MLB: Assessing the NL Central GMs at the midway point
By Bill Felber
St. Louis Cardinals, GM Mike Girsch, -0.6 games
Girsch and team president John Mozeliak swung MLB’s biggest deal, the theft of All Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from Colorado for a little noticed pitcher and some prospects. That’s a logical place to begin.
Arenado (+1.4) has to date contributed an .829 OPS plus his expected five-star glovework. He came at the cost of Austin Gomber (+0.4), but that still creates a net gain to the Cardinals of +1.0.
Girsch’s other principal winter moves were internal. He re-signed the linchpins of the team’s battery – starter Adam Wainwright (+0.4) and catcher Yadier Molina (+0.5). Given the desultory state of the rest of the St. Louis rotation, Wainwright’s 6-5 record and 3.49 ERA at age 39 have been godsends.
Molina, meanwhile, may at age 38 is having one of his best seasons.
If that sole move improved the usually strong Cardinals by a full game, then why is the team in fourth place in its division? And more pertinently to the topic at hand, why is Girsch’s mid-term rating modestly negative?
Girsch’s biggest problem has been the lack of performance of his first year class. Girsch has employed 10 players who retain first year status this season. Those 10 include pitchers Seth Elledge (-0.2) and Ryan Helsley (-0.6), outfielder Justin Williams (-1.0), infielder Edmundo Sosa (+0.6), and backup catcher Andrew Knizner (-0.4). Net impact of those 10 rookies: -2.5 games.