1:38pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds details (via Twitter) on the incentives package included in Goldschmidt’s new contract. The slugger can earn $250k for being named an All-Star, $250k for winning a Gold Glove award, and $1.5M for winning the NL MVP. As Saxon reported earlier, Goldschmidt’s yearly earnings will tally $26MM, which comprises a $22MM yearly base salary in addition to a $20MM signing bonus that will be spread evenly across the five years of the contract.
10:17am: Goldschmidt will earn $26MM per season from 2020-24, The Athletic’s Mark Saxon reports (Twitter link).
TODAY, 8:04am: The deal is done, and the Cardinals will officially make the announcement at a press conference this morning, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reports (Twitter link).
THURSDAY: The Cardinals are closing in on an extension with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). If he passes a physical, Goldschmidt will remain a Cardinal for five additional seasons at a price of $130MM, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), thus setting a new contractual record for the storied St. Louis franchise.
Goldschmidt is already slated to earn $14.5MM in 2019, the final season of the extension he signed earlier in his career. With five new seasons tacked on, he’ll now be under contract through the 2024 season. The new deal will afford Goldschmidt full no-trade protection but will not include any opt-out opportunities, Rosenthal tweets.
The Cards are now set to accomplish what they set out to do when they acquired Goldschmidt earlier this winter. The club made no secret of its desire to hammer out a long-term arrangement with its new first bagger. Indeed, achieving exclusive negotiating rights likely motivated the St. Louis organization to part with starter Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, minor league infielder Andy Young and a Competitive Balance Round B selection to land Goldy in the first place.
Getting the deal done now means that both the Cardinals and Goldschmidt (along with his representatives at Excel Sports Management) need not think about alternatives next winter. It surely would have been interesting to see how the star performed on the open market. It’s hardly an optimal time for a defensively limited slugger to reach the open market. The Chris Davis deal (seven years, $161MM) is scarcely three years old, but seems a relic in retrospect. We’ve seen a steady reduction in earning expectations for such players in recent years. Still, significant money has still been there for the very best players. J.D. Martinez took down $110MM over five years despite profiling as a DH. Carlos Santana and Edwin Encarnacion each commanded $20MM annual salaries over three-year terms. And first bagger Eric Hosmer — a much younger but lighter-hitting first baseman — went for eight years and $144MM.
There’s an argument to be made that Goldschmidt could have earned more on the open market. He’d have faced little competition at the top of the first base market outside of the older Jose Abreu, though there are a few notable other players available next winter. But it’s frankly difficult to argue with the decision to sign onto this contract, particularly with another year of health and performance risk still separating Goldschmidt from free agency. The Cards obviously were quite fond of their new acquisition — and, perhaps, felt no small amount of pressure to get something done. It’s no small achievement in this climate for a first baseman to secure a $26MM AAV over a five-year term that begins in his age-32 season.
Goldschmidt, of course, is no ordinary first baseman. Comparing him to his peers at first base, in fact, isn’t quite the right scope. Over the past three years — that is, not including his personal-best 2015 campaign — Goldy has been among the dozen top position players by measure of fWAR. He’s in a dead heat with Freddie Freeman and Joey Votto in that regard. Now, he’ll join that pair of star performers in securing a large and lengthy contract extension.
While the Cardinals haven’t had much time to watch Goldschmidt up close, he really doesn’t have much of anything to prove. Somehow only an eighth-round draft pick back in 2009, Goldschmidt has been an offensive sensation ever since he reached the professional ranks. He destroyed minor-league pitching while racing to the majors, showing well in his 2011 debut. Thereafter, he emerged as one of the game’s best hitters and has rarely wavered from that standard.
All told, Goldschmidt carries a .297/.398/.532 slash (144 wRC+) through 4,708 plate appearances. That’s more or less exactly what he posted last year, when he ran up 690 plate appearances of .290/.389/.533 hitting with 33 long balls. Goldschmidt didn’t have his best showing in terms of plate discipline, but his 13.0% walk rate and 25.1% strikeout rate were hardly problematic and largely reflect his career levels. He continued to sting the ball, with a career-best 46.2% hard-contact rate (per Fangraphs), though he also made soft contact with greater frequency (16.9%) than ever before.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hallelujah
Can not wait to see the contract It is a great time with both the Cardinals and Goldschmidt.
Extension szn
Can we buy a vowel?
N
Hahahaha
That word needs an extension.
It was meant to be ironic lol
5 years for 110 million seems pretty cheap for a guy like goldy
a bit, but he is 31 already
No way. Not for a 32 year old (when he would be a FA) first base only dude coming off an off year (albeit still good). That’s a big number for that position and age.
He was the best player in baseball from May-September. His April and May was easily the worst slump of his career though
Goldschmidt is pound for pound one of the best all around players in the game.. what are we discussing here? his hitting going? his power in particular? his average? I mean his defense is superb, as well as his speed for a 1B.. he was going to command a decent salary on the 1B market regardless. why not the Cardinals sign him? bc he’s 31-32? you do know that his track record says he’ll be more of a Nelson Cruz than a Ryan Braun (hitting wise, not position obviously).The guy is extremely durable.
Makes sense. This organization has the appeal of bringing people over via trade and then signing them longer-term.
Nooooooooooooooo
So many extensions lately. I like it, but I don’t since I’m an A’s fan and we apparently didn’t get the memo.
You guys ll extend Khris Davis before long
stax. The A’s Owner doesn’t spend money.
The extension party rolls on.
Yessssss!
How could Arizona not afford $21MM per year for him?
Because they got three players they felt strongly about in exchange for a 1B that is about to decline.
Weaver will thrive in the desert
Not in that park.
Unbelievable, right? Give Yasmany Tomas $69M sight unseen, $206M to an aging Greinke and take a dump on the face of the franchise. If $110M-$150M for Goldy is too rich for their blood, then the Dbacks are hopeless. If he ever makes it to the HOF the Dbacks don’t deserve to be his team.
Arizona know things St Louis doesn’t know about Goldschmidt
Good for anyone who doesn’t actually take the field or those that root against the Cards. Did Arizona simply not ask though? I can’t imagine this deal wouldn’t have worked for Arizona.
Goldy will be 31 soon and free agency sucks now so this is smart for him and the cardinals. Finally me underrated himself gets his big payday !!
Goldy will not hit out of Arizona and Colorado for lot of his games.
“Reds extend Yasiel Puig” – 1 hour from now probably
actually i wouldn’t be surprised if bumgarner got extended at this rate
#extensionmania2019
Extension Week continues
Wheeee! Great hands at first for awhile for a change. And with Fowler and Ozuna smacking dingers today, this year could be a freakin’ hitfest!! Looking forward to it!
Yeaaaahhh!!
Hahaha cubs
? were the cubs expecting him to reach FA?
Hahahaha White Sox fans with Cubs on the brain.
This dude’s comments are about 95% cubs. Definitely an inferiority complex going on
He does troll Yankees articles pretty hard. I think he has in inferiority complex in general.
It’s gonna be fun watching this guy crush that pitiful cubs pitching staff. He might be my early MVP pick this year.
Trolls don’t get MVP votes.
Truth hurts.
the white sox have the worst pitching staff in baseball. also, where’s Manny and Bryce?
Gotta beat out Bryant and Rizzo first. Two words skippy..Not Happening!!
Great deal for the Cards and great to have Goldschmidt around long-term. This deal as well as the way Knizner is hitting makes the loss of Carson Kelley an afterthought. Goldie will be fun to watch in St. Louis
Yea but Kelly is having a great spring…I hope he works out in Arizona
I put Kelly in the same boat as Voit – they may both turn out to be very good players, but they never would have had a shot in STL, and I doubt either would’ve been able to even build up their trade value any higher in STL.
Exactly, same as Dan Haren when he left, he went on to do great things but gotta be proud that he started in STL. can’t keep them all.
Good hitting catchers are scarce these days because the hottest-hitting catching prospects are soon moved to 1B or OF. This usually happens early in a guy’s minor-league career to save the guy’s legs (and thus his bat) for the long haul.
I mean ya, that could be a huge pick up for the DBacks and I hope he works out too. But he still ended up being a spare part here even with all of that potential, you can’t start two catchers at once. Well worth the huge upgrade Goldschmidt is
Totally agree I was just actually checking up on Kelly the other day and saw that he was doing well…I hope the dbacks make him the starting catcher out of spring
They won’t be playing for October this year, so no reason not to. He’s definitely got nothing left to prove at AAA
This is sweet for the Cards. Awesome. I was waiting for this extension.
Refsnyder is next…..
Great deal for both sides. Goldy has been underpaid until now yet the market hasn’t been too kind to players over 30 lately.
I think he’ll age well and Cards fans will enjoy having him for the next 5 years.
Guys at Cot’s MLB contracts working overtime today…..
If I want to extend anyone over 30, it’s gotta be Goldschmidt. His game and position would have to be the best bet to age well. He swings within himself, not too violently. He kind of reminds me of Holliday in that he is that complete hitter that will be effective even if he isn’t in the running for an MVP.
With players avoiding free agency, you can trade for a player and sign them to a extension.
If those figures are correct or close to it then seems like good value for the Cards.
“It’s hardly an optimal time for a defensively limited slugger to reach the open market.”
3 gold gloves, one in 2018?….
lol????????
2017 not 2018, but your point is made. I questioned the “defensively limited” line myself. No on would confuse him with Keith Hernandez, but 3 GG in 6 years is pretty damn good.
I thought that was odd too.
I think they were trying to refer to the fact that he only plays one position with no versatility. But yes, he’s one of the best defensive 1B in baseball
I interpreted “defensively limited” to mean Goldschmidt is limited to 1B, a position that inherently limits defensive value (and therefore market value). Relative to other 1B (i.e. stats like DRS), he’s posted positive defensive marks every season since 2012. Relative to all defenders (i.e. stats like dWAR and DEF), his defensive value has been negative over the same span. Positional adjustment (-12.5 runs/162 games) kills 1B, even one as good as Goldschmidt.
“Postional limitations” he could of just said “only plays first base” uses less words even…you can interpret it how you want. Its poorly written.
This is great news !!!
Even at $200 mil. for 5 years is a deal to me. They seem to be getting him cheaper.
If Goldy & Ozuna have protect each other in the line up & have great seasons…There is no reason the Cardinals should not compete for the Championship.
$40m/yr is a “deal” for you? Mike Trout got $35m! Goldy will be 32 when this deal kicks in, declining and limited to 1B. Overpay, but an acceptable one.
Not really..the Cardinals don’t need him to play “D” all over the field, they have that in other positions, it’s his hitting and off the field variables that make him worth it.. the locker room presence on top of solid #3 hitter makes 26mil a year welllllll worth it. we pay yadi 20 to lead and command the rotation and do a little hitting on the side. Money ball doesn’t always need to be played..don’t need a 4 position player to be a valuable one.
The past 2 free agent classes have made extensions look good. Good job owners, make free agency look so bad that guys don’t want to risk it. When does the reserve clause come back?
Did the Diamondbacks even try?
He is a good hitter and smart to take the contract. Free agency may not have been as kind for a 1B only player, especially if he shows any type of decline this year.
I love all these extensions. However I do think Goldy could’ve scored more on the open market
Better than Harper in all aspects of the game. Way cheaper. Nice job Phillies! More money is not always better. $ do not = wins.
Are you saying Phillies would have been better off trading for Goldy and keeping Rhys in LF than signing Harper?
I think he is saying that.
I’ll say it too—Harper is officially the most overrated player in baseball. I understand why the Phils signed him though (put butts in seats). Still, their fans are set up for major disappointment, since the roster is average at best.
better than the white sox pitiful roster, bet you would’ve said he’s pretty much the second coming if he signed with the white sox.
lol, I wanted Machado.
In regards to the pitiful Sox roster, agreed.
If you really look at it though, over half the entire MLB is pitiful. We have the yankees to thank for it too. Their revenue sharing idea amounts to hush money for billionaire owners of small/medium market teams. So, if you want a true competitive league, instead of the rigged facade we get year-in, year-out, support a salary cap for major league baseball.
I honestly don’t know why the White Sox didn’t just guarantee those last 2 years. Especially if Machado was so guaranteed to have those options vest anyway as they claim. He would have signed with CWS if they had matched the Padres’ offer.
Also, support the abolition of steal signing, PEDs, and homeplate umpires. Let’s clean up the game. Teams should win the old fashioned way, not the “yankee” way (cheating).
When was the last time the Yankees won anything? Or the Dodgers?
A lineup with Hoskins, Segura, Realmuto, Harper and McCutchen is “average at best”
And you’re right, a guy who won the MVP at 22 years old, has a career OPS of .900 and hasn’t even hit his prime years is totally the most “overrated player in baseball”
Stop….
All that money on Luis Robert… how’s his timeline coming along?
I live in Phoenix half the year. D’back fans are NOT pleased with their loss. I try not to laugh hysterically.
I can’t blame them, because he’s a perennial All Star and MVP candidate that has always raked and is on a Hall of Fame path.
Enormous overpay for a 1B only player that already reached 30.
Showing zero signs of declining, a gold Glover and would’ve been the top 1B on the market next year. Smart move by the Cards
No one shows any signs of decline until they start declining. It isn’t a video game where everything happens predictably and gradually.
Pujols and Howard both went from elite to trash in literally one year. Same with Felix. Kershaw was the epitome of consistency and then all of a sudden had body injuries 4 times in one year.
Pujols showed signs of decline in his last season with the Cardinals and his first with the Angels before the wheels fell off. Howard’s fall came with his physical fall in the NLDS when he tore his Achilles tendon…but that was an injury-induced decline, which has nothing to do with his age. Just ask Allen Craig about his foot. And Kershaw is a starting pitcher, a position and role who’s aging curves, injury histories, and years of expected effectiveness are far different that a position players.
Signs of decline happen, but people usually don’t notice them, because the great player has so far to fall.
Goldschmidt is one of the best hitters in the league (4th in OPS since the 2012 season, with Mike Trout first) and a Gold Glove 1B, which, by the way, is a position that probably doesn’t have the wear and tear that, say, a 3B or CF gets. Your view of “enormous overpay” is utterly inaccurate, unless you think this is 1999.
Injuries correlate very strongly with age. There’s no such thing as “nothing to do with age.” Age affects everything, from immune system to the ability to heal and strengthen after an injury. That’s why many standardized surgeries (wisdom teeth, tonsils, etc…) are pushed at a young age, because young people recover quicker and with fewer complications.
Pujols had injury history though, Goldie is about the opposite when it comes to health.
Very true, but your argument actually validates Goldie bc he’s never really been injured, and is a poster boy for health.
Yeah, but then there’s a history of injuries, like there was with Pujols,who had been nursing a couple of conditions for several seasons.
There isn’t any of that for Goldschmidt.. Just like there isn’t for Yadier Molina, who even had his nuts exploded by a Hicks fastball and still came back in the same and played well. How did his age affect his recovery?
My point with Craig is that he was a young player who had been healthy outside of some freak injuries, and then another freak injury with his foot derailed his career at age 28. His career-altering injury had nothing to do with his age, same as Ryan Howard’s (a torn Achilles tendon is something anybody can do. I know; my cross-country career in college ended because of it.).
When it comes to an individual player’s health, you cannot apply a blanket view. Goldschmidt is exactly the type of older player you can hand a 5-year contract to and figure you’re going to get good value out of it, especially for one of the best players in the game. All multi-year contracts are a risk, and your original statement is unmoored from that reality.
$26 million a year enormous overpay for the best 1B in baseball? I hope your brain came with a lifetime warranty.
If he regresses to being a .260/.360/.500 gold glove quality player he’s still worth every penny.
Keep in mind the Cardinals don’t have any 1B on the horizon.
no, actually, in that event he is worth 30 pennies on every dollar.
Reflectthats just ignorant. He is one of the best bats in baseball.In comparison a deficit fielder in Harper just signed to age 39 at a similar per year amount and Goldschmidtis a far superior hitter. Reflect on that
“defensively limited slugger”. Does this writer know anything? He should be let go. Goldy has 3 Gold Gloves. Do your homework before you write such a dumb comment.
Speaking of dumb comments, you trying to get Jeff Todd fired from MLBTR is completely dumb.
Goldy is absolutely “defensively limited” in that he’s a 1 position player. He’s not suddenly going to be able to transition to 3rd or the OF.
But not for the Red Birds, who have been absolutely miserable defensively at 1B for a while now. Not only does this make the Cards’ right side of the infield the best in Baseball, pitchers can now throw to first without worrying about mishaps, increasing Yadi’s ability to throw runners out, it allows Wong to play closer to second, bettering his DP plays, makes it difficult for other teams to advance the runner by bunt, and allows Carpenter to move to third where he is at least average, and lets Gyorko spell him. Plus his baserunning ability gives the Cards the opportunity to move him to the #2 spot in the order, where he can use his speed.
exactly, it depends on the teams needs as far as value as well. everyone tries to make a universal estimation and while we can get close, a team like the Cards who need a solid #3 hitter is going to value him more than a team like Yankees who have Judge, Stanton, and so many more already.
“It’s hardly an optimal time for a defensively limited slugger to reach the open market.”
He’s only got 3 gold gloves. While he’s limited to first base, he’s not a limited defender.
If he wasn’t a limited defender he wouldn’t be limited to first base. That’s inherent in the definition of “limited.”
Using that logic, are all catchers and pitchers defensively limited?
not really, a lot of catchers play 1st and you don’t really know with pitchers because teams don’t want to risk injury with them
No, it’s just poor writing….what Todd probably meant was “defensively limited to 1B”.
But the way he wrote it says that Goldschmidt is a defensively limited 1B.
Which is extremely wrong, considering Goldy is one of the best defensive 1B in the league.
That’s fair.
awesome!!!
In what world is a power hitter with 3 gold glove awards a defensively limited slugger?
I think it’s good news. Our bats are coming alive. At least against the Yankees with numbers 75 and higher
Where are all the commenters that talked so much trash about how cardinals can’t extend their top players? And then they pointed to Jason Heyward as their crutch? Looking pretty dumb now.
He is a known cub killer. Will rake for cards and they should get good value. Man this sucks.
Classic cards, not a fan at all but really strong move by them.
This makes that trade an A+ cardinals know how to do it! Nice!
This is the new way of doing business in baseball, trade and extend. Free agency will continue to become less relavant in the years to come.
Very good news.
Cardinals lineup has a world of potential, but a lot of things need to go right. This is a step in the right direction concerning the future.
You can make an argument that Goldie’s numbers are as good as Trout. Look at his BARF and DRiP numbers for the last 8 years… kills Fishboy.
That post is barf.
Don’t forget his P.O.O.P (Projections Out Of Phoenix)
Poop and barf is what cubs fans will be doing at wrigley field by June. It will be epically entertaining.
You’re making Sox fans look moronic.
You’re making cubs fans look moronic. #fixed
$130mil/5yrs. This seems like a heck of a deal for the Cardinals. Imagine the disgust felt by every other (contending) owner after reading about this. Special thanks to Jason Heyward for choosing the Cubs instead. Also would like to give a shout out to Stanton and Price.
Great signing; past trends should result in similar future stats. Outfield seems cluttered without a proven player who has had year over year consistently good stats. Where are the Reggie Sanders, Lance Bergmans, Larry Walkers…etc
Well, looks like the MLB players union theory about clubs not signing players just went out the window. Teams signed six players to 1.5 billion this offseason.
Bregman $100 mil
Goldy $130 mil
Arenado $260 mil
Machado $300 mil
Harper $330 mil
Trout $360 mil
Too me it just seems like the trash in the league isn’t worth the money they are looking for. These players need to wake up.
The players signed/extended in your comment are all top 10 offensive performers in the league. Foundations to build a team around.
Then there are players like Jose Iglesias, who was worth 2.2 WAR last year and wound up with only a minor league contract.
The middle class veteran player is still mostly scratching for jobs and pennies, with teams leaning on younger, cost-controlled but less proven players instead. Players were okay with that early bargin financial status and lack of control in their careers, because they used to make up their money when they became free agents. That’s not happening anymore, and that’s a problem. Players aren’t going to stand for an unofficial version of the reserve clause.
What’s with all these extensions and contracts with no opt outs. Opt outs are the smartest thing to ask for.
Opt outs make no sense for the team
Opt outs make no sense for the team that is handling a superstar player.
Opt outs make all the sense in the world for the Chicago Cubs and their MVP-caliber right fielder.
Hence him not opting out
You can’t have it both ways. Players ultimately want the security of a longterm contract. They should be willing make a commitment in exchange.
The Diamondbacks are a poorly ran organization. They traded the face of their organization who also happens to be the best player they ever had. Yet they signed Grienke to a ridiculously enormous contract that will blow up in their faces. So dumb. I am pretty sure they could have signed Goldy for a similar extension.
Two different regimes. Pretty much everyone realizes that the regime that signed Greinke had no idea what they were doing.
Two different regimes, same stupid ownership.
The ownership is the biggest problem for sure… any way us fans can vote out an owner?
The way ownership has had a short leash with GMs in the past…. and the mind-boggling hiring of Tony LaRussa and Dave Stewart…
They’re finally on the right track with Hazen… I just hope they give him a legitimate chance
Bargain- he’s a stud
Good ole St. Louis hometown discount, he must love it there
Not sure if this is sarcasm? This deal seems fair
Go Texas State Bobcat!
And scouts kept denigrating him all through his minors career. Shows you something about the Diamondbacks!
What a stinkjob by D’Backs.
What was the plan, get some players by trading their best and franchise player , and then go after Goldy one year later in FA, hahahahah sure Cards will wait and would love that.
Unreal, and some people in that front office are making ton of money for that brain trust.
When you collect next paycheck, be reminded that you make a fool of whole franchise and D’Backs fans all around.
Great job.
You sound not very knowledgeable about the Dbacks situation at all!
Dbacks are a small/mid market team… Goldy was going to test free agency and wasn’t going to make any team friendly deals like he has done in the past.. and the Dbacks budget is to the max!
So in retrospect they insured they got a return for him instead of losing him to free agency.
Sounds like you really did your research…. good job!
Yeah, small market team , ok. Yet, they have a pitcher with largest salary in the whole MLB, but can’t extend their own franchise player, and maybe best 1B in the league with 26 mill per year.
Gimme a break.
Nevertheless , great move by Cards , this organization always are making damn good moves.
Again… Nice research there…you are soooo smart! Yeah they have a pitcher named Greinke who is the highest paid pitcher… that was a bonehead move made by the last regime (Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart)… they only lasted two years as President and GM due to making the WORST moves in the history of baseball!
The current GM, Mike Hazen… inherited a mess from MR. La Russa! La Russa and Dave Stewart traded away 2 first round draft picks, depleted the farm system, signed Grienke to an insane contract, and signed an unproven Cuban star whose getting 32 million the next 2 years….
If the Dbacks didn’t waste a large portion of their salary on players like Greinke and Yasmany Tomas…. then the Dbacks ‘possibly’ had a chance to resign Goldie…. also did you know the Dbacks had their highest salary ever in the history of the team last year? You really think they are going to add 25 million on top of that? That’s cool you are more aware of the Dbacks financial constraints more than they are! Wow… nice research! Peace!
Revisionist thinking. The talk in AZ the last 1-2 years was that there was zero chance the Dbacks were going to get a second hometown discount and they couldn’t afford a ‘full retail cost’ of Goldy (mainly because of mistakes of past regimes) No one foresaw this extension-mania. Hindsight and all.
As a Dbacks fan this stings…. but don’t worry Dbacks!!! We still got Yasmany Tomas whose getting paid $16 million this year and next and likely won’t make the 40 man roster!
If Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart didn’t make bonehead free agent moves and deplete the farm system by trading first round draft picks… who knows… maybe just maybe Goldy would have still be a Dback.
Boy…. you’re right!! Dave Stewart was a disaster for the D’backs!!! And he was Strictly a LaRussa man too!!
Sounds like a good deal for both sides!! However, to be Not just second wild card contenders, they still need a .300 hitter in front of Goldy. He should be batting third, but besides Carpenter, there is no one who can consistently get on base.
Here comes Debbie Downer Cardinals17…what’s the matter can’t give The front office credit for this one
Stop quoting batting average as an important stat by itself. Stop. It treats all hits the same and is ignorant of Walks and Strikeouts. Batting average is for awards, not value.
What they need is a .375 OBP guy in front of him. That will score runs. There are a lot of .300 hitters with .310 OBP. Those guys we do not need in front of Goldy.
Finally, Bunselpower! A voice of reason. For years people have been throwing around batting average as the measure of a player’s value, which is a complete distortion of the facts. I know of many players who hit in the .280s or .290s and barely break .300 in OBP. Some fantasy magazines list the numbers in a row; many time OBP isn’t there, but BA is always there. OBP is the most important number in the line, and yet people choose to focus on flash rather than actual production. I can’t believe there are MLB players who are getting paid millions of dollars a year, and yet they’ve never outgrown or were properly trained to resist the little league impulse of hacking at every pitch that the pitcher throws. MLB needs GMs like you, who realize how runs are actually scored in baseball.
This guy is a perfect “Cardinal” type player. Comes to work and just gets it done. His character far outweighs his talent and he’s an elite first baseman.
One thing I haven’t seen in these comments is if the NL gets forced into the DH then this really is a good deal as he can be rested and still keep the bat in the lineup. I don’t see that happening much due to his defensive skills over other players available for the cardinals and the presence of Martinez on the 40 man, but the Cardinals and Cubs would be in a good spot for adding the DH. I think it gives the more elite teams in the NL a big edge over the rest of the league due to depth of bench. For whatever reason those teams seem to carry a bunch of influence with the league. I see the players union pushing for it hard as well due to the lack of free agent signings on the older players that still carry a strong bat.
I would guess that the knowledge that the DH is coming is a big reason why the Cards were ok signing a guy into his late 30s. I don’t want the DH, but you are spot on, the Cards will be one of the teams that benefit the most from its implementation
I don’t want it either, but it will ease the burden on some of these teams in the NL that just dropped big bucks on longggg term contracts for position players. I see no way the players union signs off on the next contract without it. The commish is pushing for it as well. It will be strange watching baseball with more than a handful of games played with it as a cardinals fan.
It took us 8 years but we finally replaced Pujols.
Honorable mention to Allen Craig (split 1B and corner OF)
Did you really add an update to this just to tell us that $130 divided by 5 = 26?
Well it explains whether or not it was a front loaded contract or back loaded…so there is that
So this says he can get 1.5 million for NL MVP. Hypothetically speaking, if he was traded to AL somehow and won AL mvp, would he miss out on it. Wonder if the contract actually says nl