St. Louis Cardinals & the Toronto Blue Jays swap Scott Rolen for Troy Galus

The News

The Toronto Blue Jays shipped former World Series MVP Troy Glaus to St. Louis in exchange for perennial gold glove winner Scott Rolen. In recent years, Rolen has suffered from a series of shoulder injuries that seriously limited his offensive production and playing time. Rolen has also had a strained relationship with manager Tony La Russa which was likely the prompting factor in the trade.
In Troy Glaus the Cardinals received one of the premier power hitting 3rd baseman in baseball, but much like Rolen, Glaus has been bit by the injury bug in recent years averaging only 113 games over the last five season. Despite the injuries Glaus has still managed to produce when healthy averaging 26 home runs and 71 RBI's over the worst stretch of his career. With that in mind and the ability of manager Tony LaRussa to bring out the best in everyone, Glaus looks to be a welcomed presence offering Albert Pujols some protection he lacked last season. While Glaus can help carry an offense when healthy, the Cardinals pitching staff is the big loser in this trade. With pitching coach Dave Duncan the Cardinals pitchers have been taught to pitch to contact putting the left side of the Cardinals defense near the top of the list in put outs each season. Last season the defense suffered with David Eckstein falling from one of the better defensive shortstops in 2006 with only 6 errors, to committing 20 errors in '07. While Glaus certainly isn't the defensive player Rolen is, Cardinals management hopes his bat will make up the difference.


Rolen is a 12- year veteran that brings a sure glove and some experience to a young Blue Jays club. More so than Glaus, Rolen truly brings the biggest injury concerns. Rolen has suffered from shoulder injuries and abdominal injuries, both of which could explain his power shortage of only 8 home runs in 392 at bats last season. Rolen looks to continue his fancy glove work north of the border and bring a talented young pitching staff a leader on the defensive side of the ball.

Fantasy Outlook

Both Glaus and Rolen are well past their fantasy prime, and with the emergence of numerous young productive 3rd baseman in Ryan Braun, Alex Gordon and Edwin Encarnacion neither of the two look to be the roster cornerstones they once were. From the fantasy perspective Glaus could pan out to be a good gamble with his power potential, but owners will be stuck with his career .254 BA and his penchant for injury. Though will the value of home runs and RBI's some manager will likely take the gamble. With Rolen the outlook is bleak. I am not sold that he can return to form after his injuries that last few years. This will be his 13th season in baseball and it looks like the twilight years may have begun for Rolen. If you need late round insurance at 3rd, Rolen may be worth a gamble, but there will likely be better players to be had than this aging superstar.