Hello? A-Rod? Wanna be a Cardinal?

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Let me begin by saying this is just a thought.  A moment of whimsy. There are no reports, no rumors, no rumblings behind the scenes in big league baseball.  But maybe there should be.

As the Cardinals head into the All Star Break demonstrating they couldn't score in a house of ill-repute, would it at least be worth a phone call to propose the biggest blockbuster trade in the club's history?

The Cardinals are in possession of a third baseman who's gone in a year and a half, a very promising center field prospect, and a respectable pitcher who they are bending over backwards trying not to use.

The New York Yankees have a third baseman who's hall of fame statue is already on order, is in the prime of his career, and has to be ready to get out of the fishbowl that is New York.

Alex Rodriguez is on the front pages of the New York City tabloids again today.  but it has nothing to do with his .317 batting average or 18 homers.  It has everything to do with the beginnings of a messy divorce.  The fact that his wife is allowing him to visit with his daughters apparently merits front page news in the Big Apple. 

He has been unendingly pursued by paparazzi, and mercilessly booed by his own team's fans during his stay in New York.  He and the team's captain freely admit they don't like one another, and fans have never really embraced him.

For the Yankees, it's a chance to dump some of an enormous contract and be done with a chemistry situation that never worked.  (A-Rod and Jeter are oil and water.  NYC will forever be a Jeter town.) They're likely not going to make the playoffs this year anyway and you could probably get them to eat some of the contract.

Do the Cards mortgage the future to do this?  Not really.  You send Glaus to replace A-Rod in the New York lineup.  (And free up 3rd base here)  The youth you part with is Colby Rasmus.  I know. He's the best player in our system.  He's the future.  He will also never be as good as Alex Rodriguez.  Not now.  Not in five years.  Not ever.  You're still left with a very strong, young center fielder in Rick Ankiel.  Then you throw in Anthony Reyes.  Everyone needs pitching, and, for some reason, the Cards just can't make nice with Reyes.  My suspicion is he'll flourish in the midst of a change of scenery.

Would it be enough for the Yankees?  Who knows?  They want to get young, and the guy they signed to be their center fielder is currently playing right. (And, Johnny Damon is old)  Rasmus could be part of a next wave for them. (We also have a pretty good catching prospect in Bryan Anderson who will never see Busch Stadium with Yadier Molina in place.  Throw him in?)

In return, the Cardinals get a guy who bends over backwards to be liked.  In New York that's backfired because no one wants to like anyone there.  Here, I suspect people would warm to him.  And how does a middle of the lineup that goes Pujols, Rodriguez, Ankiel, and Ludwick sound to you?  It sounds like a lot more production than the six runs the Cards have scored in their last four games.

What about all A-Rod's drama, you ask.  Do we want all that here?  Frankly, it won't happen here.  Sportswriters for the Post-Dispatch have this nasty habit of writing about sports.  If you're not in New York or L.A. the paparazzi doesn't seem to care.  Rodriguez could quietly go about the business of winning his first World Series ring, and knocking the career home run crown off Barry Bonds' head.

At this moment, some of you are on the phone with the local nut house trying to get me a room.  Maybe it's warranted.  But, hey.  If you're going carry trade deadline dreams, you might was well dream big!