(Updated on July 31, 2018)
Unwilling to part with Manny Aybar, the Cardinals almost didn’t make the trade for Mark McGwire.
In July 1997, the Cardinals went in search of a power hitter. They had discussions with the Blue Jays about Joe Carter and with the Tigers about Travis Fryman. The slugger they wanted most was McGwire.
For the Cardinals to get him, the Athletics demanded a package that included Aybar, a top pitching prospect.
With the trade deadline of midnight July 31 fast approaching, the Cardinals held firm in their refusal to part with Aybar. As late as 6:30 p.m. on July 31, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said he thought the deal wouldn’t happen.
When the Athletics relented and settled instead for Eric Ludwick, the trade was made. The Cardinals got McGwire for three pitchers: T.J. Mathews, Blake Stein and Ludwick.
Thumbs up
On July 25, after losing to the Marlins at St. Louis, the Cardinals fell to 48-53, six games behind the first-place Astros in the National League Central Division.
Unwilling to concede, the Cardinals determined what they needed most was another run producer in a lineup that included Ray Lankford, Ron Gant and Gary Gaetti.
Two days later, on July 27, McGwire told reporters he strongly would consider a trade to the Cardinals.
McGwire was eligible to become a free agent after the 1997 season, so the Athletics were open to trading him if they could get a good return. Because McGwire was a 10-year veteran who had played five consecutive seasons with his current team, the Athletics needed his approval before they could deal him. That’s why it was significant when McGwire went public with his consent of a possible trade to St. Louis.
Art of the deal
Initially, the Athletics inquired about the availability of two of the Cardinals’ most promising starting pitchers, Alan Benes and Matt Morris.
When Jocketty made it clear neither would be traded, the Athletics set their sights on two prospects in the Cardinals’ minor-league system: Aybar and catcher Eli Marrero.
Jocketty didn’t want to trade them either.
On July 29, Jocketty rated the Cardinals’ chances of acquiring McGwire as 50-50, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Looking to keep options open, Jocketty spoke with the Blue Jays about Carter, but they wanted outfielder John Mabry. Jocketty said no.
The Tigers were willing to deal Fryman, but they wanted starting pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. Again, Jocketty said no.
McGwire remained the best option.
The Angels also had pursued McGwire, but when they dropped out of the bidding it left the Cardinals as the lone suitor and gave Jocketty leverage.
Holding firm
With their negotiating hand weakened, the Athletics ended their demand for Marrero _ they also had asked about two other prospects, pitcher Braden Looper and infielder Brent Butler _ but still insisted on Aybar being in the deal. Jocketty wouldn’t budge. “We couldn’t give up Aybar and Mathews,” he said.
Athletics general manager Sandy Alderson indicated to Jocketty the deal could be dead. “At one point,” Jocketty said, “I thought we weren’t going to be able to get it done.”
Faced with the likely prospect of getting nothing in return for McGwire if he departed as a free agent after the season, Alderson relented and took Ludwick instead of Aybar when he realized Jocketty wouldn’t change his stance.
“Sometimes free agency forces your decisions,” Alderson said.
On July 31, 1997, four days after talks began, the deal for McGwire was completed.
It takes a village
“We were determined to get a quality bat in the middle of our lineup and I think we got the best hitter we could,” Jocketty said.
McGwire twice led the American League in home runs and three times was the league leader in slugging percentage.
“He’s probably the greatest power hitter of his time,” said Stottlemyre.
Tony La Russa, who managed McGwire with the Athletics before joining the Cardinals after the 1995 season, was happy to have the slugger on his team again, but cautioned that McGwire alone couldn’t lift the Cardinals into first place.
“The quality of everything else we do has to raise itself a couple of levels for us to win a lot of games,” La Russa said.
For McGwire to be most effective, La Russa said, “we have to get on base in front of (him).”
Bernie Miklasz, Post-Dispatch columnist, acknowledged McGwire “will provide entertainment” and “will be a menacing presence” in the lineup, but expressed concern McGwire would depart as a free agent after the season. The Cardinals would have done better to trade for an emerging talent such as Jose Cruz, 23, of the Mariners, Miklasz wrote.
Slugging and scandal
Asked why he approved the trade, McGwire said, “I decided to do this because I needed a change and I needed a challenge.”
On Aug. 1, McGwire traveled from California to Philadelphia and joined the Cardinals 90 minutes before their game that night with the Phillies.
Put into the cleanup spot between Phil Plantier and Gant, McGwire was 0-for-3 with a walk against Garrett Stephenson and Ricky Bottalico.
On Sept. 16, 1997, the Cardinals signed McGwire to a three-year contract extension through 2000 worth $28.5 million. The deal included an option for a fourth year at $11 million. McGwire went on to hit 24 home runs with 42 RBI in 51 games for the 1997 Cardinals, but they finished 73-89.
McGwire hit 70 home runs with 147 RBI in 1998 and 65 home runs with 147 RBI in 1999, but the Cardinals failed to qualify for the postseason both years.
McGwire and the Cardinals got into the postseason in 2000 and 2001 but didn’t reach the World Series.
In five years with St. Louis, McGwire had 220 home runs and 473 RBI, but the achievements were tainted by his subsequent admission of using banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Previously: Mark McGwire had hot start to 1998 Cardinals season
[…] year, sending Blake Stein, Eric Ludwick, and T.J. Matthews (after general manager Walt Jocketty held firm and didn’t include pitching prospect Manny Aybar). After the trade, McGwire had hit 24 home runs for a team that never could make […]
McGwire signed his extension before the end of the season. I think while in a series with the Cubs
On Sept. 16, 1997, the same day he hit a home run against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium, Mark McGwire signed a three-year contract worth $28 million to stay with the Cardinals.