The Cardinals did not make the big move for Jon Lester or David Price – at least not yet. Instead, they decided to try to hit the right veteran at the right time by obtaining Justin Masterson from the Indians for outfield prospect James Ramsey.
Masterson was scheduled to come off the DL (inflamed right knee) and start Friday for Cleveland. Now, the expectation is he will start Saturday for the Cardinals.
Because of the depth of their farm system, the Cards were looked at as significant players for Lester, Price or any other big name in this market. But it is their history to be extremely cautious about dealing their better prospects.
In fact, the prospect depth is, to some extent, what allowed this trade. Ramsey is a good prospect. A first-round pick out of Florida State in 2012, he was hitting .300 with 13 homers at Double-A playing mainly right and center.
However, the Cardinals have one of the best outfield prospects in Oscar Taveras in the majors, and well-regarded prospects Stephen Piscotty and Randall Grichuk at Triple-A. Thus, Ramsey was expendable to try to help a worrisome rotation.
St. Louis has a top ace in Adam Wainwright and a mid-rotation workhorse in Lance Lynn. But Michael Wacha is still working back from a shoulder issue that will keep him out until at least September, Carlos Martinez is up and down in his transition from reliever back to starter and Shelby Miller has regressed from last season.
Masterson also has fallen from his peak of last year, when he was 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA. This season – bothered by the knee issue throughout – he was 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA. In two recent Triple-A rehab starts, he yielded seven runs in 11 2/3 innings.
At his best, Masterson is a sinker-balling workhorse, and the Cards – obviously – are looking for that. He is making $9,762,500 this season and is a free agent afterward.