:08 It's not like it's that he's pulling hamstrings or any other like soft tissue injuries. It's not a severe injury like Wilson Contrares when he had his forearm broken. It's just kind of a nagging back injury that has happened. And, you know, in these years, too, the Cardinals haven't pushed him to get back on the field right away because they weren't in a spot that they were winning and needed him to come back right away. So this past year, I think it was just 23 games in the second half. If I look it up and check it out, but it wasn't much. But the first half, yeah, 23 games in the second half this past year.

Starting point is 00:11:41 So in the first half, when the Cardinals were relevant and were one of the surprises in baseball, no one or not, it was a big part of that and why they were where they were at the time. I got to say, and I know that we have our feelings. things about Artie Marino and how he wants to get butts and seats and have a name draw. But like as a baseball fan, putting aside my like objective, is this good, is this bad? To be honest, I'd really love to see Aronado play in Anahe. Like I understand everything that, you know, all the good and the bad that comes along with it. I'm like, man, that'd be a lot of fun to see.

Starting point is 00:12:16 Yeah. And if I say on this point too, and I hope I'm not jumping ahead of anything here, but we're not talking about a seven-year deal here, boys. We're talking about two years. I'm talking about two years. This isn't something that's going to handcuff you guys for a long time. And I believe we are going to talk about what kind of deals could be made here to facilitate such a deal that makes sense for both.

Starting point is 00:12:37 Because if you're not paying Noronardo a whole, nor Leonardo a whole lot of money, he might be worth it to you guys to give it a try over there at third, I think. And that's the perfect transition as we continue this locked on crossover of locked on Angels and locked on Cardinals. thanks for making it your first listen of the day. Coming up, what's the money involved? What would the contract, rest of the contract look like if the angels and the Cardinals were to make a move? We're going to talk about all of that coming right up. Managing your finances can feel very overwhelming between subscriptions that you forgot about,

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Starting point is 00:13:59 and we thank you for making this crossover edition of Lockdown Angels and Lockdown Cardinals, your first listen of the day. We appreciate you being here. Hey, have you haven't done so yet? And you're an everydayer. You never miss an episode of Lockdown Angels, of Lockdown Cardinals. Join the EveryDayer Club where you can, for $5 a month, get exclusive access to commercial-free episodes, audio feed of Lockdown Angels or Locked on Cardinals.

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Starting point is 00:14:41 Nolan Aeronado has two years left on his contract. Jada, you pointed that out in segment one. Ode 27 million in 2026. Colorado Rockies are paying him $5 million of that $27 million. So technically he's going to have about $22 million on his contract. And he's owed $15 million in 2027, which is the final year. of his contract. That would be a total of $37 million across two years and something notable for the angels. They love staying under the luxury tax. Aeronado's average annual value would be about

Starting point is 00:15:12 $30.5 million towards the luxury tax. Angels right now currently are under the first luxury tax threshold at about $53 million. And Johnny, recently we talked about some of the trades that the Cardinals made with other teams, specifically the Red Sox and how they ate some money. So once you recap that real quick and then let's fire some questions at JD. Yeah. Do you guys trade with anybody else other than Boston? It's the it's the high it's the high bloom connection, isn't it, J.D? It is and it's the that Boston's willing to deal like so these guys, because some of these guys are all are held up because of what they might be able to do in

Starting point is 00:15:51 free agency where Boston is like, all right, we're trying to get Bregman and we try to get Schwerber didn't work. So we're ready. Let's go. We'll win dealing. So, um, and another thing I, I, we thought about was that maybe Sunny Gray and Wilson Gutierrez were two guys that like, again, no trade clause is just like Arana, but maybe they had kind of a deadline of like, hey, you know, if something's going to happen, I needed to happen by this point, if it's possible, or I'll probably just come back to you. And that's absolutely not what the Cardinals wanted was to have these guys coming back. So, um, Arnato feels like, like it's a guy too. I don't think he wants to wait until spring training starts to have something

Starting point is 00:16:31 done. Like I think he's ready to rock and roll with whatever it may be. The third base market, obviously, you know, Bragman being Bragman and holding everything up again. That's been an issue. But yeah, that's the only thing I can think of is why they keep dealing with boss. And obviously the Hain-Bloom connection, but he's getting guys that he wasn't, they weren't even there when Heim was there. Right. So, you know, he's pulled some other people from other areas that are maybe more familiar with these guys and that's why they've targeted them. But I think it's more just the fact that Boston's been ready to wheel and deal. Now, I have no room to talk as an angel fan because all we ever do is trade with the Braves

Starting point is 00:17:09 or get old Braves prospects because of Perry Manassian's connections there. But listen, we've had a good thing between the angels in the past in the past few years. True. Edmonds. Got Adam Kennedy from you guys. Yeah, Dexter Fowler. David, David, Fries? Wait, way, I probably shouldn't have brought that one up.

Starting point is 00:17:32 But there's been a few that have gone through. We used to have X-9 and Troy Glaus. We've had a few of your leftover, some sloppy seconds from our life. Well, look, we talked about the sunny gray trade on Lockdown Angels recently. In return, the Cardinals got an MLB ready arm. They got the Red Sox number five prospect per MLB pipeline. So that was two arms to the cards. And then they sent 20 million to the Red Sox to cover Gray's salary for 26.

Starting point is 00:18:02 And then he's also got a $10 million buyout. Or no, sorry, they sent $10 million to help with the buyout in, in 2027. So the $20 million covers up the salary and that $10 million buyout. Also the Wilson Contreras trade might be relevant to this conversation because they gave the Red Sox $8 million and they got three pitchers back, one of whom Hunter Dobbins also has some major league experience. So before we get to the players in our next segment that might be involved in this conversation, Jady, what do you think the Cardinals are going to be willing to do in order to make this happen?

Starting point is 00:18:37 Would it be similar to Sunny Gray? Would it be something else? Are you all stocked up on arms now? And how does the money work in this situation? What do you think? Well, in Heim Blum's words, you can never have too much pitching. So if you want to keep sending pitchers our way, then they're more than happy to look at them and take them on. I don't think that's a problem at all.

Starting point is 00:19:01 And especially with this trade, because, you know, Sunny Gray was somebody that I think a lot of people wanted. He just had to, you know, decide where he wanted to go. Wilson Contreras the same way, but obviously he's been a very productive bat, has been better than Aronado has the last couple of seasons when he's healthy. So it just feels like it's a different place with Arenado. As far as like what the expectations are in return for trading Nolan. I don't think Cardinals fans are delusional and think that all right, well, this is Nolan Aronado from his Colorado days. It was, you know, winning home run titles and stuff. And, you know, we should be getting top ten prospects in return.

Starting point is 00:19:44 I'm sure there's a couple crazies that think that. but I don't think the logical people believe that that's what it's going to take. And as you mentioned, now, when it comes to the money side of it, the Cardinals clearly aren't afraid to throw some money to the other teams to help facilitate a trade like that. So I don't think it's really just a full on money thing. It's really about just opening a spot for other players where the Cardinals have some depth on the infield, some younger guys that they just want to give some more innings to. and they just can't when no one is who he is over at third base.

Starting point is 00:20:19 Like they're just not better than him. But at the same time, they're never going to get better if they don't play. And that's really where the issue is. And with the Cardinals being in this window of rebuilding, there's no need to have somebody like that at third base right now. And it would be better for both places, you know, for the Cardinals and for Nolan Aronado's camp,

Starting point is 00:20:40 to find a better fit. Those have been the words. It's not an angry thing. Neither guys upset with each other about anything. It's not anybody did anything wrong. It's just we've had our time together and we're going to mutually depart so that everybody can be happy and get what they want here in the end. So I think the Cardinals are more than willing to eat some money. And I don't think it would take any upper level type of prospects to get your hands on them.

Starting point is 00:21:07 I think that the money for the Angels is going to be the priority because that's what Artie Moreno does. operates just with being fiscally irresponsible. He thinks it's responsible. So they work just year to year. I think that this has to be significant money. I think it's got to be $15 to $20 million. Do you think the Cardinals will do that if the angels make this trade? And then we can talk about players in the next segment. But do you think that the money will be that significant, 15 to 20 million? Will they cover this year's salary and then the angels pay next year's salary? What are your thoughts there? I think they would look at it as a win to do that because they would be saving the money they'd have to pay him next year. And I say this about money all the time.

Starting point is 00:21:53 I go, the money's already spent. Okay, you're not getting it back. It's just not going to happen. So you might as well move forward with what your vision is for the organization. And if he has to go, and by all accounts, he has to go. This is two years in a row that you've tried to move him. and you gave him his send off on the field this year and everything. It would be really awkward if you had to come back and play at their base.

Starting point is 00:22:18 I forgot that they did that this year. Why you got rid of me, didn't you? But I just feel like I think they would. I really think the card. I don't think it's a money thing. As long as the Cardinals are clearing room for what's going to happen after the CBA gets figured out whenever that gets figured out. I think that's what's most important to them. I don't think these next two years, money-wise, that they're all that

Starting point is 00:22:41 concerned if they have to eat it just to move on so they're better prepared for what's coming our way in 2027. Interesting. Yeah. And that is music to the ears of Angels fans, not because we care about like where the money's going. Every angel fan feels like the Angels ought to be spending more money. They operate like a small market team when they are in a large market. They're in the LA media market. and it's been years since they've spent a lot of money in free agency. It's been years since they've acquired a player that would require a substantial contract right there. I will say this. It's not how much you spend.

Starting point is 00:23:21 It's who you're spending it on. And there have been some really bad decisions made by the Angels front office, which has put you into a spot where it feels like you guys are screwing up all the time. So at least that's what it feels like from the outside looking at. And that's why they've been so tepid. on making any future moves, right? You know, they feel like they got burned by Rendon and, and Hamilton and all of that stuff.

Starting point is 00:23:46 And Pujols, to some extent, I mean, what do you expect? The guy was already in his 30s when you signed him, right? So, but all of that just pay. He could have 40 by then. He's 58 right now. But that's the thing. It's like the bad decision making has made this front office really tepid on spending money.

Starting point is 00:24:05 And that's frustrating, especially when you have a young group of guys like Zach Netto that you're excited about. Nolan Shawnoelle, Logan O'Hoppy, Jose Soriano, great pitcher for the Angels. So the fact that they are willing to go to a certain extent, all of that to say, I think it's significant that the Cardinals would be willing to take on some of the money. Not something that we probably would have expected, right, Mike? No, we wouldn't have expected because I think we are just, as Angel fans, we're just wondering what they're going to do next because they've been they've been very

Starting point is 00:24:38 mysterious this offseason pessimism is our mascot you mentioned pessimism earlier that's that's our mascot and it just has been a very mystery filled offseason and they have a lot of reclamation projects and i think that there was a quote that really summarized this well and it was from jeff fletcher who writes for the oc register here in southern california and jeff said what he was hearing was the angels either want to have reclamation projects or they want to spend money and it was like Okay. Like, sure, right? And that's, I mean, that's the messaging that we get pretty often.

Starting point is 00:25:10 And then we missed out on Okamoto and he would have been a perfect person for third base, which is why we're having this conversation, because if they're not going to get Okamoto, if they're not going to go and sign a Bregman, the improvement at third base, it logically feels like it's Aeronado unless somebody miraculously just turns it on who's in the minor leagues and wants to be a major league. league player next season. But right now, this feels like the most logical move for the angels. Yeah, it's a, it's a good fit, at least in my opinion. And that's the thing is with, with Arnado, there's not a lot of options out there. You know, it's not like there's six,

Starting point is 00:25:50 seven teams that have a massive hole in third and are looking to make this move, you know, and there are those teams that are, you know, sitting on Bregman and wondering whether or not he's going to go to Boston or Toronto or whoever is still in the Philly, whoever's in the running for this thing now. But not all of those places, because Arnana still got to say, yeah, I'll come play for you. And he may not want to. But it feels like, and I know he said no last year, which I don't know what the hell he was doing because he didn't think Houston was going to be anything. And I don't know. I don't know what he was doing. It was very upsetting to us on this side to have a deal done and then to have it just, nope, I'm not going to leave. Because that would have helped move things forward for the Cardinals a little bit quicker.

Starting point is 00:26:32 But again, we had a year of purgatory where we were still just kind of. stuck in neutral with the same team again. But yeah, it just feels like it would be a good fit. But I don't think it's because you have an idea too with like prospects, but also maybe there's another option perhaps to maybe make this deal happen, John. There's some good options. And, you know, they might be good on our side. But let's run them past you and see if they would be good on the Cardinals side.

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Starting point is 00:28:19 arms something that they've been really needing for quite some time now some of the names that have been floated in an aronado trade include angels right-handed starter kaden dana right-handed starting pitcher jack kohannowitz both of those guys have mow b experience but they haven't had great results in the majors yet so jd for your audience i'm going to share just kind of where these guys have been for the Angels so far. Kate and Dana, he's been an angel's top prospect. In fact, he was a top 100 prospect for both MLB pipeline and baseball America before last season.

Starting point is 00:28:55 I think he might have graduated from prospect status, but he really hasn't become a major leaguer quite yet. Now, his best season was actually his minor league season in AA in 2024. He had a 9 and 7 record, but he had a 2.5.2. B.R. Across 135 and two thirds innings pitched, 147 strikeouts. And I love this, a 0.943 walks and hits per innings pitch. So a sub one whip can't argue with that. And he was right in line with his level of competition. But then at the majors, they brought him up, gave him a look see at the end of 24. They did the same thing throughout 25. 7.17 ERA across 10 appearances, eight of those as a

Starting point is 00:29:42 or two of those as a reliever in 24 and 25. Now, having said all that, he did just turn 23 back in December. So he is still very young. Mike, Jack Kohanowitz, had a great start to his major league career before really struggling in 2025, didn't he? Yeah, in 24, he had 65 innings pitched, a 399 ERA with a 55.6% ground ball rate. Here's the thing about that season, JD, and for your every dayers. Jack O'Honowitz could have gone nine innings in almost every one of his starts because when they pulled him, he was in the seventh inning and he had thrown like 73, 74 pitches. I mean, he was just on top of it. Ground ball after ground ball, double play after double play. Then in 2025, 111 innings pitched with a 6.81 ERA and 23 starts. His biggest flaw is he doesn't really

Starting point is 00:30:35 have an out pitch. And if he, if he misses his location, he's in a whole lot of trouble. And they tried to get him to create an out pitch last year and it just didn't work. And then they sent him back to the miners, brought him up, kind of messed with him a bit. So, JD, are pitchers with the Cardinals? Is that something that they are even interested in? You mentioned, like, you can't never have enough arms or are they going to need a hitter? And would the Cardinals take somebody like maybe a Jorge Saler, who is owed $13 million this year, along with maybe a Jack Kahanowitz or a Kate and Dana?

Starting point is 00:31:07 up. Well, I'll start with the prospects. Both of them sound exactly what the Cardinals would want. They've had some issues or whatever, but depth pieces with a little bit of Major League experience for the God bless you name at the end there, Cahanowicz. Yes, exactly. Gizintite. Yeah. And then the Dana, I mean, they all sound good. Like Cohanowitz, I feel like he was the one with, he's got a big time fastball, right? I feel like I know that. He has a great fastball, but like I looked at the heat map on statcast just earlier and just dead red right down the middle last season. Yeah. So there's some work to be done. But I think both of those arms being as highly rated as they both were at one point,

Starting point is 00:31:53 again, I don't think any of our fans are expecting Arnado to pull any major prospects back. But if you've got some guys that you think maybe are at the end of their rope with the angels and maybe it's time to flip them in a change of scenery, then I don't see why the Cardos would dislike either one of those, as long as the medicals are good and they're not coming off their third Tommy John surgery or, you know, lost a toe in some freak fan accident or whatever it may be. Those are those things because, you know, the one flack that Heinblin was caught other than just dealing with the Red Sox over and over is that a couple of the guys that they brought back

Starting point is 00:32:31 dealt with injuries last year. And then he signed Dustin May, who has been injured his whole career, it seems like. So you're trying to find more guys that are able to take the ball each and every fifth day or if they have a chance to be a reliever or something they can count on to be healthy. So young, durable arms that have a lot of upside that is right down the Cardinals alley. So those would make a lot of sense. And then as far as the Solair thing, so John and I have talked about this before because we actually talked about Ward before Ward got moved. to Baltimore. Because that was somebody, the Cardinals are in desperate need, in my opinion,

Starting point is 00:33:08 maybe not Heinblooms, but in my opinion, of a right-handed hitter with some thump. I know Saler doesn't really play, or he hadn't played much outfield for you guys, but was able to, you know, build up the strength and get out there when he was a giant and a brave for whatever reason, which was, you know, so many years ago, right? But, yeah, like, he's somebody that it's interesting, because. Because on the surface, I know Cardinals fans are going to go, like, what are you nuts? What are you doing?

Starting point is 00:33:38 Why would you bring him and he sucks? Look at his numbers. But I wouldn't rule it out if it can just facilitate a trade. Because the Cardinals are wanting to shed some payroll, but open up playing time for their number one prospect, who is J.J. Weatherholt, who that should be priority number one, because the Cardinals aren't broke. All right?

Starting point is 00:33:59 Let's be very honest about that. This isn't a money thing. This is a whole thing about opening up. They would be paying Aronado if he was still really good and so were the Cardinals. They wouldn't have a problem with it. But because of where they are, they're looking to shed the payroll now, open up the spot for them. So if you end up taking on Soler's deal, which is $13 million, I think he said.

Starting point is 00:34:18 And then perhaps you throw in $7 million more just to make a nice round, even number of $20 million so that Nato can move on. And both camps will be happy. Then I'd do it. The Cardinals could use that right hand of bat, get a little bit of pop. into their lineup after already trading Contreras and then moving Aronado in this scenario. Because if you scour the free agent market, not a whole lot of them dudes out there that have hit 30 home runs in their career at some point or another.

Starting point is 00:34:45 Like maybe a hunter Renfro, but I mean, really, you're not going to do that. So maybe this is the guy that the Cardinals could use in that DH spot because they want Ivan Herrera, who is their big thumper of the future. He's catching, but they want him to be doing other things. I don't want him to be DH again this year. So it kind of fits a need. And if he can cover a couple of endings here and there on the outfield, super duper, contracts up at the end of the year for Solair, which is, again,

Starting point is 00:35:14 the cartels are trying to move money off the books for the CBA. And then whatever they decide to do after that, they can do that. So they wouldn't have this like extended thing where it's going to last a couple years and drag on or whatever. So it's something that would be over right away. If you're paying, you know, what is that? you're not only saving 17 million, but you're getting a bat in return there that fits a need. So if we can get the angels to toss in one of those prospects along with it, more power to the Cardinals for being able to pull that off. And then, of course, the real key is trade deadline next year.

Starting point is 00:35:46 You flip them to the Braves again because that's what they do. And an animal take on Solair and then you wash your hands of the whole situation. You get a prospect from them. We live happily ever after. Thanks for making this locked on crossover, your first listen of the day. Make sure you join the everydayer club and get locked on angels and locked on cardinals with no interruptions, members only Discord access and so much more. You can join for $5 a month or you can take it up a notch and go all access,

Starting point is 00:36:12 get one-on-one text access, all access episodes, an exclusive newsletter and a 15% discount on the locked on merch store. Go to Lockdown Angels and Lockdowncardinals. com or click the link in the show notes. Hey, be sure you catch us on social media at Lockdown Angels at Super Halo Bros and J.D. For those everydayers on the angel side interested in following you, where can they find you? We are at LO underscore Cardinals on the X. And obviously, we're on YouTube and everywhere you find you guys.

Starting point is 00:36:43 You can find the Cardinals and the rest of the MLB podcast from the Lockdown Podcast Network. Real quick, did I win you over? Are we ready to sign this deal or what? I'm convinced. What about you, Mike? I'm convinced as well. All right. it is. Well done, J.D. He convinced us, everybody. Well, thanks for being here, everyone,

Starting point is 00:37:01 and we'll see you back here for another edition of Locked on Angels and Locked on Cardinals. Who's the better brother, JD? Who's the better brother? Quick, quick. All right. Final answer, it is.

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