Then there’s the opposite end of this, where other teams continue to take these players away in the offseason, only for them to disappoint on a ridiculously high level. Weaver, as well all know, was a playoff superstar in 2006. As soon as he left, the then Mariner’s ERA skyrocketed. Suppan pitched like a Cy Young winner in the 2006 playoffs, but the day he stepped in at Milwaukee, the Brewers got themselves an average pitcher.

Now, it’s happened again. The Cardinals turned around Braden Looper’s career and made him a starter – and it paid off. He provided much needed depth in the rotation and pitched very well at times, but that magic must have worn off, because I’m hearing Milwaukee has signed Looper to a one-year deal.

The ramifications of this are pretty high, actually.  Releasing Kennedy was one thing, because it opened up room for Colby Rasmus in the outfield, with Skip Schumaker moving to second base. 

But losing Looper to a division rival is unnacceptable. Carpetner isn’t even for sure ready to go, and they just took away a legit starter from the Cardinals.

The supposed one year deal has an option for 2010, but who knows if they’ll ever pick that up.

Best of luck to Looper, but this one falls on Cardinals management.

Eventually, other teams WILL find St. Louis’s players as diamonds in the rough, and it will come back to haunt the Cardinals in the season – especially when Looper outduels whoever the Cardinals throw at him on the mound all season long.