The Cardinals have won five in a row and come into the day just 4.5 games back of the Braves for the NL Wildcard, making things unexpectedly interesting in the season's final weeks. Let's round up the latest from St. Louis…
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports confirms the report of Chris Carpenter's two-year extension, and he likes the deal for both sides (Twitter links). The team saves some cash while Carpenter gets more guaranteed money.
- With Carpenter locked up and Adam Wainwright on his way back from Tommy John surgery, the Cardinals' 2012 rotation looks pretty strong, writes Roger Hensley of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Those two will join Jake Westbrook and Jaime Garcia.
- GM John Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he wants to use the final weeks of the regular season and the first few weeks of October "to lock-in existing free agents and clear up any questions for 2012," beyond Albert Pujols. There are ongoing talks with Rafael Furcal's representatives, and Lance Berkman has already given the team a sense of what it would take for him to return next year.
I bet Lance comes back on a deal similar to Carp’s. Furcal one year for 4 mil with a club option for 4 mil too.
i agree. i hope we can get Furcal back but nothing over 6 mil
You are on dope!
I’d guess any option would be closer to Furcal’s market rate, rather than the discount rate he’d have to play for in 2012.
If Berkman gave the Cards ‘a sense of what it would take to re-sign him’, and they have yet to do so, is that a sign the Cards want another ‘discount’?? He may wait for the Cards to offer arbitration. He compares favorably to Jason Werth and Alfonso Soriano. They’ll make $21 mil and $18 mil.
the carp deal seems like a lot for a 36 year old pitcher who’s past his prime.
The new carp deal is no discount and does seem pricey in my opinion to st louis.
I’d say it’s right at market value. 10 mil for a number 2 that has had a slightly down year. Ya, he’s 36, but his velocity is up and his k/9 is pretty good. Carp is a competitor and a good pitcher. Can’t wait to watch him finish in the top ten in cy young next year and prove the doubters wrong!
i’d say it’s decidedly below market value
exactly, you would not be able to get a pitcher of Chris Carpenter’s quality and moxie no matter at what stage he is in his career for this sort of money on the open market
I really like the deal for both sides and I appreciate how proactive the Cards are acting in preparation for the Albert negotiations. The thing these moves show me though is how completely unsure the franchise is about the likelihood that Albert is back, they genuinely have no clue what is going to go down
I have a slightly different take on it…To me, it says that the front office is putting its money where its mouth is and is going all out, proactively, to indicate to Albert that it’s willing to go the extra mile in demonstrating a willingness to provide him with a winner! I like the transaction a lot and feel it will be an eventual tipping point in keeping Albert on board for life…and it should also go a LONG way toward convincing Furcal and Berkman that their futures lie with the Cardinals more than with any other team…and perhaps even Mark Buehrle as well!
He’s a lot better than some of the other options on the market. Plus he’s a veteran that gives the redbirds some experience in the postseason.
Hopefully they fill out the rotation by Mark Buehrle coming home to the Lou at a slight discount.
The rotation is already filled with Kyle Lohse. They missed him in the post.
Ya but how would we unload lohse or Westbrook? That’s the only way there’s even an open spot.
If the cards sign buehrle, chances are either lohse or Westbrook, who both would want to start, would waive the no trade clause to go somewhere that they could.
I’d easily swap one of those two for Buehrle, I really don’t care who haha.
Where is ST Louis getting the money from for behrle furcal berkman and pooholes now that carp is resigned?
Bad carp will wreak havoc on your Pujols
LMAO
I refuse to debate with anyone who ignorantly spells the name of one of the most prolific baseball players ever that way. And as far as your username is concerned, nice job playing the role of stereotypical redneck.
As for “available” money, there’s more than enough to do just about anything that Bill Dewitt wishes to. I like Mr. Dewitt, but wish he were more of a fan and less of a businessman…and I dream about how different things could be if Marc Cuban owned the team…a true fan, but one who knows enough to keep his “fandom” in check while letting the front office run the team…but one who has a demonstrated willingness to spend his billions to put the best players available on the floor…or, in this case, the ball field!
SO…while I’m spending everybody’s money so freely, we may as well say goodbye to Rafael Furcal and go get Jose Reyes instead!