Lynn will not sign with the Cardinals if Matheny is the Mgr. That's my gut feeling. I would love to see him stay but the cost is going to be astronomical, for what you are getting (a solid #2 or #3). If they can get him to stay at a reasonable number that would be great. If not, they should be able to overcome it.

I am going to disagree with most about Tommy Pham. He has been great this year and that can't be denied. But he's 29 or 30 and has serious eye issues. He has trouble seeing in day games and it is very unlikely he can maintain the numbers he put up this year, once teams break him down and start pitching to him accordingly. Remember, it took him a long time to make it to the bigs. Use him as trade bait.

Their #1 player need is a big bat to be behind Carpenter, Fowler, etc. If they can get that and shore up that bullpen, they can compete. Then again I have very little confidence any team under Matheny will play play at peak performance.