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| Mitchell Boggs had an effective start for Memphis on Saturday night. But does the right-hander really deserve to be in Memphis? Does he have any trade value left? - Photo courtesy of Getty Images |
The move received a lot of criticism across the cyber-world as many were calling for the Cardinals to either disable Ryan Franklin or Miguel Batista or part ways with one of their elderly relievers and place one on the waiver wire.
Instead, the Cardinals demoted Boggs, and have promptly placed the former minor league starter in the Memphis Redbirds rotation.
On Saturday evening, Boggs had an excellent outing as the Redbirds beat Omaha 6-5. Boggs pitched the first four innings of the game, allowing just three hits, a walk, and zero runs while striking out four. Boggs did not stick around long enough to get the win, but that can be expected as the reliever stretches out his arm and becomes a starter once again.
The organization cited that moving Boggs to the Memphis rotation will provide support for the starters in St. Louis. While true in a way, the statement obviously glosses over the fact that the Cardinals were reluctant to part ways with veterans Franklin or Batista.
But Boggs is not the only arm down in Memphis that the Cardinals could turn to. Lance Lynn has put together a nice season for the Redbirds, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.93 ERA in nine starts.
So while moving Boggs to the Memphis rotation was likely a smoke-screen ignited by general manager John Mozeliak in order to protect the veteran relievers at the major league level, the Memphis rotation suddenly has two major league ready arms in Lynn and Boggs in their rotation.
Should Boggs be down in Memphis becoming a starter again? Probably not.
Demoting a power reliever that throws in the upper 90's does not do anything to up his trade value and if you are not going to use that kind of stuff in St. Louis, you might as well trade him and get something young and promising in return. Boggs is 27 years old. He is not getting any younger. So shipping him to Memphis lowers his trade value even though he is down there wasting time as a starter.
So while Boggs is down in Memphis eating BBQ and playing extended versions of long toss in order to become a full time starter, the bullpen in St. Louis is likely going to be a problem unless Mozeliak can swing a trade.
And maybe Mozeliak will try to pawn Boggs off to get somebody like a Heath Bell. Boggs certainly is doing everything he can to help, especially if he can keep putting together outings like the one on Saturday night.
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