ROME: Italy’s parliament on Saturday approved the 2025 budget, aiming to both appease EU demands to lower the eurozone nation’s deficit and honour Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s pledge to cut taxes. Over half of the package, worth some 30 billion euros ($31 billion), is devoted to cuts to tax and social security contributions for low- and middle-income earners. Rome is having to perform a fine fiscal balancing act, after Brussels took Italy to task earlier this year over its debt worth nearly 3 trillion euros, the second highest as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) in the European Union. French stocks outperform on expectations of new budget Meloni’s hard-right coalition has committed to reducing the public deficit to 3.3 percent of GDP in 2025, down from an expected 3.8 percent this year. But the budget comes amid slowing growth, with the ISTAT national statistics office estimating GDP this year to increase just 0.5 percent — half what it forecast in June. The measures approved include making permanent a merging of the lower two income tax brackets, so people earning 28,000 euros a year can pay 23 percent instead of 25 percent. And the budget expands the number of people eligible for a reduction of social or tax charges. Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party is also trying to boost Italy’s flagging birth rate, and the budget allocates a 1,000-euro bonus per newborn for families earning up to 40,000 euros a year. Environmental associations have complained there is little for tackling man-made climate change, though Rome is scrapping a bonus for gas-fired boilers, under pressure from Brussels. Instead, buyers of energy-efficient household appliances will be eligible for a bonus of up to 100 euros — rising to 200 euros for households earning under 25,000 euros. Companies that boost hiring and reinvest part of their profits will be able to benefit from a reduction in the corporate tax rate, which drops from 24 percent to 20 percent. This new measure is partly financed by Italy’s banking sector, which has been asked to contribute a total of 3.4 billion euros for the 2025 and 2026 budgets. They have agreed to postpone tax credits for these two years to provide liquidity to the Italian state, which should repay them later.The big calls we got right... and the ones that were very, very wrong: AFL predictions revisited

'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' video game tour to stop by Adventure Aquarium next month

Queen Rania is certainly e njoying being a grandmother to Princess Iman , and the royal couldn't help but compliment her young granddaughter in her latest appearance. On Wednesday, the 54-year-old hosted a luncheon for women in the Sahab part of the Jordanian capital, Amman. The luncheon celebrated 100 women across the fields of education, culture, media, and civil society. During her appearance, Rania was briefed on projects helping the families of the community. The royal reflected on the birth of her first grandchild as she expressed her gratitude for the many messages of support she was sent. " Time flies when I'm with he r ," she said, saying Iman was the thing she was most thankful for during the year. However, Rania also drew attention to wider conflicts in the region as she expressed her sadness at lives lost over the past year. "We used to believe that all people in this world had an equal claim to humanity and human rights; but sadly, we are seeing otherwise," she said. "We in Jordan will stay true to the core values with which we were raised: kindness, generosity, compassion, care, and community. These are the values I never fail to see in the Jordanian people." Rania has regularly shown her love for her granddaughter and last month, she brought Iman to work with her as she conducted business over Zoom . "Baby Iman's first Zoom board meeting earlier this week," she wrote in the caption. The image featured Rania holding her granddaughter while she engaged in a video call at her desk. Iman's birth was announced in August 2024 with an official statement from the Royal Hashemite Court which in part read: "The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein were blessed, on 3 August 2024, with a baby girl they named Iman." Shortly after Iman's birth, Rania penned a heartfelt message on social media which read: "Praise be to God for His greatest gifts... You have enlightened our lives with our precious granddaughter, Iman. "May God protect us from you. Congratulations to Hussein and Rajwa, and may God fill your lives with blessings and contentment."

Lamar Advertising Company Announces Cash Dividends on Common StockThe crash of an Azerbaijani airliner near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau that killed 38 people has again brought into focus the danger of flying over the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone. The Embraer 190 was en route from Baku to Russia’s Grozny when it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing some kilometres from Aktau. While initial fears centered around a bird hit, government and media reports have increasingly pointed at a misguided Russian anti-drone attack on the plane . Holes in the plane and videos of oxygen masks releasing would indicate depressurisation. The aircraft was still airborne after the attack, eventually crossing the Caspian Sea on the east, a distance of some 300 miles as the crow flies. Reports talk about the plane’s control system being damaged, which would possibly explain its loopy flight paths, and permission being denied to the damaged aircraft to land in nearby airports although norms would allow a damaged civilian plane to land anywhere close. The Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Digital Flight Data Recorder have been recovered, which would reveal much information. Azerbaijan has sovereignty over the flight and the Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, would also be party to the multi-stakeholder investigation that would reveal the cause of the accident, the course of events, and whether and how the control systems of the flight were affected. The last would indicate the role, if any, played by jamming systems that are part of air and drone defence. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials have blamed Russian air defence systems responding to a Ukrainian attack likely with drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace”. In this half-hearted apology, he stopped short of acknowledging active Russian involvement or that it was collateral damage to Azerbaijan, a Russian ally. That the plane was damaged nearly 500 miles from the Ukrainian border has shown the state of warfare today, in which drones and microdrones have moved centrestage as low-cost weapons capable of strikes and surveillance across broad swathes of enemy territory causing much damage deep inside enemy territory. If the Kazakhstan air crash calls for one urgent response, it is for the de-escalation of military action in the region, the success of which would depend preponderantly on Moscow’s willingness to end its invasion of Ukraine and an agreement on limiting the expansion of NATO. Failure to do so now risks not only collateral damage resulting in such avoidable loss of innocent lives, but could also see more regional actors getting pulled into the conflict. Published - December 30, 2024 12:20 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit air and space accident / Russia-Ukraine Crisis / Azerbaijan / USA / defence equipment / war / technology (general)PHILADELPHIA – Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett has seen limited action this season, mostly appearing in mop-up duty when games were already decided. Those moments allowed him to stay sharp. With starting quarterback Jalen Hurts ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, Pickett finally got his chance to start, marking his first start since Dec. 3, 2023, when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickett’s backup, Tanner McKee, had also never played in a regular-season game. Together, the two quarterbacks formed an unlikely duo to lead the Eagles to an NFC East title. On Sunday, they combined for 197 net passing yards in the Eagles’ 41-7 win , clinching the division and ensuring the team will finish no lower than the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Pickett completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards, including a touchdown to wide receiver DeVonta Smith , and added a rushing touchdown. However, his day ended in the third quarter when Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons re-injured Pickett’s ribs with a hard hit. “I just wanted to come in and do my part,” Pickett said. “I told the quarterbacks in the tunnel before warm-ups, ‘Just win at all costs. That’s it. That’s all I care about.’ All I wanted to accomplish today was to get the win for the team and for the city. I also wanted to keep the momentum we’ve had going this season.” Pickett, who wore extra padding in his flak jacket to protect his injured ribs, admitted the “Brotherly Shove” play and earlier hits during the game aggravated the injury. The Parsons hit ultimately forced him out of the game. Despite the discomfort, Pickett expressed optimism about his recovery. “I’ll undergo more tests, but I don’t believe they’ll show anything significant,” he said. “Of course, you want to finish the game, but I left it all out there. I did everything I could to play today and stayed as long as I could. I have no regrets. We got the win, and that’s all that matters.” Smith saw Pickett gut it out on the field after taking the shots he did with his banged-up ribs and said he and his teammates respected Pickett for the toughness that he showed. “It did not go unnoticed,” Smith said. “To see him fight through the things he was fighting through, he’s a very tough guy.” BUY EAGLES TICKETS: STUBHUB , VIVID SEATS , TICKETMASTER After serving as the emergency quarterback this season, McKee was elevated to the backup role and made the most of it replacing the injured Pickett, although he did not know how long he was going to play. “They were saying to just stay ready,” McKee said. “They’re great. They’re very positive with things like that. During that moment, we didn’t really know if I was going to go in or if Kenny was going to come back. so Nuss (quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier) asked me if I was prepared and ready for this. He also told me to stay warm, so I was excited.” In very limited work, McKee completed three of his four passes for 54 yards and two touchdown passes, becoming the first player to throw for multiple touchdowns with fewer than five attempts in their first career game. “It was great. Before the game, I was thinking that this could be my shot. Then going out there and just being on the field, it’s great because you’re just playing football. You realize you’ve been here before and had reps multiple times in practice. I was running through it in my bedroom last night. Once you finally get in the field, all you’re doing is playing football.” Head coach Nick Sirianni said he was happy that they both came in and played “clean” football and limited their mistakes, helping the Eagles come away with the win. “They deserve all that credit. You can’t go out there and play that position without the greatness of other people, and they had some greatness from other guys out there. Starting with their coaches...who really did a good job of getting them ready. Then the plays that they got from Smitty (Smith), Saquon (Barkley), Grant Calcaterra, A.J. [Brown] and the offensive line. That’s what a team is. A team steps up in adversity and steps up and has each other’s backs.” Having two quarterbacks who are capable of coming in and playing in a short-term capacity is important for a team with much higher aspirations than winning the division title. Either Pickett or McKee will likely play a lot in next week’s regular-season finale against Giants if the Eagles are eliminated from the race for the top seed if either the Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions win their games this weekend. It could also help them this offseason if the team wanted to recoup a few draft picks from teams that is desperate to add a quarterback because of an injury. For now, the Eagles will make sure that they are prepared to step in if anything else were to happen to Hurts this season. MORE EAGLES COVERAGE Why Eagles’ offensive lineman is ‘all in’ if Saquon Barkley wants to chase record against Giants Eagles secure NFC East title behind Kenny Pickett as Saquon Barkley eclipses major milestone Eagles’ Saquon Barkley becomes 9th player in NFLto rush for 2,000 yards: Will he set record vs. Giants or get rested? Eagles down to 3rd-string QB who has never played in a regular-season game after Kenny Pickett injury Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com .

ENTRUSTED with our readers’ deep secrets, the Dear Deidre team really have a unique insight into what dilemmas the nation is grappling with. Of course, there are some constants — cheating, differing sex drives, low self-esteem and loneliness. But some issues loom larger in certain years as new problems come to the fore. As 2024 nears an end, we take a look at what exactly our readers have been writing in about. Every year, we help thousands of people by answering every single dilemma with a personalised answer, and we’ve kept a record of the issues we’ve tackled. Relationship issues consistently come out on top, with 23 per cent of the emails Dear Deidre receives focused on romantic problems. READ MORE DEAR DEIDRE Sex came a close second, with 19 per cent of readers writing in with a sexual dilemma. Interestingly, half of every single relationship message addressed cheating. Sometimes, the unfaithful party would be writing in, otherwise a suspicious or heartbroken partner worried about their relationship . Among the emails about cheating on partners, home surveillance and doorbell cameras featured more prominently, with some partners forgetting to turn off cameras before inviting flings to come back to their homes . Most read in The Sun A growing number of readers also wrote in because, although they were separated, financial constraints meant they could not move out of the marital home. The reluctant house sharers were frustrated at being unable to move on — a trend that reflects economic uncertainty in the UK. Notable developments this year have been new requests for support with quitting vaping . Another new issue came in the form of pensioners worrying about losing their winter fuel allowance. Social media has been a common theme in all the categories. It is impossible to quantify but has had a huge impact. So many of the relationship problems relate to partners ogling scantily clad influencers or flirting with others they have met online. Plenty don’t see this as cheating but the feeling of betrayal is real for those on the receiving end. And it’s not just cheating that worries people. Time spent watching endless videos encourages weird infatuations, with one woman complaining her husband had become obsessed with the French election. Opportunity for temptation He insisted they spend their family holiday in France watching speeches — and had previously had no interest in politics . The issue of phone addiction came up, particularly for parents fretting about not only what their children were being exposed to, but also how their mobile activity was affecting their own behaviour. They asked our team for help on how to manage this. And a huge number of adults wrote in fed up with their partner, who had little interest in them but spent all hours playing online games or scrolling through their socials. It’s clear that while technology enables us to do far more and do it efficiently, left unchecked it threatens our real-world connections and provides more opportunity for temptation. Next year, I will be recording when social media, phone usage and the internet are mentioned as part of the problem, and I predict this will be a huge growth area. Below is a reader’s letter about ogling, followed by one about winter fuel allowance. I also break down what percentages of our mail different types of letter make up. Mortified after ex saw me having sex on security cam (Letter from November 14) DEAR DEIDRE: MY ex saw me having sex with a one-night stand using the camera security system he’d installed as a favour to me. I was completely unaware that he was watching this, until he turned up the next morning and got very upset with me. Originally, I was grateful for his help setting up the system, but now I feel really uncomfortable. He said he’d received an alert on his phone and checked it by chance, but I can’t help worrying he’s keeping an eye on me. He insists he hasn’t been watching and that was a one-off, but the whole experience has really unsettled me. I’m 36, my ex is 39, and we were together for eight years before we broke up five months ago. Our split was both mutually agreed, and amicable, and we decided to remain friends. We still met up and sometimes even had sex, but as we didn’t discuss what this meant I thought we were simply friends with benefits . I really appreciated still having him in my life. When I was moving house, he offered to help, knowing how useless I am at DIY. He helped put up shelves, and installed security cameras which he set up online so I could view them through an app. I knew he had access to it all while he set it up but assumed he’d log out. So when I brought a man home, I didn’t think twice. Now I feel mortified. He says he didn’t mean to breach my privacy, but I feel so conflicted. DEIDRE SAYS: Watching you have sex with another man was a huge breach of your privacy, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. As a priority, please ensure that you are the only one with access to your security system. Make sure you’re the primary account holder and change your password so that he doesn’t have access. It’s completely understandable that this experience has made you question the sort of person he is. Unless you decide you can trust him completely, you would be wise to stay away. At the very least, it’s clear that the lines are blurred between you and your ex and some boundaries need to be re-established. As for your relationship with him, you need to decide if there’s any hope of a future together. If you decide there’s not, it would be best to step away so you can both move on. My support pack Moving On will help. Left freezing since losing fuel payment (Letter from December 18) DEAR DEIDRE : SINCE the Government cut my Winter Fuel Payment , I’ve been struggling to afford my bills . Now I’m forced to choose between putting my heating on or buying food, and the stress is making me unwell. I’m a 76-year-old pensioner, and live alone. Until this year, I was receiving £200 payments to cover the cost of my heating bills, and I heavily relied on it. So when the Government announced the change, I went into a complete panic. My pension is already low as it is, so without the extra payments I knew it was going to be a hard couple of months. When I contacted the council for help, they told me that, while I was eligible to apply, I had missed the deadline so now I’d have to go without. Ever since, my life has been an absolute nightmare. Now I wake up every morning to a freezing house – and no matter what I do, I can’t keep warm. The constant dread is getting me down, and I’m now struggling to cope. DEIDRE SAYS: I can only imagine how distressing this must be for you. While the qualifying week for this year’s Fuel Payment has now passed, you may still be eligible if you successfully apply for Pension Credit by December 21. READ MORE SUN STORIES Please note that you only have two days to do this, so please take action today. You may also be eligible for a £150 Warm Home Discount. You can find out more about this on the government website ( gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme ). TOP TOPICS: Relationships 23% Sex 19% Family 8% Parenting 7% Friendships 4% Workplace issues 5% Mental health 11% Health 5% Addictions 8% Bereavement 5% Sexuality 4% Other 1% SEX WOES Sex drive 43% Fetishes 16% Threesomes 12% Erection problems 11% Fantasies 7% Climaxing 4% Menopause 3% Other 4% LOVE Cheating 49% Domestic abuse 12% Addictive love 10% Broken heart 14% Online romance 6% Age gaps 5% Other 4% ADDICTION Alcohol 42% Porn 22% Drugs 13% Smoking 8% Vaping 5% Gambling 9% Shopping and spending 1%

It’s not easy to defy gravity as a musical movie, particularly one that’s been adapted from a Broadway play. But with the record-breaking premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” last weekend, there may be more reason to try. The Jon M. Chu-directed adaptation topped the box office with a worldwide gross of $164.2 million, marking the biggest opening weekend for a movie based on a Broadway play, surpassing 2012’s “Les Misérables” ($103 million). The film’s domestic box-office total was $114 million. Bringing Broadway adaptations to the big screen can be a dicey proposition. For every “Wicked,” there is a box-office flop, such as Universal’s “Cats.” Film adaptations of Broadway plays come with established fan bases that already have expectations for a movie version, said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at movie ticket-seller Fandango and founder of tracking site Box Office Theory. “When they don’t feel the source material is honored, they will let the world know, especially on social media,” he said. “Conversely, when it works, they’ll let people know it, too.” Universal, in particular, has a long track record of Broadway musical movies. (The studio is also behind a current musical stage adaptation of “Death Becomes Her,” based on the 1992 Universal film.) The studio has struck box-office gold in the past with the star-studded “Les Miserables” and “Mamma Mia!,” though it has also been panned for adaptations like 2019’s “Cats,” which was lampooned for its uncanny blending of CGI and real-life stars (such as Taylor Swift) to create the singing felines. Universal’s 2021 adaptation of “Dear Evan Hansen” also faltered after receiving brutal reviews. Lately, other movie musicals have misfired at the box office. Warner Bros. Pictures’ comic book sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux” stumbled in theaters this fall , grossing just $206 million worldwide on a reported budget of at least $190 million before marketing. Earlier this year, Paramount Pictures’ “Mean Girls” raised eyebrows for downplaying its musical roots in trailers and received lukewarm reviews from critics, though it met analysts’ box-office expectations . Warner Bros.’ “The Color Purple” struggled too. It’s tough to bring the energy of a live stage production to the big screen, not to mention choosing the right play to adapt in the first place. Successful Broadway-to-Hollywood productions typically have a relatable story for audiences, memorable music and are well-known enough to bring out loyal fans of the stage show as well as people who had always heard about the play but never went. “The studios are very wary of losing money. They’re also very wary of musicals because they are a very distinct genre that people either really love or hate, and that doesn’t bode well for the box office,” said Desiree Garcia, associate professor at Dartmouth College, who wrote a book called “The Movie Musical.” “So how do you have a musical, but also not break the bank to have it? The tried-and-true product from the stage is the way to do it.” It also helps that “Wicked” is based on decades of previous intellectual property. The film is adapted from the long-running stage play of the same name, which itself is loosely based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, a reimagining of 1939’s film musical, “The Wizard of Oz” and the original L. Frank Baum book. “We are a studio that, under Donna Langley, likes to take big swings when we see the opportunity,” said Jim Orr, head of domestic distribution at Universal Pictures. “Wicked was definitely a big swing.” Part of the success of “Wicked” can also be attributed to the studio’s aggressive marketing campaign, which saw Universal partner with 400 brands worldwide, including Target and Starbucks. Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were everywhere in the months leading up to the movie’s release, making appearances at the 2024 Paris Olympics (which was broadcast by Universal’s sister division, NBC) and the Oscars, as well as an extensive press tour. That promotion has also driven interest in the film’s music. Since the film soundtrack came out Nov. 22, the signature song “Defying Gravity,” performed by Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Glinda, has been streamed on Spotify almost 4.9 million times. Grande’s upbeat “Popular” is right behind it, at nearly 4.6 million streams. “Wicked: Part Two” is scheduled for release next year, which analysts expect will be highly anticipated. That audience anticipation could convince other studios to reconsider musicals, “and not treat them as the black sheep of genres,” said Robbins of Fandango. “That’s probably going to be a big takeaway.”

Welcome to the Thanksgiving week Cardinals chat here at StlToday.com . There undoubtedly will be the usual maelstrom of fascinating questions, biting criticism, and incisive challenges from readers, but in keeping with the spirit of the week don't be afraid to sprinkle in something you're thankful. I'll start. I'm thankful for a fan base ravenous for baseball conversation year round and one that is both respectful of the history of baseball in St. Louis and demanding because of that history. That's powerful blend, and it makes covering a club like the Cardinals in a city and region like St. Louis a great opportunity for a baseball fan and baseball writer like me. Aren't you already thankful I avoided Thanksgiving imagery in the above paragraph? I cannot promise that will last. Enough prelude. Let's get to the stuffing of this Cardinals chat. As always, a real-time transcript of the chat will be available below the chat window. You'll be able to read questions and answers just as you any article here at StlToday.com on your mobile, your desktop, or your tablet. Questions are not edited for spelling or grammar. They are ignored for vulgarities and threats. Onward! Bake21: Hey Derek. Most teams play their weakest defender in LF. The Cardinals have theirs in RF. Has there been any talk of moving Walker to LF. DG: There have been questions about it -- from reporters like me. Often. Much to their chagrin. The answer has always been that Jordan Walker is more comfortable in right field. During a recent podcast with baseball writer Dayn Perry, I brought up another reason why the Cardinals have had him focus on right field. Let me offer you some statistics. There were 11 outfielders with at least 1,000 innings in center, and they averaged 348 putouts. There were nine LF with at least 1,000 innings there, and they averaged 251 putouts. There were six RF with at least 1,000 innings there, and they averaged 252. And that is a lot closer than helps my illustration. But look deeper -- 10 center fielders had at least 300 putouts, two left fielders, and zero right fielders. The Cardinals had more putouts in RF than LF this past season, but overall the thinking is there are fewer baseballs hit to RF, fewer plays in RF, and that that would be a contributing reason for having a novice outfielder play out there. One more thing: Jordan Walker has an excellent arm. When he played third base, scouts thought his arm was an asset there and compensated for other elements of his fielding. He has a strong arm that can be beneficial in right field. That too is a factor -- it's a spot where one of his skills can still stand out. Millo Miller: Derrick, since Nolan Arenado has not demanded a trade as of now, but has given the Cardinals the ok to explore the market, would it be in the Cardinals best interest to keep him until the trade deadline next year? I know the contract might make this hard to do. Your thoughts? DG: Sure seems like that would not the best route here. Not for the complexity of his contact. Not for the offer. And not to do the best thing for Arenado. How much you want the Cardinals to weigh in what's best for Arenado here can be debated, but they will take that into account as they have for players in the past. And why not give him a chance to start the season with a team, in a good spot to contend, and set up his family there and all of that ... Keep in mind, too, at the trade deadline -- what happens if you bank on that but there's no place appealing in his opinion? RedbirdFarmhands: Hey Derrick do you think Boston could be a legit landing spot for Arenado DG: There are reports that they plan to move Devers to first base to make room for Alex Bregman. Seems like that would also apply. I do not know if that's a landing spot that Arenado would approve. It would be a team that would take more time to figure out a trade because Boston is pursuing many free agents first. Bboy Bird: DG, The Cardinals OF depth chart is heavily LH. Do you expect them to make a minor free-agent signing for an RH OF, perhaps a complement to Siani in CF? Thanks! DG: That is definitely on their mind and could be a move later in the winter, or even during spring, more for their bench. They also see Jordan Walker as that RH OF, of course. Let me quickly add: There is nothing wrong with having a lot of left-handed hitters. A lineup with left-handed production time and time and time again is better, deeper lineup as a result, and a left-handed presence (or few) sure seems essential to October success when you look at teams that do well in the playoffs. Bake21: Regarding Walker in RF, that's a good point about the putouts. And I do think Walker is athletic enough and has a good arm. The issue is he terrible out there. He doesn't appear to track balls well at all. And if you're going to misplace a ball in LF it might only be one base, if you misplace a ball in RF it's more than likely two bases. DG: Entirely fair, and that has been part of the questions for the Cardinals. When you think about how poor the defense was early in 2023, it was because of the outfield -- where misplays didn't cost 90 feet, they cost 180 feet. Darrell M: Good morning Mr. Goold. I have very much enjoyed your Cardinals coverage over the years and would like to say thank you for all of your work. DG: Thank you, Darrell. Much appreciated. Duffy in CT: Mark Feinsand today wrote "Ryan Helsley is likely to be traded". Does he know something we do not know or is he speculating? DG: That probably is a better question for him than for a chat here, because I'll just repeat to you our reporting on the subject. That seems like the best thing for me to do, no? But here's the deal. Mark Feinsand, an executive writer for MLB-dot-com, has a baseball card in the recently released Allen & Ginter set from Topps. I was thrilled to recently get an autographed card sent to me. I've added it to my collection . Mark has been a friend for a long time and I'm thrilled he's joined our group of wax-pack writers. He referenced the Cardinals "likely" trading Ryan Helsley as part of a piece tying one free agent to every team. Already he had a difficult task -- linking the Cardinals, who have publicly stated they won't do much shopping this winter, to that exact thing. And then adding to that difficult -- his description was picked up without context by another outlet. A bold headline was slapped on it. And here we are again. It's going to be a long winter of this, and I feel the frustration readers must have. Truly. And if you have any suggestions on how to combat that and helped readers, I'm eager to do so. Mark made his description very clear. Just as I will mine. I've spoken to multiple sources aware of the Cardinals conversations or directly involved in those conversations, and one walked away feeling the Cardinals are leaning toward keeping Helsley. Two others told me that the Cardinals are adopting that stance so that they will only trade him if overwhelmed by an offer. There are teams calling the Cardinals making their bid for Helsley. So they'll have choices to sort through. Duffy in CT: Giovanni to the Dodgers. Surprised? DG: No. Michael: Can you share any details about the upcoming writers' dinner in January? DG: Absolutely. Thanks for asking. It is set for Jan. 19 here in St. Louis at the Missouri Athletic Club downtown. Tickets go on sale Friday, and there will be news of who will be honored and other plans as Friday approaches. Here's a hint: Ryan Helsley will receive one of the headline awards, and our hope is to have a surprise and fitting guest there to present him with it. Ken: Hi Derrick! Can you help me understand what’s happening with Nolan ? ( This reminds me of that song by the Clash ).Does he want to leave ? Does he want to stay ? DG: All those questions are fair, Ken. And the answers are direct -- because it will depend on the offers the Cardinals get. Keep in mind that Arenado has not formally requested a trade, per multiple sources. Wrote a whole reported, tightly sourced story about that -- and it's bit of shared history with what happened 2007 -- this past week. Best for me to guide you to that story then to rewrite all of the answers in it here. Millo Miller: Derrick, were you surprised the Rays non-tendered D. Carlson? I feel sorry for the kid. He's young but just can't stay healthy and get on track. DG: I was. Longtime chatters will know what I've written about Dylan Carlson's talent, ceiling, or however you want to phrase it. A switch-hitter with a good feel for the strike zone -- and capable of playing all three spots in the outfield. Sure seems like he needs a team that unlocks his offense and gives him the playing time to make it happen. He'll have suitors eager to do that. Sam: Hi Derrick, happy thanksgiving! Do you have a sense of what kind of return the team is targeting with a potential trade of Helsley? High upside low level prospects? Near MLB players? Players currently on the other teams 26 man? similar question for Nado: how much money will the team kick in for a trade to get back a quality return instead of pure salary relief? Thanks! DG: Great question, and the answer is that it will depend on the team on the other side of the conversation. The Cardinals can toggle between those two asks because a guiding goal for them in any of these conversations is stocking the prospect depth chart. That's what they want to do. And they want to do that at a variety of levels, if possible -- both prospects at the lower levels with higher ceilings and prospects on the brink of the majors with higher floors and clear routes to contribute. "Collecting depth" or "collecting talent" are the phrases used by the Cardinals' front office. In these deals, it's likely they try to accumulate several players who fit each of the descriptions: predictably close to the majors, high upside but young and farther away, and pitching. As for Arenado. There is $74 million remaining on his contract, and some of that money will be covered by the Rockies (who owe payments for 2025 and 2026). The Cardinals are on the hook for all of his 2027 salary, which was a year they added during the conversations to make the trade. That year is $15 million, and if past precedent means anything interested teams are going to point out that the Cardinals added that so the should pay it. The Cardinals feel -- and they're not alone in this, based on conversations I've had with non-Cardinals folks -- that Arenado's deal has value that will be clear when some of the free agents sign. And it's a shorter commitment. Cardinals are not looking for pure salary relief. They're looking for the right fit for them and if it's an agreeable fit for Arenado, too. MS Bird Brain: One reason I've remained a long time Cardinal fan is that they value the team culture as a factor along with the business side. No it doesn't trump business, but it is a big factor that keeps me as a fan. Nolan Arenado has turned down millions of dollars because he wanted to stay in St. Louis. As far as we know he has not asked to be traded. As a fan, if they trade him, they better improve the on the field team enough to show that the culture factor was included. If it's just about money, I will be deeply ashamed of them. DG: This obviously has been a topic of conversation for me with lots of people in the past few weeks, and I can write again what I've attempted to convey. From the article above: "(New 'clarity' on their finances) allows them to explore deals that gives the club a favorable return and the veteran player a favorable destination to win, if possible." Bob the Subscriber: Without revealing your ballot, what're your thoughts on the HoF ballot this year? DG: I just got it in the mail. Haven't had a chance to five into the usual research I do. There are some holdovers that I've voted for in past years, so I'll start with them, and see how much room I have, and then re-rank them all to see who fits in the 10 spots. Here is one sure thing: I will eagerly rush to put an X beside Ichiro Suzuki. Cannot wait be one of the voters who pave his way into Cooperstown. Mike: Good morning! We know that the cardinals want to go younger, do you see them trying to ADD any younger major league talent on the pitching side this offseason or at the trade deadline? DG: Oh, absolutely. That is always a good goal for any team -- but, yes, it's an area where the Cardinals can, will focus, need to focus. However you want to phrase it. Building pitching depth is an area of focus for them -- and that's not just acquiring players (it's a big part of it), but it's also about building the support staff, facilities, and so on to improve development, too. Bob the Subscriber: Gotcha, thnaks. So should we expect an Arenado trade (if it happens at all) to occur later in the off-season? DG: At last check, the Cardinals expect the pace of the market to pick up at the winter meetings -- or going into the winter meetings. That is, of course, echoed by the reporters about the Soto courtship. Given that Bregman is available to teams interested in adding a 3B, and given that a few of the teams with an eye on Bregman first have to figure out where Soto signs ... you can see how all of these conversations are linked and where the Cardinals may have to wait for movement elsewhere to get the best offer they can take to Arenado. November Rain: Would the Cardinals consider trading Gorman or Walker if blown away by an offer? DG: Yes. Cards Fan 1941: Derek, I look forward to your column and podcasts. You recently mentioned a hitters machine that can be programmed for a particular pitcher, At $800k, that is a big investment. Do the Cardinals seem interested? DG: They have two of them. They have one at Busch Stadium that the big-leaguers use, and they have one in Jupiter, at the complex down there. Initially in the podcast, when I was asked if the Cardinals had a Trajekt machine, I said no. I was wrong. I did ask about it during the season, and may have misunderstood the answer or asked the wrong person. That's on me to figure out, and I'm being candid with you here. I subsequently learned that they had two. And I've updated and corrected the podcast to reflect that. Chris: Which team could be the 2025 version of the Royals leveraging what I expect will be a heavy buyers market in the free agent pool given all the revenue issues? DG: Detroit Tigers. Bob the Subscriber: I understand that Sasaki is unlikely to sign here. But is the team going to make a pitch to him? DG: They usually do, yeah. Just to make sure they don't wonder. They want to be told no. That's pretty standard for the Cardinals and other teams. If you don't try, you don't know for sure. You want to hear the no. CJ: There seem to be a lot more online "news" outlets nowadays that pump out clickbait headlines that read "cards pursuing x or y superstar" with no sources cited. As a legitimate reporter yourself, how does that impact the work that you do and is there anything you or the PD can do to stop it or raise awareness to fans? DG: What we've seen elsewhere is aggregation devours the reporters providing the info for aggregation. The Post-Dispatch invests heavily in coverage of the Cardinals and Blues and Mizzou, and does so with dedicated reporters and clear standards of practice. And that needs the support of subscribers. It's an issue if that reporter or reporting is skimmed or misrepresented -- and I hope that readers, like you, recognize it and seek out the media outlets that invest the coverage and offer you clear and concise attribution and accountability. I get that rumors and speculation are entertaining, but more and more and more we're seeing speculation become what fans remember, not the hard, tangible reported facts. There is a lot of coverage out there coming from sites that are taking from reporters on site, from outlets that pay to have professionals in place to cover the team, and the Post-Dispatch is not alone in that when it comes to the Cardinals. What happens if readers don't value the difference ... We can all see where that leads, because we've already seen media outlets close or change, from august publications like Sports Illustrated to newspapers throughout the country. Raising awareness, as you say, is key. I'm trying to do that. Doesn't always play well on Xwitter, of course. But I'll keep trying. Thanks for the compliment. chico: Happy Thanksgiving,DG,you're the reason that I subscribe to the Post. Just one question:What does a special assistant to the President do? Then,what does the Assistant GM do then? I'm confused. DG: Thank you for subscribing. This is a great question, and a lot of it has to do with what you'd call an organizational flow chart. For a team that has a president of baseball operations -- president puts that person on the same level as president of business operations -- there is usually a vice president or senior vice president who is the GM. Most folks just know his/her title as GM, not the VP part. But the VP part puts them in the organizational chart, right? Assistant GMs would then be one tier below, and increasingly they oversee specific silos of baseball ops -- draft, minors, analytics, etc. Starting to see the tree? I'm sure there are examples in other industries. In newspapers, it's executive editor, section editors, deputy editors, and then on into the writers from senior writers to lead writers to columnists, etc. Now an assistant or special assistant to the GM is one who reports to the GM, and same for the assistant or special assistant to the President. That usually is someone who contributes to all facets of the organization without running one specific one. An example would be when Alan Benes was a special assistant and did scouting, or when Chaim Bloom had a similar title and spent the past year auditing the minor-league system. Special assistant is a broader title that can lead to broader responsibilities. Hope that helps. Ron: When will we hear more on coach hiring and farm director DG: It was supposed to be soon. Likely next week, unless it's before Wednesday. A check last week was that it's still near-term. They want to put together a sizeable amount of the staff and then announce. They were still doing some offers/interviews. Chris: I was surprised to read in your past chats or a report, I forget, that the Cardinals are still thinking of trying Liberatore as a starter. He was so effective in the bullpen and could grow into the next closer. Why not commit him to that path given his past struggles in the rotation? DG: Mostly because a left-handed starter is so valuable to teams and the Cardinals (and others) see Liberatore's upside as a starter, even if his immediate role for the Cardinals is relief. They don't want to limit his potential. They've seen how that goes, too. Recently. ud: Brendan Rodgers non tendered in Colorado. He looks like s pretty useful second baseman. Why would they let him go? I don't see us going after him but he'd be an upgrade at that position. DG: Cost. He was about to get a third crack at arbitration and see a raise. The Rockies made the determination that his production for them was not likely to be worth the cost to them. And they did try to trade him and shopped him around before making the move. Teams were reluctant to part with much because they could read the Rockies' intentions and why not just wait for him to become a free agent and not tied to the arbitration process. His salary set by the market, not the argument. Also: Pretty telling that Rockies go from that choice to signing Kyle Farmer. Davel: Hi Derrick and thanks to you along with the rest of the P-D baseball writers for great reporting. What are you hearing about the chances of Ken Boyer finally getting elected to the HOF? DG: That discussion, that vote is going to happen pretty soon -- right on the eve of the winter meetings. I do not yet know if Boyer will have a strong advocate in the room. That is usually what it takes. He has a strong case, of course, and just needs a strong advocate to make it in the room. Looking at the list of other candidates, sure does appear it's going to be a difficult bid to get 75% of the voters. The other names on the Classic Era ballot: Dave Parker, Tommy John, Dick Allen, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, and Luis Tiant. Parker has a strong case, and so does former Cardinal Dick Allen and there's a lot of growing support for Tommy John. It's going to be in the room where it happens. Matt S: Are the Cardinals looking to clear a path for Mcgreevy by trading one of Mikolas or Matz? DG: They are exploring those talks, yes, and not just for the purpose of clearing a way for McGreevy. They see there already is a path for him to start. There are teams at least intrigued by Matz. We'll see if that manifests into offers. Mike: I have been a little suprised over the past several years not to see the Cardinals more active in the Japanese player market, or exciting international players in general, is that something you see changing with Bloom? DG: They have certainly tried. They positioned themselves to make several offers over the past few years, and just have been outbid. They hired a full-time scout in Japan who had strong relationships with the reps there and familiarity with the teams. Matt Slater has spent years developing and advocating for relationships and scouting there in Japan. They've signed a handful of players from there, some of them are U.S. players who went abroad only to return and sign with the Cardinals. There is also Won-Bin Cho from Korea, and he's one of the Cardinals top prospects and their first amateur signed of Asia. Chen-Wei Lin is also a top prospect for the Cardinals and could zoom up the rankings in 2025. He was signed out of Taipei for $500,000, and at 6-7 he sports a 97 mph fastball. So, on the horizon, there are players coming from that activity. JolietDave: I bought opening day tickets last Wednesday as a “so called” VIP. I am closer to the field and at lower cost than the past few years.,Seems the lower attendance last year has made the message of unhappy fans clear? DG: Ownership has said as much, yep. And actions suggest that too Jim from DeBary FL: Didn't Matt Slater leave the organization? Will that have a negative impact on their Asian relationships? Who will be taking his place. DG: He did leave the organization, yes. He was an advocate for the talent in Asia. How this sorts out will be clear as Bloom puts his group together. Assistant general manager Moises Rodriguez continues to be heavily involved in overseeing the international amateur scouting. Travis W: I am thankful that there will be a direct-to-customer option to watch the Cardinals in St. Louis next year. Despite the product on the field possibly being worse next year, I'll easily watch 3x as many games now DG: Every scenario with the broadcast situation will ultimately be better for fans. It may not be immediate and it will come at a cost, but it access will be better. That's where this is headed. Ron the usher: Happy Thanksgiving to all at the O-D. On those days when rain bad weather is threatening, what is the decision-making process on whether or not to play, and who makes these decisions? DG: Major League Baseball and the clubs make that decision with MLB more involved than ever over the past few years on whether a game is ppd or played. And coming out of 2020, MLB and the clubs have sought to be more proactive with those calls, sometimes making them a day in advance or in the morning before a night game. Once a ballpark is open, however, MLB and the clubs will try to have that game played, and if it's the final meeting between the teams it could be a long night of trying to make that happen. Twister18: Miles Mikolas in a high leverage relief role next year, crazy or crazy smart? He can get his fastball into the upper 90's and has good secondary pitches. DG: Would have to strike out more batters for that to make sense, given the modern makeup of bullpens and leverage spots. Missing bats is what teams want. Missing bats is repeatedly what the Cardinals say they seek for those roles. RedbirdFarmhands: hey derrick do they have an order of who they may want to trade first. Is Arenado first priority then Helsley or is there not a a certian order they priotirite DG: They do not. They can a) multitask and b) aim for the best offer when they think they can get it because they've shed salary to a point where it doesn't have to be a trade driven by dropping costs. Ryan: What I struggle with to connect the dots is how/why the Cards FO thinks that they’ll be able to compete in the NL next year and why a player like Arenado or Gray thinks they can. I mean, they just don’t have the starting pitching. Gray sure. Pallante as a #4 you bet. But posturing Fedde, Mikolas and Matz as #’s 2, 3 & 5 you just can’t win 90+ with that. Maybe McGreevy pulls a Wacha or Buehler rookie year. But that’s asking a lot. Unfortunately they don’t have the staff. And what else is close as SP’s are 4’s&5’s that will be on inning limits. Guess we should buckle up for 5 1/3 of 5.25 ERA ball from Lizard King. DG: They do play in the NL Central, still. Jim: Do you have any sense of what level the Cards would like to start Wetherholt at the beginning of the season? Do you think he gets an invite (even if its a cup of coffee to get aclimated) to spring training? DG: It does seem likely that he'll get an invite to spring training -- or at least make an appearance at some point during spring training with the big-league club. So, if not invited for the start of it, you'll see him in Grapefruit League games (maybe even a start?) at some point during spring. As far as what level he'll start at? With a new farm director coming in and new leadership for the development, I don't have past practice to base an answer on, and I'm eager to get a chance to talk with them about their philosophy. The Cardinals liked to advance a player during the season, so might start him at High-A and then plan on midseason to Double-A. The new group might have a new approach and see where his spring takes him or seek to challenge him with an aggressive promotion. The internal view is that he's an advanced hitter -- one that fits the description of reaching Class AA at some point in 2025 and could be one of the reps for the Cardinals in the Arizona Fall League a year from now. Taguchi99: Hi Derrick, it feels like the Cardinals are pleasantly surprised that they've already cut payroll to the point where they no longer NEED to trade to cut salary. But all the decisions to this point have been entirely in their control (FA, options, etc.) Does this attitude have more to do with the outcome of the TV deal? Seems like the cuts may not be as deep as we've braced for? DG: It is entirely the TV deal and getting certainty there. When the offseason started they were looking at all sorts of possibilities -- Diamond Sports Group liquidizing and deals vanishing along with that revenue; a steep cut in broadcast rights as they jumped to MLB Media, as the Reds are faced with; or some cut from their expected deal that would at least be more revenue than either of the previous two scenarios. They got that done at a cut of 23%. At one point they were workshopping what would happen with a 40% cut or worse. So, it is entirely getting that deal done and knowing what it looks like for 2025. Aaron Knopf: Thanks for the book recommendation of “How High We Go in the Dark” in your recent podcast with Dayn Perry. I wasn’t familiar with the title or the author, but it’s a great read so far. Maybe you could add a regular “what I’m reading” segment to the BPIB. DG: I would like to start a Best Book Club in Baseball. Is there any St. Louis store interested? Drop me a line. Bryan C: Is there any exciting news from the Cardinals you can share to make us less boarded so far this off season? I hope you and your family has a Happy Thanksgiving. DG: The sleeve logo from City Connect jerseys that features the arch and fleur-de-lis with the STL initials is under consideration for a more prominent spot in the Cardinals' look for 2025. It could be on one of the team's official hats, which would mean it pops up in spring or batting practice. That's probably exciting for the uniform devotees. Mike: I don't know if you can write in candidates for the HOF ballot, but if you only end up with 9 (or less) selections on your ballot, I'd hope you'd write in Dale Murphy. A travesty (like Boyer) that he isn't in the Hall yet. And a further travesty that he wasn't on the Classic Era Ballot this year...but, alas, we have Steve Garvey on there. He of 38 career WAR. DG: Write-in candidates are not permitted. There is no line for it, and there is no way to do that. The ballot is likely to be thrown out. If write-in candidates were allowed, you can bet there would have been many writers from decades ago who wrote in Pete Rose. That didn't happen. Murphy is a strong candidate for look from one of the eras committees, and here's hoping he gets it. He's never appeared on a ballot that I received. MS Bird Brain: I've seen some '24 WAR estimates for free agent SPs now on the market. With the intangibles he brought, in almost any revenue scenerio it was simply a bad business decision to let go of Gibson. They won't be able to replace those wins and innings for the value they already had. DG: I did try to point that out as the decision approached. It would be a telling move. It was. MS Bird Brain: Charley Hustle a lock this year? DG: He is not up for consideration because he's on the permanently ineligible list. Cardinals make the signing of Jose Barrero official . It's a minor-league deal with invite to spring. larry harnly: Larry harnly is there a chance mo will try to sign kittredge. he could be the closer if helsley is traded. i am thankful for these chats and your podcasts. DG: As of right now, the Cardinals do not plan to make a bid for Kittredge's return, and he expects to sign elsewhere. Mike: This is more of an opinion question, but if you could pick a player to exceed expectations next year, who would it be? DG: Given the expectations for the Cardinals that I see in these comments and questions and my email inbox, it sure seems like I could pick anyone and likely be right. Expectations are pretty low it seems. So, finding the resonant answer here is tricky. I'll try. Paul Goldschmidt. Mike: If you'll indulge me, let's talk a bit about Pete Rose. Like you, I'm a "put them in with transgressions on the plaque" type of guy. I hear on the interwebs and with friends the argument that, "Pete knew he couldn't get into the Hall when he accepted his punishment". However, this is factually untrue. He accepted his ban from baseball in 1989. However, the Hall didn't change the rules until 1991 -- in direct response to Pete Rose then being eligible for the ballot for the first time. Would he have made a different decision -- or specifically sought to remain eligible in his settlement with MLB -- if the rules had been in place in 1989? DG: That is a fair question -- but not to ask me. I don't know, nor do I have much background talking with Rose to crawl inside his thoughts and give you any kind of answer at all. Your best bet? Probably to see if someone actually asked him that question. There have been many great articles about him and his view of things, especially from writers there in Cincinnati for the Cincinnati Enquirer and The Athletic. I have not yet seen the documentary. It's on my list to watch this offseason so I can see how well C. Trent Rosecrans does in it. So if Rose touches on this topic in it -- I'll find out then. I won't even try to guess his thoughts. Craig: I love that. Now I wish they would add more players names on these City Connect jerseys. Masyn Winn for example. My 10 year old son really wants one. They are missing a real marketing opportunity, and revenue! DG: Yes, Cardinals need more Winn merch in general at the ballpark from what I hear. mikemk: Do you see boras throwing a wrench into the post season by holding out on his FAs untill spring training again? DG: Some of his clients may not sign until spring training. That's always likely -- not just with him, but with this market. As far as the headliners? The general sense from many in the game is that the winter meetings are going to be a bonanza of Boras. Brace yourself. Darron: It seems like Alec Burleson is one of the best young hitters on the roster, but most of the talk is centered around him being a platoon bat vs. right handers. Do the Cardinals feel that he has reached his ceiling? It seems like "letting the kids play" could include an opportunity for Burley to figure it out vs. lefties. (Although I'll admit his .514 OPS last year vs. lefties is pretty rough) DG: The Cardinals do not feel that he's reached his ceiling. You've done a classic job of answering your own question. I'll only note that the platoon talk with Burleson was about 1B/DH and was not like a strict platoon, just a description of how he and Contreras could appear at the same positions and be in the same lineup. SE Steve: Derrick, greetings from SE Colorado. You think Rockies want Noland back? I bet Dick would pay another $50 million and toss in Doyle and couple 1st rounders (hehehe). DG: Some teams rebuild. The Cardinals reset. The Rockies just seem stuck on repeat. Ken: Derrick if they move Miles and Matz . Who will take their place ? That leave two starters DG: McGreevy will take one spot. Maybe Liberatore takes another. Or the Cardinals continue to say they might circle back to Kyle Gibson about returning. That is a possibility, too. Matt S: Once the Cardinals decide who they plan on trading or keeping, is there any chance they sign players on one year deals looking for a prove it deal? Then, they could trade that player at the deadline. DG: Yes, there is. They are doing some of that with the minor moves, and they'll look at some of those moves for big-leaguers, too. Don't expect to be wowed by the moves. But they'll look for such additions, yes. pugger: I'm curious what 'your' thoughts are in terms of keep/trade Helsley... Isn't it logical to take a 30 y/o reliever, coming off a great year, but also has had multiple injuries, on a team that is in a stated 'retool' to trade that player and try to obtain a solid building block for the long haul?? I don't see the logic in keeping a player like that.. It would be different if he were a rotation centerpiece, or a solid everyday hitter.. Closers change literally during the year. Like Luke Weaver of the Yankees... Cardinals need long term assetts, as they are building for the long term... DG: I don't know why you put 'your' in quotes. Have we entered an era of the chat where I need to say at the start that AI is not writing these answers? If it sounds like AI is writing these answers, then blame the writer, not question his 'humanity.' Closing is a volatile business, and you outline the situation well. Trading a closer at the highest value makes sense for a team that is pivoting into a 'reset,' and that's what they're calling it so it's why you see it in quotes. Any way, trying to maximize the return is a good strategy, and that is where the Cardinals would be Helsley. It's a similar spot that the Yankees were in with Chapman or Miller, and in 2016 at the deadline they flipped both of those elite relievers into talent at the trade deadline. Which is part of the calculus here. The Cardinals have to determine if they might get more for him at the deadline, and if the risk of keeping him and risk of injury is worth the potential payoff. There is also another factor here, and it's one that you should keep in mind. Helsley is arbitration eligible. That means that he and the Cardinals have until early January to agree on a salary or they will swap figures. The Cardinals are file-and-trial. If they swap figures, they'll go to the arbiter. As you know arbitrations hearings can get feisty. Some players come out of them frustrated, irritated, etc. Tyler O'Neill said he could not sleep heading toward his. Helsley said he was irked by some of the things the Cardinals rep said about his performance in the hearing. Stay with me here. There's a payoff. If you're a team interested in Helsley, then you trade for him now with the intent to sign him before that hearing -- because why would you want his first experience with a new team to be a confrontation in arbitration. Or, just let the Cardinals do that. Have the hearing. Set his salary. Then make the trade and be the new team that brought him to a better spot. You want to know if/when/how they might trade Helsley, consider the arbitration schedule. I know it's not sexy and thrilling and its not generating fun, crazy, wild rumors of his trade now. But, hey, it's pragmatic. Wouldn't you wait if you were an interested team? marpdagn: Hey Derrick. Any chance we see a hit and run once in a while next year? Maybe a stolen base or two? I long for the days of Whiteyball. DG: Yes, you will see both of those things. Probably several times. Likely even in the same game. Brad: There's a hot new St Louis band called The Band Feel. Opened for ZZ Top recently. Check'em out, Derrick. DG: Thanks for the heads up. Also need a new theme song for the podcast. Got to find a band interested in doing that ... SE Steve: Derrick, do you get the sense we are riding out this year until Bloom takes over POBO. Cards have the TV deal, so why not be active in free agency. It just feels weird this offseason. DG: Who else is active in free agency other than the Angels? The Cardinals have explained why they're not going after the headliners. You are welcome to disagree. The TV was a major part, but not the only part of that decision. SE Steve: Derrick, what is going to happen with Tampa Bay? Seems like the area can not settle on a new stadium. Seems like that team is begging to move now. DG: I don't know. I suggest you check out of the coverage from Marc Topkin at the Tampa Bay Times. He's got all the details and is a superb baseball writer. Thomas: The diamondbacks are looking to shed Monty, and they need relievers. Odds we send Matz and Helsley and get Monty and a prospect in return? Could a bigger package that nets Jake McCarthy be had? DG: I don't see that scenario as likely at all. The Cardinals don't seem to be aching for a reunion with Montgomery. There are reports from Arizona outlets about the Diamondbacks are considering trading McCarthy. Cardinals seem more likely to streamline their outfield choices at this point, not add another one to the mix, as appealing as McCarthy might be. marpdagn: With the coming reset, do you see the Cards being active in the Rule 5 draft? DG: No more so than usual. They've often looked into the Rule 5 draft to take a specific type of player or a pitcher with a specific upside pitch. They'll do the same this year. Carbondale Mike: Lets say Cardinals trade Helsley and Arenado for near ready or ready prospects and dont trade for any known bat or starter making the rotation gray, fedde, pallante, and the 4th/5th a choice of mcgreevy, mathews, hence, liberatore... Do you think this team is a better rotation and lineup than past season if you were a betting man? DG: I am not a betting man. The lineup could be better. The rotation would have more questions -- and that could turn out well, but we've seen it more likely to leave the Cardinals gasping for innings when they need them to contend. SE Steve: maybe even a bunt DG: Don't get greedy. marpdagn: Agree with Pugger. Makes no sense to keep Helsley with their stated intent to reset. DG: Noted. marpdagn: Seems like the Cards are in a tough spot with Walker. If they keep him and let him play this year and he doesn't hit, his value craters more than it already has. Would they trade him now in a package for one of Seattle's young starters? DG: They aren't eager to trade Jordan Walker. They would listen if that's the conversation that the Mariners want to have. No indication Seattle is seeking that talk. alabama cards fan: Derrick, too bad you dont make commissions or bonus based on how many subscribers you are responsible for.....I bet more than anyone ! Does the rebuild make you more likely to look at other situations, or are you still happy in the Lou? DG: Ha. Thanks for the kind words. I like the framing of the question, too. The nest empty now, kid off to college. But I'm hoping to stay and see this thing through as long as The Lou will have me. Mark1082: Hey Derrick, thanks for the chat! Who do the Cardinals view as their catcher of the future? Herrera, Crooks, Bernal or even Pages? Or too soon to tell? I think that's a big question to answer don't you? DG: The answer is ... yes. They see one or two from that list as their catchers of the future, and they're thrilled to be in a position here they can let performance dictate that -- or what offers they get for those talents shape that choice. They have high expectations for Crooks, and they are really intrigued by what he could bring in the coming two years to the majors. He's also complement for either of the catchers already there. And I'm glad you brought up Bernal. Some see him as the best of the group you've listed. It is a big question for the Cardinals. They don't want to miss on the answer in the way they have with outfielders, and they don't want to miss on the chance to utilize this depth to make other deals. Honestly, this could be one of the first defining decisions for the Bloom front office. Brad: Hey Derrick, Happy Thanksgiving and always enjoy your chats. I'm all in on 'letting the kids play' and finally seeing what we have. My concern is that this regime won't go 'all in'. I'd love to see them go with VS2 in CF, commit a rotation spot to both Pallante and McGreevy and give the overwhelming majority of the C starts to Herrera. Do you think they'll go all in and really let the kids play? DG: The Cardinals' habit is to come just shy of all-in. You could argue Contreras at first base is an example of that. I have argued that past decisions with signing starting pitchers has been that. It does seem like they're going to at least hit 2 of the 3 things you'd like to see. Victor Scott II is going to get a chance to make that decision for the Cardinals with his play in spring training. CF is going to be a competitive spot for the Cardinals this spring, and it does not appear like it's going to be a duel just between Scott and Michael Siani. We'll see. Bob the Subscriber: What kind of off-season work are Walker and Gorman doing to get their bats back on track? thanks! DG: New hitting coach Brant Brown has been in contact with the hitters. Walker has been in Jupiter working there at the facility, and getting input from the Cardinals coaches. Gorman is in Arizona, where he's working at a facility there, and he has done so with a plan put together by the Cardinals and now added to by Brown. Jojo Disco: I know DeWitt III highlighted fan engagement as a focus for next year. I have an idea; they should create a new character as a Fredbird counterpart named Larry the Lame Duck, as a nod to the theme of this coming season and the many people/players in the organization in that situation . He could walk around the stadium with a bag full of old giveaways they had in storage and hand them out to fans. DG: This season is going to be a gas. Cards fan in Bama: Hi DG, happy thanksgiving week to you and the folks at the Post Dispatch ! i know we are all hungry for trade news regarding the home team, but wouldn't it be just as prudent to hang on to some of these guys in the rumor mills until the trade deadline next year ? i mean if they are playing .500 ball in July or a little above, that looks a whole lot different than 10 games under and out of the race. Maybe the FO has a little more clarity by then of the roster going forward and what they really need to target besides just more depth or redundancy ? DG: There is a definitely something to taking this approach, and I like how you positioned it about using the season like they describe -- to create playing time and see what develops. And then see where the needs are. That makes some sense. It does come with some risk -- because you have the chance for injury, the chance for the market to shift, any of that stuff come the trade deadline. You do hint at something that the Cardinals and others looking at the Cardinals are wondering: What if these moves -- similar to the moves the Brewers made a year ago -- reveal a better team? There is at least some conversation on how they could position themselves to add at the deadline. To do that they would have to also know what they had -- and they would through the production. Which is the best answer they could get. Capstone: Cards have in past oscillated between needing a left-handed bat to a right-handed bat. They simply need an OF bat that can consistently slug and hit 25+ HR/year over a sustained period AND play defense. Noot has tools but health and performance meant he has not done it; Burleson tailed off as league caught up. Cards CF'ers have been defense-first for a decade. Chase Davis is at least two years away, even if he progresses. Even if Nado stays, doesn't look like they have enough power; they don't have elite base-stealers; pitching is iffy. Not clear Cards have an identity. As a 60+ years fan, sure hope they engineer a better team. DG: Of all the things the Cardinals could acquire, somewhere on that list is identity. That 2022 certainly captured the imagination of fans with Albert Pujols' pursuit of 700. But did the team? I think it's been a real fascinating part of the past few years -- that the Cardinals haven't really seized the city with charisma. I don't know why that is. It cannot only be losing. It could be the staleness that we've discussed. But at the same time the Cardinals did add Nolan Arenado in that time, did have two MVP candidates at the same time, and neither were Albert Pujols, and so on. So, why haven't the Cardinals inspired that buzz? Identity would be a good addition. Not as impactful as a 30-homer outfielder from somewhere -- internally or externally -- but definitely important. Heck, maybe can get both of those things with the same person. Craig: Derrick, what do the Cardinals see as Gorman's primary reason for struggling last season? Is it mechanical, pitch selection, mental or some combination? I've always thought he has trouble keeping his head down/eye on the ball with the way his front foot is not aligned with his back foot and seems to pull his body (and head) towards right field. I'm no hitting guru obviously, but it seems really hard to hit that way. DG: Swing path, mostly. That would be fall into mechanics, but also touch on the other categories you mention. He had returned to a swing that the upward slant that just made it difficult for him to reach pitches at the top of the zone, and teams just seized on it. I spoke with a few scouts through the year about what they saw and how Gorman just made it difficult on himself with a swing path that left him vulnerable. The Cardinals coaches and Gorman worked on it, and that was part of the move back to the minors. The adjustment just didn't happen in the majors, and opponents seized. bo: Derrick- i dont understand the signing of barrero . He is a career under .200 hitter whose fielding metrics have not been good . He is 26 if the cards are truly all in on their prospects why sign this guy to take one of their places at triple a. DG: They need a backup shortstop -- either to take over at Memphis when Saggese makes the big-league team, or to be there as a reliable fielder to spell Masyn Winn. Also, they don't really want to only play two shortstops all of spring trainng. JoJo Disco: Sorry - I've sent this in a couple times but I just need to know. I’m still not understanding the math with the Cardinals approach to 2025. You reported that the amended TV deal lops off $17.3m a year in revenue for the Cardinals and Gray is due a $15m raise in 2025. Add another couple million dollars for additional instructors and let’s call the total $35m. They have carved almost $70m off last year’s payroll, more than enough to absorb the TV shortfall and Gray’s increase, and still leave them $30m+ ahead. And that doesn’t even contemplate an Arenado or Helsley trade. Where is that money going and why isn’t it being redeployed into the major league club? DG: Let's do this. 1) You're already operating with more information than the Cardinals had when they held the press conference to disclose their offseason plans. 2) With that more information -- really the TV deal, but also the drop in salaries -- the Cardinals have also talked about adjusting some of their approach, and not looking at trades as a way to shed salary, rather as a chance to seek the deals that are best for them and maybe appealing to the players. To use your phrase: The math has changed. 3) I'm not really sure where there's a question or any misunderstanding other than you wanted them to comment in early November as if they had the information of late November. This is pretty common. Hindsight fuels a lot of questions when fans have more info than the team did when it made the call. That's the gig. When you have to make the decision, you don't always know how it's going to turn out. When you judge the decision, a lot of times it's already happened. 3) Where is the money going? Well, some of it is going to expanded staff, expanded facilities, and upgraded tech -- all of the advertised investments in minors that were discussed. Some of it will go to free agents yet to sign. Some of it, ownership said, will be targeted for additions later to outfit a team built on youth. Some of it will go to raises due players. You mentioned Gray. That's the significant one, but not the only raise. Some of it won't be spent. The Cardinals have said they'll have a smaller payroll than 2024. They've advertised that, and they have not backed off that. How much less they have adjusted because they know more today than they did three weeks ago. 4) You've left out the biggest unknown they're facing. Ticket sales. They have long tied payroll to ticket revenue, and they acknowledge that ticket sales will be slow -- for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the past two seasons and the standings. Cool? Ed AuBuchon: The key to the Cardinal reset is Gorman and Walker. Without them meeting their potential free agent signings will be expensive. DG: Can definitely make that case. Jrmomo1000: Happy Thanksgiving DG: Thank you. And same to you. Jrmomo1000: Do you think they are done trading now that the payroll is better. DG: I still expect them to pursue trades and likely make at least one. Mr Boondy: Watching both the Blues and City SC be aggressive with coaching changes and adding players to become better, just makes the Cardinals negligence worse. Very bad look DG: Does it? Could somebody elaborate on this? I'm quite curious, and I don't really have a view or opinion on this other than wanting to know more why? Because it sure seems like the NHL is too fickle and I'm still learning the MLS landscape for coaches. MLB tends to be less volatile, less fickle, and now it seems like you want it to be more so? That would be different for the whole game, no? Jrmomo1000: Would you use the young pitchers in the bullpen DG: Sure. I think that has been and can be a valuable part of development, for sure. Jim from DeBary FL: I read your possible timeline of a trade of Helsey. But if the situation is awaiting the resolution of the arbitration hearing, doesn't that mean a trade during spring training. Isn't thar when the arbitration hearings are conducted? DG: Thank you for pointing that out. Starting to see why some folks in the know think they'll keep him unless it's a deal that a team just has to get done? mystic: Are the Cardinals cognizant of how they are compared to other teams like the Blues? The Blues are also in a rebuild but aren't throwing in the towel and are actually trying to make their team better NOW. Do the Cards realize how bad they look in comparison? DG: The Cardinals are cognizant of the Blues, yes. They have a good relationship from a business standpoint, a link with their broadcast partner and future broadcast plans, and they also exist together in this same bubble when it comes to perception. I don't know if the Cardinals share your opinion for the Blues or the comparison of the two teams. I cannot speak for them. I do not agree with it. The Blues are not off to a good start this year. Full stop. They have not been in the playoffs since the same year the Cardinals were last in the playoffs, and they have only once been out of the first round of the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. Similarly, the Cardinals have not won a playoff round since that fall, in 2019. So, again where are the differences? I guess one difference is that more NHL teams make the playoffs than MLB teams, and still the Blues have not been there the past two years. That's splitting percentages. The Cardinals have not once said they're "throwing in the towel." If that's your view of their actions, then cool -- you could totally make that point and defend that opinion. Just as someone could make the point and defend the opinion that the Blues aren't doing enough to make their team better. Or they're too late to do so. Either way, let's just be blunt about a few things from your comparison. The Blues are doing things now because their season is going on now. They have games to win, time to change their trajectory. The Cardinals do not have games to play, any standings to change. So, there is still a lot of time for the Cardinals to give some sense of their direction, some sense of where they're throwing the towel, to use your phrase. They don't play tomorrow. The Blues play tonight. I think there is something about the Blues messaging. I think there is something about the grace purchased by the 2019 Stanley Cup -- the first and only in Blues' history. If it was their 11th, I would imagine there wouldn't be as much patience. And that is ultimately where I see the difference in the two teams. Blues have solid messaging that fans respond to, and the Cardinals haven't had that same resonance. Maybe that's because expectations are higher for the Cardinals. As they should be. Jrmomo1000: I wonder if they could trade miles and matz for Montgomery DG: That's not likely to happen. Brad: curious what you're thinking here.... is this Noot, with Donovan in left, or are you thinking they'll bring someone in from the outside? DG: The Cardinals current view of their outfield is Nootbaar in left, Siani in center, and Walker in right. Ed AuBuchon: The Cardinals always project their outfield. Never seems to workout ! DG: It's been an issue, yes, in recent years. Brad: "The Cardinals current view of their outfield is Nootbaar... " yes, understood. I was just asking about your response saying it's not just a competition between Sianni and VS2 in CF. Was curious what you meant by that. DG: Gotcha! OK. That didn't come through in the question. That's the tech, not you. Thanks for coming back with more details. Yes, Nootbaar would be in the CF conversation. We'll see how much. That's something that will be discussed more in the coming month, and we'll get a sense by watching the playing time in spring. 50Umpire: Some of the trade proposals I have read were so far out that the guy writing about must before the Team trading with... 2 or 3 of our Best young guys for 1 guy regardless who it is in most case to me would be out of the question. No idea where MO's mind might be & hope Bloom is got a say in it as it will impact him REAL soon...:):) DG: Bloom has a say in any of the deals that would impact the team he's inheriting. Mozeliak said that, almost using those words, during I conversation I had with him following the presser. That had not changed by the time they got to the GM meetings and were having several conversations in tandem, discussions in duo. However you want to phrase that. Mozeliak is going to be the public face of the organization and do a lot of the media access for the coming year. But don't read that as Bloom not being involved in the answers. Brad: MLB laid out their Top 25 Prospects today: JJ Wetherholt is #13 a tick behind Bazzana. DG: MLB-dot-com, yes. Draft spot matters. They'll be jockeying for a higher ranking this time next year. JoJo Disco: Thank you for the detailed answer. However, ticket sales are a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Cardinals operated like they were a utility for years, the last two seasons have informed them that they are in fact a luxury item when they under-deliver because of minimal effort to acquire top-shelf talent. DG: Ticket sales are not a self-fulfilling prophecy in the sense that good teams generate good ticket sales. It was a pretty good playoff bound team for the Cardinals that did not sell out a playoff game, you'll remember. April has an outsized effect on ticket sales, as many teams, including the Cardinals, will tell you, and then explain. Performance in April -- off to a strong start -- tends to goose ticket sales down the road, and a good April can even help a team sell tickets despite a disappointing June. But a hot July? Well, that may not generate much when it comes to ticket sales, and a late run like say winning 18 games as school starts and budgets have been made an entertainment dollars spent doesn't generate the ticket boost like a compelling April will. Keep that in mind as April arrives. The utility analogy is compelling, and I appreciate the layers to it. Baseball is in the entertainment industry, and throughout the economy we have seen shifting entertainment tastes and spending. No different here. People with fewer entertainment dollars to spend are being more selective with how they spend them. And that is a real factor for the Cardinals. A real followup question -- and it's one I've asked and will ask again -- is whether the Cardinals could spend on the quality of team to invite spending from fans to see that team. Would an investment on the front end bring support from the fans? That's always part of the business proposition, and I wonder how the team sees its fans right now -- would they respond to spending, or are they skeptical? bo: Derrick - to answer your question on the blues approach they saw a top coach available and fired their current coach to get arguably one of the best coaches in hockey. The cards have stuck with a guy who the last 2 years has had a very poor record and their are certainly potential managers with better track records out there .Maybe the cards think he is a better manager than the other guys out there but i would disagree. As to adding players the Blues went out and got arguably 2 of the best young players available as RFAs . that would be akin to the cards going on the international market and signing the top guys [not just a bunch of lesser FA] which they have also never done . DG: I get what you're saying. I couple of thoughts: Again, the NHL has a culture of being fickle with coaches, and I felt some of the comments from the Blues about having a coach grow with young players vs. a coach already set to lead young players were interesting. That said, MLB doesn't really have that same fickleness with managers, outside of it seems White Sox and Miami, and if you want the Cardinals to be more like them, then cool, that would certainly be something to cover. Again, I hear where you're coming from on this -- but what's the example? Chasing Francona or chasing Schumaker this winter? That is still different than what the Blues did because it's not in-season, in-stride, so does that make the Cardinals less urgent? One thing is clear, the Cardinals have a different view of their manager than you or others. And that's going to happen. But their actions are most revealing when it comes to their opinion, and check out there actions as you've detailed. Must say everything about how they view the manager, whether you or I agree with them or not. bo: Derrick -if the cards spent to get a Soto i think yes there would be an uptick in ticket sales , spending on the Lynn's , Gibson's etc may have kept some season ticket holders last year but not new sales DG: Would there be enough tickets sold to cover the cost of Soto? Interesting homework for the evening. All of that supposes that Soto has any interest at all of coming to the Cardinals when he has these other teams in other markets vying for him. So how much would the Cardinals have to top the Yankees offer to woo him? Scott Boras' fondness for the Cardinals only goes so far ... Ed AuBuchon: I thought it was a bad look for the Blues to fire Drew Bannister. They were just waiting for the coach they really wanted to be available. DG: Thank you for pointing that out. I have enjoyed Matthew DeFranks' coverage of the change and learned a lot from it. JoJo Disco: Must see players is a pretty good start. And when I say must see I don't mean past relics rolled out to ping our nostalgia, I mean young and exciting talent. Winn is a terrific starting point but he doesn't have the cache of a masher like Soto yet. A dominant starter would also do wonders. Now at the risk of contradicting myself I think a guy named Max on a 1-year deal would get people down there every 5 days. DG: That is correct ... In one major-league season Masyn Winn, a shortstop with a gifted glove, has yet to equal the production or impact of Juan Soto, the most talented hitter of his generation. What are we doing here? Can we come up with comparisons that aren't rigged so you can always claim to be disappointed? The Cardinals traded for the best all-around player in the National League ahead of the 2021 season. And you didn't even bring that up as a ticket-mover. Why that move isn't brought up more is fascinating. Guess it doesn't fit the narratives that persist, even without roots, in some corners here. Clearly the chat and social media are not adequate representatives of what moves tickets. 50Umpire: HI Derrick, Good info But are the Cardinals in a hurry to do anything before Christmas.. Let things play out a bit & then make some "Educated Decisions" ..I would Hope... Thought trade Contras (sp) would have made more since than moving to 1st base & block Burly & Baker..& resigning Gibson or Lynn won't be a bad Idea...Thanks Happy Turkey Day!!1 DG: That's possible. Cardinals feel that there will be a pick up in the pace of their conversations by the winter meetings, and even some activity there or coming out of the meetings. That's their feel. Tyler: It's easy to hope this "reset" produces multiple starters for years to come - maybe even a star or two. I'm certainly hoping for that to be the case - but what happens if we experience the worst-case scenario? What's the plan for 2026 if the kids can't play? Surely we wouldn't double down and let the kids play again? DG: This is a great question and it's one that doesn't yet have an answer, but it's one worth watching and always including in the discussion. Well done, Tyler. And in a lot of ways it's the question. If the Cardinals do not get the production they expect from players they are counting on longterm, then what kind of team does Chaim Bloom inherit other than one he has to overhaul from the start. As I think more about this question it would really put the Cardinals in this spot: Not a build-upon or build-up or build-better, but a true and complete rebuild that they cannot run from or call a reset. They would have to confront it. DCG: DG, Knowing you get tons of questions and and many (most?) don't make the chat, I'm going to try again with one that I really want to get your response to because it's something I've begun to wonder about and you brought it up on a recent BPIB. Are the Cardinals truly all in on this reset? I don't mean selling off all big contract and tanking. But so far, it does feel like a half-measure, which is a word you used on the podcast. If the season began today (yes, I know it doesn't), the only real difference is Contreras at first. The starting staff seems immune to the reset even with letting Gibson and Lynn gone. It's still mostly older vets. So, do you believe the Cardinals would be fine starting next season with what they have as of today? If so, is the reset simply about money reallocation and giving Walker and Gorman more time to develop without threat of benching/demotion? DG: Money was clearly a major driver in their early decisions, and I would push back slightly on the idea that the rotation is largely the same. It's changed. And there's a spot in it for Pallante. The Cardinals aren't talking about him competing for a spot, like they would have with a similar young pitcher in past seasons. I think -- and I made this case in the podcast -- you could argue that the Cardinals remain in the middle, just shifting to the other side of it. Some of that has to do with the TV deal getting done at the amount it did, leaving them in a different spot than they had to brace for. The last thing you mention is no small thing. Gorman got a long look this past season. Walker did not get that same look, and while he was a starter for a long time in 2023, there's still a sense that the Cardinals aren't as patient with prospects as some other teams who are then rewarded with production. They do seem prepared to do that at catcher, in the outfield, and at second with someone. Oh, and often at DH, too. That is the shift. And it does seem like they're not willing to completely pull out of the idea of contending, even if they want to reduce the expectations or weight placed on the team to do so. Thomas: Do you think the Cardinals will have any interest in non-tendered players? Kyle Finnegan could be a good addition with an adjustment to his pitch mix. DG: Yes. That's a good name to keep in mind. Max: As a BPIB listener since day one (and baseball nerd that gets alerts when new episodes drop), I just wanted to shout out the past two episodes as being really stellar. The episode with Dayn Perry was especially enjoyable and I think it's important to hear from a fan every now and then. The one with Rob Bradford was excellent as well, especially the conversation about how the Cards never went past their puke point. Has your reporting ever found that there were advocates for signing Harper in the FO? His personality (not to mention skills) is something the team just hasn't had in a awhile and I remember thinking at the time that he would've been a perfect Cardinal for the edge he could've given the team. DG: Thank for listening. There were advocates, yes. And there were discussions. But if you recall how that offseason unfolded, the pursuit of Paul Goldschmidt quickly dominated their interests and they wanted to move fast to do so. When they pulled that off, it became about keeping him too. The Cardinals really thought that Goldschmidt was the best fit for them -- and the kind of player is rarely available to them and would not be in free agency. Once that deal took place, they kind positioned as getting their guy and not engaging in the pursuit of Harper. They did not see their chances of signing him as strong as say some on Harper's side did. Maybe that was leverage. Maybe that was just trying to pull another bidder into the mix, sure. But certainly some of the things Harper said then and later about his free agency would have suggested the Cardinals as a fit. Once Goldschmidt was done, did not hear much from the Cardinals about Harper, and that checked out with them not really participating in the bidding. pugger: Derrick.. Just wanted to say thanks for the chats and bringing us good information to take in, even debate it a little bit.. I was saddened to read in your last chat someone who not only took a jab at you, but the late great Rick Hummel. I respect that you put all opinions out there... But, I found the comment in such poor taste and just infuriating.. Disagreeing is fine, debate is fine.. But to stoop to such levels.. Shows you how openly disrespectful behavior, and frankly, infantile behavior, are becoming the norm.... I don't always agree with you, and that's part of the fun in having a spirited convo/debate... Here's hoping there's more of that, and less idiocy in the chats.. Thanks again Derrick!! DG: Thank you for the note. Enjoy the holiday. marpdagn: Sure seems like a good time to try to find an ace, or at least a number two starter. Would Nootbaar/Siani or Donovan/Siani be enough to persuade the Mariners to part with one of their young guns? DG: The Cardinals would really like that ace to emerge from within their system. Neither of those deals would draw the Mariners into moving one of their starters. Britt: Derrick, On thing I'm thankful for are these weekly chats to get more insight into our favorite club. Thank you! There's been mention on many of the trade questions over the past few chats about the 'Cardinals being overwhelmed by an offer' to trade someone. How likely is it that anyone is going to overwhelm them with an offer since it seems like, most???, all???, front offices want to win the trade nowadays. Doesn't that seem to contradict the way baseball is operating these days that overwhelming offers are few and far between? DG: A contender looking at the bullpen and seeing a hole in the ninth inning and a lot of loses leaking in the back end would be motivated to add a sure thing, and that would definitely lead to a strong offer. That's possible. Right now: It's that kind if position and Ryan Helsley had that kind of year. Duffy in CT: Thanks for all your chats. We appreciate all the time you devote to them.Just an opinion not a question. With the youth movement, Helsley is the Cards most reliable player. Wins will certainly be dear and a lock down closer will help the youth-their confidence and incentive to do their part. Plus there is no obvious repla event closer. DG: Here is the other side of the discussion that has been laced through this chat about when to keep, when to move, and what to get in return for an ace closer. mrr: Thank you for doing the chat(which, to my understanding, is a STL today innovation for sports writers), and the wonderful posting of the transcript below!!! I'm thankful for both of those!! Now for the questions--if the cardinals do hire additional instruction field staff (which will be focused on the minor leagues), how do those young players recently promoted (Herrera and Walker, for example) get "caught up" to an acceptable level? Would you see those additional resources at the major league level this year? Finally, have there been any names announced for these instructional positions? Thank you, as always, and have a wonderful holiday DG: This is an interesting question. I will give it a go here, because I think I can answer this. A lot of what the Cardinals want to do in the minors already is available in the majors, or at least something similar. The expanded staff? The Cardinals have done that over the past few years in the majors, and they've done it again this winter. The expanded tech? Well, for hitters, it's been there either in the hitting barn in Jupiter, or at the cages in STL. So, it's not a matter of the players now in the majors "catching up" -- they've had a lot of this. But it's also about the Cardinals offering them greater support to, not to catch up, but to get ahead. This about raising the entire organization, so I don't think the players who are in the majors are going to be overlooked here or miss out on things, because they've already had this or they're going to get it too. There have been not been official hires for some of the roles, no. Those are expected soon. DCG: DG, In terms of the reset and chance to see what they young players can do, this weirdly seems to apply only to the position players. As of now, they starting staff would by four 30 year olds (Gray, Mikolas, Fedde, Matz) and Pallante (who turns 27 next season). Mean while, years are burning off Graceffo, and McGreevey, and Thompson is quietly already 27. They've really wasted his career with the yoyo-ing of roles and opportunity. Anyone, I don't really see the reset plan re: pitching. What is it? DG: You outlined it. But you need to add Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby. And Quinn Mathews. And Cooper Hjerpe. They're in the mix, too. Lei down the road, and others. Iowa dude: Thanksgiving, Thankful that it's the final week of November and yet you commit to this chat. Very much appreciate that. Question: Hard to replace Helsley's performance. Why not offer new deal with big increase for 2025 plus 2 more years? Trading Nado -- if that happens -- I assume, frees up a lot more $ as they retool for 2026. DG: If there was going to be an extension conversation, sure seemed like this past spring was the time to do it. Helsley told me he was open to that conversation, and the timing seemed right with the potential then of what did happen. Now, not sure either side has motivation for that. Helsley could strike it rich as a free agent with a repeat, and it could end with a contender depending on how the Cardinals season goes. Cardinals don't want to commit in that role until they know more about what the coming years look like and the actual pace of their "reset," not the expected or planned. Jim from DeBary FL: Derrick, I always look forward to your chats. The only one I'm willing to spend the hours it takes to monitor. I know I'm getting more of the facts from reporting, and not speculating fantasy. I'm hoping the Cards can swing a good deal for Helsey. Relief pitchers are such a volatile position, and he is currently at his peak. With Drew Rom outrighted to Memphis, is he exposed to the Rule 5 draft? DG: He is, yes. November Rain: Your recent podcast was awesome - thanks for chatting with the guy from Boston. Lot's of similarities between the two 21st C juggernauts. So, I'm thinking about the stress Mo put himself under with the new operating philosophy he launched at the end of year presser. With Contreras and Gray wanting to remain in St Louis, will Moe regret his "let the kids play reset" for the organization if he can't trade Arenado? Really, if Nolan A. remains on the Cards exactly what "kids" are going to have opportunities? Also factor in that Mikolas and Matz may stick around, too, which greatly affects the young pitchers. In order to have a true reset Mo needs to move the older veterans. I'd say that's some serious stress. How about you? DG: I could completely see what you mean with the rotation, and that numbers there don't lie. That said, it usually takes 8-9 starters to get through a season, right, so the innings will be there. I don't see the same roadblock that you do at third base with Nolan Arenado. We can agree to disagree. I don't see his return as some block to the growth of some young player, not one the Cardinals couldn't find a way to work around that would still benefit the young player. MS Bird Brain: Hey DG. At the risk of being sappy I am very thankful for all the fun and life lessons I have received as a life-long Cardinal fan. There is a reason they have the BFinBB. As a given for my question I say that the Cards have a core need for some right-handed damage in their lineup in general, and their outfield in particular. In looking at the available free-agents, there are surprisingly few options in the price range they will shop in. That leaves trade options and in-house options. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject in general, but here is my question: What surprises could we see in ST for non-grass right swinging defenders out there trying to get noticed shagging flies? Some I wonder about are Saggese and Herrerra. We can probably rule out Baker? How about Prieto? Are you seeing or hearing anything along those lines? DG: Definitely not hearing any such things about Herrera or Baker. Cardinals have gone out of their way this winter to say that Herrera is going to get a run at catcher, alongside and in tandem with Pages. The outfield thing is quite literally far from what they've described. Saggese, yes, that's a possibility. Have not heard that about Prieto, but honestly that's because I haven't asked. The reason why I haven't asked is because the Cardinals have talked about trying to streamline their choices in the outfield (again) and get playing time for Nootbaar, Siani, and Walker. Maybe it's just me, but when that is the answer to the question and we've been asking it for so many years about outfielders not getting their chance -- Arozarena leaps to mind, maybe Thomas, too -- then it seems disingenuous to make that point over and over and over again and then when they say, OK, here is the priority group, start asking about the possibility of adding more to the mix by moving infielders out there, too. Donald N: Good morning Derrick; Why is Andrew Kittridge returning apparently not on Cards radar? Guy pitched his arm off and with some new/young arms in rotation, strong bull pen more important than ever. I guess money, is that the only factor? Thanks and Happy Holidays to you and your family. Donald L DG: Money is the factor, yes. They expect that he'll get a better offer out there than they are willing to make, and they're right. chico: Does the fact that the TV and on demand situation has been cleared up in any way help the Cardinals plan a budget regarding the team? DG: Helps a bunch. Gives what ownership told me was "clarity" they did not have a few weeks ago. DCG: Derrick, I try to listen to each podcast, and I'm not sure if it was the last one or the one before that, but you asked the question that really has me concerned: Are the Cardinals in danger of continuing their trend of half-measures by repeating that with their youth push. As excited as I was when they announced the new direction, as of now (and I get that it's early), with the decision of Gray and Contreras to stay, they will will have an old rotation and almost the exact same lineup minus PG. If that's how it ends up, then all that press conference really meant was they will lower payroll (fine with me) and give Walker all the time he needs to prove himself. Other than that, status quo. If they don't trade NA, then what has really changed other than money allocation? DG: Since you asked, and I just want to make clear, this is a list of what changed, not advocacy that it was a lot or even a measure of how much was changed. The rotation changed. The bullpen has changed. The catching situation changed. First base has changed. The hitting coach changed. The outfield coach changed. And there will be another member of Marmol's coaching staff yet to come. So there have been changes, and each of the above changes with the exception of first base has been a change toward youth or a setup to give support to that youth. The question becomes of it's not everywhere, is it enough? Or, because it's not everywhere is the better for the youth to thrive? As we look into the winter, I'm starting think that it's a lot like what I wrote about the Blues. This isn't just about clearing innings and starts for youth. That's part of it, and that may even be the guiding compass. But it also seems like the Cardinals are trying to do something that will be difficult. Lower expectations. Alright, just updated the transcript below this window -- and it turns out to be 100 more inches of questions and answers. Guess I got a little carried away in the past hour. And that prompted a look at the clock. Time to move on to some other assignments and a few other spots on the to-do list today. It's already dark, and it was coffee time when this thing started. Thanks for the great and challenging questions. This was a good conversation, and as always I'm intrigued by the themes that developed. Many of them from this chat are worth revisiting as the winter unfolds -- and even as July arrives and there are standings and there are games and the urgency for change can be measured from the Cardinals in the same circumstance as the Blues. Enjoy the holiday. Travel safe. The chat will return just in time for turkey sandwiches next Monday. -

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Sitting at 12-11 and sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks' overall record may not scream dominance, but their current five-game win streak tells a different story. is coaching a roster that GM strategically overhauled. His coaching style emphasizes ball movement, offensive efficiency, and defensive hustle, all of which have unlocked career-best performances from players like , , and . Atlanta is becoming more than just a playoff hopeful – they’re starting to look like a team that could make some noise in the postseason. Atlanta’s offense is humming, ranking third in assists per game (30.1). At the center of it all? Snyder’s doing an excellent job with the Hawks, but Trae Young’s season is off to a uniquely bizarre start. Historically, Young tends to start slow – his career splits show that his TS% is consistently low in October and November before climbing later in the season. By the All-Star break, he’s typically back to averaging over 25 ppg, so this trend isn’t unusual. This year, Young’s numbers stand out for a mix of reasons: Lowest ppg (20.7) since his rookie season Lowest TS% (54.0%) since his rookie year NBA’s highest apg (12.0) since in 1994 Young’s an elite scorer and shooter, but his passing is arguably even better. He might be the best playmaker since . It’s puzzling why some fans dislike him – he’s incredibly skilled. Recently, he’s been less aggressive early in games, likely due to defenses doubling him and relying more on teammates like , Hunter and Johnson. His Achilles injury is another factor. Once he’s fully healthy and Risacher starts consistently hitting open looks, the team should be in great shape. That said, they still need a reliable finisher – and have been frustratingly inconsistent finishing inside. Hawks should be looking to flip Capela’s expiring $22.2 million contract (likely via three-team trade) for a center on a multi-year contract that their team has plenty of frontcourt depth. This year, Snyder has shifted away from a ‘Trae-centric’ offense, using him as a decoy more often. “Trae’s gravity forces 1.5 defenders to track him at all times. We’re exploring how to use that to open opportunities for others,” . said via New York Times. “Decoy Trae Young is something new, and we’re excited about it.” Defensively, Young’s making real strides. Known for his physical limitations on that end, he’s having his best defensive season yet – taking charges, getting clutch steals, and getting blown by less often (thanks in part to Daniels). His Achilles injury is likely impacting his shooting, especially for deep threes. Guards like Young rely on lift, and an injured Achilles affects the entire leg, from stability to landings. At 26, age isn’t the issue – it’s about playing through injury. Achilles problems affect confidence too, and basketball is as much mental as physical. Shooters rely heavily on their legs, so discomfort can throw off rhythm. This also lines up with Young’s history of starting slow in the first 20 games and heating up by mid-December. If Young follows his usual trajectory, we’ll likely see him bounce back soon. It’s encouraging that the Hawks are winning games even while he’s not at 100 percent. With Young improving and Snyder’s system evolving, the team is in a strong position to keep building momentum. Jalen Johnson, the talented 22-year-old forward, is making significant strides in his development, following up on a breakout season with impressive averages of 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, he contributes 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, showcasing his prowess as a true two-way player. Johnson's growth is evident in his improved decision-making and playmaking abilities, as he currently ranks third in the league for passes made, trailing only and . Dyson Daniels has also emerged as an impactful player, averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game, making him one of the league's premier point-of-attack defenders. His four-game streak of scoring 15-plus points and tallying 5-plus steals was the longest since in the 1989-90 season.It's clear the Pelicans could have used Daniels more effectively, much like Quin Snyder has unleashed his potential in the NBA. This past week, Daniels was named the inaugural Defensive Player of the Month in the Eastern Conference – a well-deserved honor. Over 20 games, Daniels is averaging 3.1 steals and 1 block per game. Four stocks (steals + blocks) from a guard is extraordinary. Additionally, he averages 6.7 deflections per contest, far outpacing the next-highest player at 3.9. Daniels has rightfully earned his recognition. He's an outstanding defender with quick lateral movement, excellent anticipation, and relentless hustle. Beyond defense, he’s a skilled passer, runs the floor well, and consistently brings energy to every game. Daniels is known as a "big footy guy," and it seems evident that his time playing as a ruckman in the Junior Australian Football Rules League helped shape his instincts, physicality and athleticism. Meanwhile, De’Andre Hunter has been a reliable scorer, averaging 18.7 point with shooting splits of 40.8 from three and an elite 90.7 percent from the free-throw line. At 6-foot-8 and 220 lbs, Hunter is the ideal modern wing, capable of defending multiple positions and providing consistency off the bench. His transition to a sixth-man role has allowed for a more confident starting lineup too. If their winning momentum continues, both Johnson and Daniels could emerge as strong candidates for Most Improved Player honors. With contributions from players like Johnson, Hunter, and Daniels, the Hawks are positioning themselves as a force in the Eastern Conference in the near future. Atlanta’s bench has been a pivotal force in their recent resurgence with Hunter and leading the charge. is lighting up defenses with an impressive 46.8 percent shooting from three, while Bogdanovic contributes a steady 11.6 points per game, despite some inconsistency in long-range shooting (33.9 percent from beyond the arc). Rookie , a starter, is making his presence felt, averaging 11.7 points, although he’s battled with his three-point shooting at just 29.0 percent. Nance Jr. has been a veteran leader that has been praised by teammates and coaches alike. Second-year guard , who missed the start of the season due to a partially dislocated right shoulder, has started to cement himself as decent backup point guard for Atlanta. The strength of the team's bench was made clear during Atlanta’s 117-101 victory over Cleveland, where the Hawks’ reserves outscored the Cavs’ bench 50-28. On the defensive end, Atlanta presents a mixed bag – both exhilarating and exasperating. They currently rank second in the NBA with an average of 10.2 steals, spearheaded by . However, despite their ability to generate turnovers, the Hawks have struggled to contest shots effectively, allowing opponents to shoot a league-worst 38.3 percent from three-point range. Their defensive rating stands at 120.2, placing them 27th in the league, as they frequently find themselves outmatched on the boards. This dichotomy between chaos creation and conceding easy baskets speaks to Atlanta's most significant challenge: being consistent defensively. Quin Snyder’s influence has been palpable from the start. The Hawks rank eighth in scoring (116.6 points per game) and 11th in pace (102.8), leaning on their strengths in transition while prioritizing efficient offense and defensive hustle. Transition offense has been central to Atlanta’s attack. By pushing the ball after rebounds and turnovers, the Hawks take advantage of their athleticism to create mismatches. This allows players like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels to thrive in open spaces, where their speed and decision-making become assets. Another key element is player versatility. Snyder’s offense empowers players like Johnson, who has evolved into a secondary playmaker with the Hawks running actions through him. This dynamic playmaking makes Atlanta less predictable and forces defenses to guard multiple threats. The team’s improved shot quality is evident in their 42.8 field goals made per game, though their 34.2 percent from three (23rd in the NBA) signals room for improvement. Snyder has emphasized getting to the rim and drawing fouls, as reflected in Atlanta’s sixth-ranked free-throw attempts (23.8 per game), converting at a solid 78.8 percent clip. While Snyder’s offensive schemes have clicked, the defensive side of the ball remains a work in progress. The Hawks are second in steals per game (10.2) thanks to their aggressive, pressure-heavy approach. Snyder’s defensive philosophy revolves around disrupting passing lanes, forcing turnovers, and creating transition opportunities. Despite some bright spots, Atlanta still has the 27th-ranked defensive rating (120.2). Snyder has implemented defensive schemes that emphasize switching and help defense, but lapses in communication and execution have left Atlanta vulnerable. The Hawks are currently on a five-game winning streak, with a record of 12-11, placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference. While the Hawks have showcased glimpses of their potential, tightening their defensive schemes will be key for staying competitive in a tough Eastern Conference. Victories over teams like Cleveland reveal their high ceiling, but consistency is paramount for transitioning from playoff hopefuls to genuine contenders. With Snyder steering the ship, Trae Young’s brilliance at the helm, and the growing impact of young talents like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta possesses all the elements necessary for success. If they can rectify their defensive deficiencies, the Hawks could not only secure a playoff spot—but also emerge as one of the most formidable teams when it matters most.LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 drivers complained this week about the smell of marijuana as they prepared for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one even joking they could fail drug tests. Marijuana is legal in Nevada and the odor can often be prevalent among those attending sporting events. “Yes, there was a smell of weed,” Williams driver Franco Colapinto said. “If they dope (test) the drivers now, I think we’ll all test positive. When we all test positive, there will be a mess.” Drivers had three practice sessions as well as qualifying beginning Thursday leading up to Saturday night's race. Max Verstappen, who went into the race hoping to clinch his fourth consecutive series title, said the smell of marijuana was quite noticeable. “I was quite high in the car,” Verstappen said jokingly. "It’s not ideal because you can also smell it while driving and it’s quite extreme.” His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, echoed Verstappen's comments. Williams driver Franco Colapinto, of Argentina, drives the course during qualifying for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Matt York “I’m tired of it already," Perez said. "The amount is incredible.” Nevada voters approved legalizing the drug in 2016, and the new law took effect Jan. 1, 2017. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Marijuana can only legally be purchased in Nevada from state-licensed dispensaries, and only those at least 21 are allowed to buy the drug. Though the smell of marijuana is common near sporting events, it's rare for the odor to emanate inside a closed venue because any kind of smoking is illegal in most public indoor spaces. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, talks with his crew after the final practice session for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/John Locher As a result, this was a not an issue when the Super Bowl was played in February at Allegiant Stadium, which also is home to the Las Vegas Raiders. Similarly, while marijuana often is noticeable outside T-Mobile Arena for Vegas Golden Knights games and UFC events, inside is another matter. F1 drivers, notably, didn't complain last year when the series made its debut on the Las Vegas Strip.