The Cardinals briefly discussed trade talks with the Houston Astros about pitchers Erik Bedard and Bud Norris prior to the 2013 MLB Trade Deadline, according to leaked documents that reveal internal discussions among Astros front office members.
The correspondences were originally published at Anonbin.com, a Web site where users can anonymously share hacked or leaked information. Deadspin has published a full report on the leak, and it’s fascinating.
Two years ago the Astros developed a program called “Ground Control,” which is an online database designed for the private use of the Astros front office. It gives team executives instant access to player statistics, video and communications with other front offices around baseball. For Cardinals fans, the development of such a program by the Astros shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise given who is now in control in Houston.
Jeff Luhnow, the former Cardinals Vice President of Scouting and Player Development, is now the general manager in Houston. Cardinals fans saw firsthand the ingenuity that Luhnow could bring to an organization.
Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of juicy dialogue between the Astros and Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak.
Here’s the only entry regarding the Cardinals:
[Luhnow] talked to [Cardinals GM John Mozeliak] about STL trade deadline needs. Mo said he might have interest in Bedard but hadn’t decided yet. Also said he might have interest in Norris but not at an elite prospect level (he included Wong, Martinez, Wacha, Taveras as elite guys)”
The Cardinals stood pat at the deadline, but did add reliever John Axford in August.
This dialogue is certainly nothing groundbreaking, as we knew there was some interest from the Cardinals last season in acquiring Bud Norris, who had built a reputation of dominating the Cardinals. It’s also somewhat comforting to see some proof of what Mozeliak outwardly said a number of times, which was that he didn’t want to trade any the top young talent.
At any rate, read the Deadspin post, because it’s an incredible look at internal trade discussions, which are largely a mystery to the average fan.
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From deadspin:
“Two years ago, the Houston Astros constructed “Ground Control”—a built-from-scratch online database for the private use of the Astros front office.”
Plagiarize much, Cole?