Cardinals to purchase AAA Memphis Redbirds

The ink has barely dried on the St Louis Cardinals’ agreement to continue to partner with the Memphis Redbirds as its triple-A affiliate through 2012.

The Pacific Coast League’s Redbirds have been a mainstay in Memphis as the club’s highest level minor league affiliate since the Cards broke affiliation with the Louisville Redbirds (now the Louisville Bats, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) after the 1997 season.

Now comes word that the Cardinals will purchase the Redbirds from the non-profit Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation.

From the Memphis Business Journal:

If it goes through, the deal would follow what Dave Chase, president of baseball operations for the Memphis Redbirds, called a growing trend of major league baseball teams buying minor league affiliates.

“The Red Sox have done it, the Yankees are doing it and the Atlanta Braves have been the kings of it, owning all of their minor league franchises,” Chase said.

I could think of a lot worse franchises to model your player development system after than the Braves and Red Sox (the Yankees I’ll leave alone).

The Cardinals already own their affiliates in Springfield, MO and Palm Beach, FL - AA and A clubs, respectively - and are apparently anxious to add the Memphis market to their stable.

More from the Memphis Biz Journal:

Even though the two sides have been discussing the possibility since the beginning of the summer, the deal is far from finalized and the best scenario would have the deal done in a matter of months. However, it must be approved by Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League.

There is also the matter of transferring the assets of the non-profit Redbirds Foundation to the for-profit St. Louis Cardinals LP.

So clearly, there are hurdles to be crossed.  I’m no expert on the subject, but I would suspect that MLB, MiLB, and PCL approval are a mere formality.  Where I could see things getting sticky is in the non-profit to profit transition.

According to the Redbirds Foundation page, the Memphis club is/was the only not-for-profit organization in the country that ran both the baseball club and the facility, AutoZone Park.

The Foundation did a lot of good things in and around Memphis with their RBI program and STRIPES program.  I can only imagine that part of the deal will be the Cardinals’ continuation of these great programs, and continued involvement in the greater Memphis community.  It behooves the organization to keep close ties with this community, both developmentally and financially.

Memphis is a significant minor league market, one that is unique in its ability to support a minor league stadium the size of AutoZone Park (it seats 12,512 - or approximately 4,000 less than the Florida Marlins have averaged in attendance this season), as well as its proximity to the St Louis market (it is decidedly within the Cardinals’ ‘United Country (State?) of Baseball’).  The Memphis Nielsen DMA is ranked 48th in the United States for 2008-2009.

Perhaps just as important as the Memphis market is avoiding the affiliation dance that typically comes along with minor league affiliates.  The Cardinals will no longer have to renegotiate a Player Development Contract with Memphis every few years.  I have to believe this advantage is more than the casual fan will ever know, staying away from possibly contentious negotiations and contract talks with increasingly profitable minor league team owners.

Indeed, Minor League Baseball has seen a steady rise in both popularity and profitability.  While all of the advantages laid out previously are valuable and I’m sure quickly realized, there is another great benefit to this acquisition for the Cardinals.  Forbes.com recently ranked the Memphis Redbirds as its second-most valuable Minor League Baseball team.

From the Forbes article:

On average, the top 20 teams are worth $21.2 million and pulled in $9.8 million in revenue per team, of which 49% came from tickets. The great economics of the minor leagues: Player costs–typically between $10 million and $15 million a season for scouting, salaries and bonuses–are paid by the big league affiliates. As a result, margins for clubs that draw well are often fat, and these 20 clubs generated average operating income (earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation) of $3 million.

At number two, the Redbirds are valued at $26.1 million, with revenue of $13.4 million and operating income of $6.9 million.  As mentioned in the quote above, one of the great economic advantages of a minor league club is that the big club affiliate is basically paying all of your large expenses - namely, the roster.  So it seems like a no-brainer that the Major League clubs would want to own their own affiliates right?  Well, I’m certain it is no coincidence that the Springfield Cardinals, also owned by one William DeWitt III, is ranked number eighteen on the list.

I’ve learned a lot about the workings of these deals in a short time tonight.  I think long-term this deal is wonderful for the Cardinals both financially and logistically.  They have great fan support in Memphis and won’t have to worry about the affiliation dance.  Short-term, I think there are still some hurdles to cross with the non-profit to for-profit transaction, and I will be interested to see how that shakes out (and how long a process it winds up being).

Assuming the Cardinals maintain the community presence in Memphis and don’t quickly alienate the fan base already established there, I can’t see this deal as anything but a win-win for the organization.

Here’s hoping this means the youngsters start developing quicker so they can put together a win-win in St Louis…we desperately need a couple…

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On a recap note, Danup over at Get Up, Baby has posted his Top 7 Cardinal Prospects.  It is just as good a read as the other bunch posted last week, so check it out.

Brewers fire Yost, LaRussa glad Doug Melvin isn’t his boss

The Milwaukee Brewers fired Ned Yost today, according to ESPN.com.

The Brewers were just swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, dropping them into a tie with the Phillies in the NL Wild Card race.  The Brewers have lost 11 of their last 14 games, allowing many teams to climb back into the playoff hunt.

This makes me wonder, what would Tony LaRussa have to do to get fired?  I’m not saying that I wish termination on TLR, but more out of curiosity - what do you think would legitimately give Cardinals’ brass a reason to fire Tony?  Does he have immunity, regardless of the team’s performance?  Is it even John Mozeliak’s decision, or would that one have to come from Bill DeWitt himself?

Give me your thoughts in the comments section…

Duncan increasing his trade value?

Before I get too far in, I will preface this post by saying these things:

I am not a huge Chris Duncan fan.  I think he is a minus on defense (in the outfield - he doesn’t get enough innings at 1B to make that a reason why he’s on the club).  I can’t stand watching him flail away at pitches in the dirt, many of which are first pitches after the previous hitter (or two) have walked.  I hate that Ryan Ludwick is forced to sit sometimes in order to get Duncan at-bats (I know, Luddy has to have a day off every now and again too).  I so appreciate it when he does contribute, the guy can hit the ball hard when he makes contact, solid contact just seems few and far between sometimes.

All that being said, I don’t agree with a lot of Cardinal fans who believe that he remains on the team solely because his father, Dave Duncan, is the pitching coach.  I shudder to think that Bill DeWitt or John Mozeliak would allow themselves to be manipulated like that by Daddy Dunc or Tony LaRussa, and say what you will about Tony, but I don’t think he would pull such a stunt.

I think to some extent, it is a matter of hanging on to past glory or trying to rekindle something that isn’t there anymore or was a mirage.  See: Jason Isringhausen.  Lil’ Dunc had a great half-season in 2006, started to slip a bit last year but still put up very respective numbers (.259/.354/.480) in 2007, and this year his struggles have been well-documented.  I just don’t think Tony is ready to cut the cord yet.  He may not have to.  Mo might do it for him.

Duncan was roundly criticized early in the season, prior to his demotion to AAA Memphis, for not hitting well.  It would’ve been more accurate to say not hitting for power well.  He was hitting .252 at the time, with a .356 OBP.  Not horrible numbers for what I think can be reasonably expected of him.  But his slugging percentage was .386.  Blech.  Not only was he not hitting for much power, he was barely hitting for any power.  At that point in the season Duncan only had nine extra-base hits, only four of which were home runs, in 127 at-bats.  Not very good.

To make matter worse, when he was optioned to Memphis to “find his power stroke,” he managed to hit worse down there.  Hastily (at least in this scribe’s opinion) recalled to the big club when Albert Pujols went down with his calf injury, Duncan continued his statistical descent with the Cardinals.  From June 11 to June 21, Duncan hit .158/.220/.158.  Putrid.  His season OPS bottomed out that game at .659.

Fast forward to today, and Duncan has made an astounding turn-around in his season.  Starting with the last game of the series in Boston on June 22 and continuing through yesterday’s win versus the Padres, Duncan is raking at a .315/.413/.481 clip, good for an .894 OPS.  I don’t know about you, but I’d be ecstatic if you told me prior to this season that Dunc would hit at an .894 OPS clip.  So Duncan is *seemingly* starting to turn things around.  Maybe he’s seeing the ball a bit better?  Maybe his mental state is improving?  Whatever it is, it’s working.

He couldn’t have chosen a better time to heat up.  MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Cards have needs.  Primarily, they need bullpen help.  What they don’t need right now, is the current glut of outfielders they have between Memphis and the big club.

What I am about to suggest is not entirely new, but given recent developments, I think it’s valid to revisit.

Viva El Birdos last week suggested acquiring Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners.  Washburn is struggling a bit this season, and the Mariners are anxious to rid themselves of his $10MM salary for next season.  Presumably, Washburn could be had for a middling prospect, VEB proposed Mike Parisi.

Well, Seattle also happens to have a decent, veteran left-handed relief pitcher on their squad, Arthur Rhodes.  Why not kill two birds with one stone here?  Why not acquire Washburn to eat up innings (he’s been very durable for a lower end of the rotation guy), and Rhodes to (hopefully) correct some of the bullpen’s woes?

It just so happens that Seattle recently came into a need for a first-baseman.  Obviously, they’re not chasing anything this season other than their own tails, so it’s not a pressing need - but with Richie Sexson released, they have a hole.  They also have a DH slot available in their lineup.  It seems Chris Duncan, still only 27, would be a great fit for the Mariners.  So maybe you don’t even give up a Parisi - maybe it’s Duncan and minor considerations beyond that.  Duncan and Anthony Reyes (who the Cards pretty clearly seem to have given up on)?  Duncan and Cody Haerther?  Duncan and Parisi (assuming Parisi alone wouldn’t have been enough to land Washburn)?

There are options - and the Cardinals have plenty to fill Dunc’s current role with the big league squad.  Joe Mather comes to mind as one guy to fill the exact same role, OF and 1B.  Plus, he’s right-handed, which in my opinion is a plus - I think they’ve got plenty of left-handed hitting outfielders as it is.  Nick Stavinoha could reasonably assume the OF/1B slot.  Brian Barton can play the fifth outfielder without too much problem.

I’m sure most will think what I’m proposing gives up too much for Rhodes and Washburn.  I’m sure many would prefer to hang onto Duncan if he continues to improve at this rate.

What I do know is that Brian Fuentes isn’t going to come cheaply.  Ron Mahay might not even be available.

John Mozeliak could potentially cross two items off of his mid-season to-do list without giving up a single projected top prospect.  That would seem to be a win in my book…

An Open Letter to Jon Heyman

SI.com’s Jon Heyman, who wrote that the Pirates would seek high return to trade Jason Bay, continues to insist that the Cardinals are willing to trade Colby Rasmus.

His persistence is somewhat amusing since Rasmus’ availability has been repeatedly refuted and flat out denied, including two published reports from Devan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that indicated the Pirates have not talked to the Cardinals about Bay, Rasmus, or even Xavier Nady - even saying in the first linked article:

One national report linked Nady and Bay to the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals, but sources on all three fronts, including the Pirates, yesterday debunked that.

And in the second?  Kovacevic adds:

Before this one grows any legs beyond one national report, [ed. note - Kovacevic is staring at YOU, Mr Heyman] the Pirates are not in discussions with St. Louis regarding outfielder Colby Rasmus, one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The reason, as they and other teams have been told by the Cardinals: Rasmus is untouchable.

So both teams involved in the rumor flat denied it.  Interesting.

The Pirates and other teams are being told that Rasmus is untouchable.  Fascinating.

That would seem to fit with Cardinal owner Bill DeWitt’s comments to Joe Strauss of the St Louis Post-Dispatch in the linked article above:

P-D: Is there a chance that Rasmus could play his first major-league game in another uniform?

BDJ: I don’t anticipate that. No.

So we’ve now got two teams supposedly involved in these “Rasmus is available” talks denying any rumor, we’ve got the owner of the Cardinals saying Rasmus won’t be going anywhere, not to mention the overwheming evidence that Bay isn’t worth anywhere near Rasmus straight-up.

I think you’re fishing here, Jon Heyman, and I’m calling you on it.  Stop with the nonsense.  Are you trying to create your “I told you so” moment?  Is this some kind of “scoop” you’ve dreamt up?

Obviously, I’ll have egg on my face and come back here praising your journalistic abilities if the Cards inexplicably ship Rasmus in a deadline deal, but I don’t forsee that being necessary.

The only possible reason I could see for trading Rasmus at this point would be a meddling father (read toward the bottom of the comments).

As for you Mr Heyman, please stick to reporting what you know, not what you’re guessing (and whiffing) at.


Filed Under Bill DeWitt, Colby Rasmus, Non-Cardinals

2 Comments | Posted on July 19, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!