Just when I thought Cardinals fans would forever be forsaken....
The Cardinals have decided to release So Taguchi, ending the outfielder's six-year tenure as a member of the St. Louis organization.
Taguchi was let go in order to clear space on the 40-man roster, which had been at full capacity. By opening up a spot, the Cardinals are now able to make a selection in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning at baseball's annual Winter Meetings.
And with that pick in the Rule 5 draft we selected Brian Barton. Here is Get Up, Baby's take on Barton:
As a late-blooming, fast outfielder with not-insignificant power and a good on-base percentage, Barton reminds me the most of Matt Lawton, with the optimistic projection being some kind of right-handed poor-man’s Ray Lankford. Ah, the Ray Lankford stamp of approval–that lets you know that I am optimistic about Brian Barton. The main concern, besides his gimp knee, is that that on-base percentage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be–take a look at those hit by pitch totals! But even if you cut them in half he gets on base plenty.
Barton’s not a star in the making, but he’s got the potential to be an extremely useful player, even a starter, and with the current makeup of this team he gives the Cardinals different “looks”, as sportswriters are so fond of saying. As a fast outfielder who isn’t afraid to get plunked, one thing is certain: Busch Stadium will make this man a cult hero.
A hero of any sort would be nice, but Barton is already a hero to me since his arrival meant the departure of Taguchi.
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