Jake Westbrook and the Cardinals have mutual interest in working out a deal to keep the starter in St. Louis, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. GM John Mozeliak says the club “obviously has interest” in re-signing Westbrook and has reached out to the pitcher’s representatives. Discussions haven’t picked up yet, but Westbrook says he wouldn’t mind signing a deal before other teams have the chance to bid on him.
"I'm definitely going to be open-minded about pretty much everything," Westbrook said. "If they had interest, I've definitely enjoyed my time here. I've gotten to know the guys well. The organization is definitely one that everybody knows about, that I've certainly heard a lot about, and now, firsthand, I've gotten to see that everybody was right."
The Cardinals have experience locking up starters on the cusp of free agency; they signed Kyle Lohse to an extension two years ago this week and locked up Joel Pineiro in October of 2007. Lohse will figure into the team’s 2011 rotation if healthy, but the Cardinals could still use starting pitching depth. Westbrook won’t cost as much as Lohse did ($41MM), but as MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explained yesterday, he could be in line for a two-year deal worth $15MM or so.
Westbrook has put together 195 solid innings this year, posting a 4.38 ERA between Cleveland and St. Louis. In 11 starts since joining the Cards, the right-hander has pitched especially well, posting a 3.88 ERA.
2/15-20 plus club option for 7-12 million.
This not going to happen. The Cardinals cannot afford to lock up Westbrook for more than a year and he will most likely want a multi-year contract. 4 of 5 are already set in the rotation for the next 2 years so I really dont see this happening
wouldn’t be shocked to see him back in Cleveland.
I would be VERY, VERY shocked if he came back to Cleveland.
I’m sure Westbrook will “want” more than 1 year….but will he get it? Brad Penny and Carl Pavano only got/took 1 year deals last winter. Both guys had very solid finishes (better than Jake’s arguably) in Minnesota and SF.
Pavano had a higher ERA in Minny (4.64), but it’s the AL and he pitched well down the stretch to lead them to the playoffs.
Penny in 6 starts for the Giants had an ERA under 3 (in 40+ innings).
Westbrook had 4 more starts and 20 more innings, but an ERA a run higher. Jake is also 2 years older than Penny (well 1 year, but it’s a year later so he’s in essence 2 years older than where Penny was last winter).
I don’t think it’s crazy to think that Jake will settle on a 1 year deal somewhere. He could sit back and say, 1 year in St. Louis with Duncan….could mean a big 3 year deal in 2012.
Pavano took the 1 year deal….now looks like he’ll get 3-4 years easy. Realize Pavano accepted an arby offering (then settled with Minny)…..but if the Cards offered Jake $7M for 1 year…..I think he may take it, especially if there’s a mutual option on it or something.