26-year old righty swinging outfielder Nick Stavinoha could be the next young outfielder the Cardinals give a chance to at the major league level if he continues to hit well in AAA ball. Stavinoha has played in 67 games in AAA ball this season and he is 84 for 245 (.343 avg, .869 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers and 44 RBIs. He is not one of the most highly thought of prospects in the Cardinals’ minor league system but he deserves a chance to show what he can do.

21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Colby Rasmus is the #1 prospect in the entire Cardinals’ system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook but he’s struggling in the minors right now. Rasmus has played in 33 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 25 for 120 (.208 avg, .665 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers, 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Cardinals hope that Rasmus will be ready to help them out at some point in 2008 but they won’t promote him until he earns it.

The Cardinals have sent 24 year old righty Chris Lambert to the Tigers to complete the Mike Maroth trade.  Lucky the Cardinals didn’t have to trade a real prospect for Maroth as poorly as he pitched for them.  He has pitched in 33 games (9 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 1-6 with a 6.21 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.  He has worked 84 innings in the minors this season and he has allowed 98 hits, 15 homers, walked 37 batters and whiffed 67.

The Cardinals have signed lefty reliever Mike Venafro and infielder Miguel Cairo to minor league contracts.  Both players will be recalled when rosters expand if not before to help the Cardinals try to make the playoffs again this season.  Venafro pitched in 7 games this season for the Rockies and he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA.  In his major league career Venafro is 15-10 with 5 saves and a 4.09 ERA.  Cairo was just caught in a numbers game in New York and that’s why they let him go.  He played in 54 games this season for the Yankees and he was 27 for 107 (.252 avg, .626 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Don’t look for Cairo to stay in the minors long as he could help the Cardinals right now off the bench.  He has played in 1,064 career games in the majors and he is a .267 hitter with a .674 OPS.  He has scored 384 runs, whacked 27 homers, driven in 290 runs and he has stolen 121 passes.  These guys will both help the Cardinals in September and were good signings.

28 year old lefty swinging Rick Ankiel is playing well in AAA this season.  He has played in 99 games this season and he is 103 for 380 (.271 avg, .888 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 31 homers and 86 RBIs.  Ankiel has come a long way since he quit pitching a couple of years back.  He was once one of the Cardinals brightest young pitchers before he hurt himself.  He has pitched in 51 games (41 starts) for the Cardinals and he has a career record of 13-10 with 1 save, a 3.90 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He threw 242 innings for the Cardinals and he allowed 198 hits, walked 130 batters and whiffed 269.  Ankiel also has appeared in 53 games as a hitter with the Cards and he was 18 for 87 (.207 avg, .568 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs.