I hadn't heard about St. Louis' trade for Larry Walker until today. I admit, while I admire the way Jocketty and company continue to try and improve the team, I have some mixed feelings about it. Sure, the guy's a 3-time NL batting champion with some heavy numbers, but he's also benefited heavily from playing in Coors Field. He's prone to injury, and he's been known to fade during the stretch. I'm not sure where The Genius is going to put him on Sunday, and neither is he, saying 2nd or 4th (Walker claims he'll be batting 5th). Either he'll be helping Renteria set the table for Pujols (Womack won't keep the lead-off spot), or he'll be coming behind Rolen and Edmonds (I don't think even LaRussa would bump Edmonds down in favor of Walker). That there's some power.
Walker's an expensive addition - $12.5 million this year and $15 million in 2005, of which $7.5 million will be paid by Colorado. Still, I'm glad that the Cards aren't sitting on their hands, even with a 10.5 game lead in the division, because the Cubs have been playing some fierce ball of late. It would've been nice to add Randy Johnson, given the obscene offensive numbers St. Louis has been putting up and the feeling I can't shake that the Cards' pitching can't possibly hold up, but a little insurance at the plate can't hurt.
As usual, Redbird Nation has some great analysis.