The San Diego Padres are reportedly close to completing a deal that would send shortstop Khalil Greene to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for two young relief pitchers.
The Cardinals have several young talented relievers and it's not known which two are headed to San Diego. The possibilities include Perez, Kiney, McClellan, Motte, Worrell, Scherer, Reifer And Perdomo although several of the former may no longer qualify as "prospects."
Update: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that one of the relievers is right handed and neither were on the major league roster at the end of last year. That removes Perez, Kiney, McClellan, and Motte from the equation. If this recent interview is any indication, Mark Worrell hopes he was included in the deal (and if he was, the Padres landed a quality reliever in the deal).
In any case, the Cardinals seem to be dealing from their farm system's relative strength to fill what was one of their most glaring needs this offseason, a middle infielder. While Greene had a dreadful season last year batting only .213 and hitting just 10 home runs, he hit .254 in 2007 with 27 long balls. The Cardinals are obviously hoping the young infielder can return to form with the change of scenery.
Although they're selling a bit "low" on Greene, the Padres will gain two quality bullpen arms as well as rid themselves of $6.5 million in payroll this year.
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If only this guy could turn out as well as another shortstop we picked up from the Padres: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzie_Smith
@Sports Cartoons, if it works out half as well as that deal, I think the Cardinals will be fine. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Cards try to resign Greene who will be a free agent at the end of the year.