Matt Lawton to the Cards?

[redsrbetter]

Pirates Notebook: Cardinals sharpen eye for Lawton
Saturday, July 30, 2005

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

ATLANTA -- Less than two days to the trading deadline, and all the Pirates remain in place.

That could change soon, on at least one count.

The St. Louis Cardinals have ramped up their pursuit of outfielder Matt Lawton, and they could be the prime bidder for his services in advance of the non-waiver trade deadline at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

An industry source said last night that, two weeks ago, St. Louis management officials originally had Lawton on a short list of players in whom they had moderate interest. But that interest, the source said, heightened after outfielder Reggie Sanders went on the disabled list with a broken leg last week.

The Cardinals are willing to spend money, a critical element to any deal involving Lawton, who is owed roughly $2.5 million for the rest of this season. It also clicks that the Cardinals prefer a corner outfielder -- with Jim Edmonds entrenched in center -- and that they are seeking offense near the top of the order. Lawton's statistics are the best among National League leadoff men.

St. Louis has been offering pitching prospects to potential trading partners. The Pirates are seeking power-hitting prospects, preferably on the corners, and the Cardinals have those only at the lower levels of the minors.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05211/546231.stm

[HuskerFan2002]

It wouldn't be a bad acquire. Reggie Sanders is down and the same with Walker and he'd fit in either position.