Bernie’s Redbird Review: Cards Prospect Ratings, Bad Night For Libby, Good Luck

THE REDBIRD REVIEW

I’m a fan of Eric Longenhagen, the maniacal prospect evaluator at FanGraphs. And when I say maniacal, please understand that it’s a compliment.

In addition to analyzing every trade made at the MLB deadline from a prospect perspective, Longenhagen added another analysis, ranking each prospect that moved to a new organization during the flurry of deals.

Longenhagen’s list contained 57 prospects. Here is his view of the new St. Louis prospects that came over in trades for Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, Paul DeJong, Genesis Cabrera and Chris Stratton. I put them in order, highest to lowest …

5th overall among 57 prospects: pitcher Tekoah Roby, who was acquired from Texas in the Montgomery-Stratton deal. “Impact mid-rotation talent currently on the shelf with a shoulder injury,” Longenhagen wrote. “Monstrous curveball.”

12th overall: pitcher Sem Robberse, acquired from Toronto in the Hicks deal. “Strike-throwing youngster with good secondary stuff (change/curve/cutter) and no. 4/5 starter projection,” Longenhagen wrote.

13th overall: Infielder Thomas Sagesse, acquired from Texas in the Montgomery-Stratton trade. “Lacks typical pro athlete build and strength,” Logenhagen wrote. “But hands work great. Plus contact quality.”

21st overall: Infielder Cesar Prieto, acquitted from Baltimore for Jack Flaherty. Here’s Longenhagen: “Might have a 7 hit tool, but plays down due to chase. 40-grade infield defender. Eric Sogard type.”

28th overall: Pitcher Adam Kloffenstein, acquired from Toronto in the Hicks trade. Longenhagen: “Sinker/slider backend starter with new, lower arm slot than he’s shown in the past. On a 2024 (MLB) debut pace.”

36th overall: Pitcher Drew Rom, acquired from Baltimore for Flaherty. “Spot starter,” Longenhagen wrote, “with low-90s fastball, sweeper slider, above-average command, funky delivery.”

40th overall: Catcher Sammy Hernandez, acquired from Toronto for Cabrera. “Athletic catcher with plus bat speed, hit tool risk,” Longenhagen wrote. “Raw pitch recognition and defense.”

49th overall: Pitcher Zack Showalter, age 19, acquired from Baltimore in the Flaherty move. “Uphill fastball/slider prospect with relief risk,” Longenhagen said.

54th overall: pitcher Matt Svanson, acquired from Toronto for DeJong. Longenhagen: “Sinker/slider low-leverage relief prospect.”

Here’s a link to the complete analysis, and please support FanGraphs by becoming a member.

SPEAKING OF TRADES: Here’s Jim Bowden of The Athletic with his choice of a pitcher who will benefit most from a trade. He went with Jordan Montgomery. “The left-hander goes to a team that will give him better defense and run support along with an opportunity to pitch in a pennant race (and maybe the postseason),: Bowden wrote. “He has a real shot to improve his value in free agency this winter.”

BOWDEN ON THE CARDINALS: The former MLB general manager gave the…