sportcat
12-31-2009, 07:26 AM
According to published reports, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to signing outfielder Matt Holliday to a multi year contract. The dollar figures mentioned are large indeed. Holliday apparently turned down an $18 million dollar per year offer to remain with the Colorado Rockies a few years ago. $18 million per year was reportedly Holliday's targer figure. His agent, Scott Boras has gotten athletes some of the largest contracts in their industry.
That being said, advising an athlete to turn down an $18 million dollar a year contract offer would be questionable at best. St. Louis Post Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklatz has penned a column around that subject. The December 31, 2009 stltoday.com column is one of the best sports columns I have read in quite some time.
Most of us just want to see our teams win. The Cardinals should be improved with at least four position players and two pitchers all star caliber. Losing Mark DeRosa to the San Francisco Giants is a blow. DeRosa signed a two year pact for $12 million. He is four years older than Matt Holliday. Injury risk is typically lower with younger players.
Ticket prices will likely rise, as they have for years. Transportation costs and time limitations make it impractical for most in our area to attend more than a handful of major league baseball games in any given season. There is a legitimate concern regarding what it will take to sign Albert Pujols to a lifetime contract.
Matt Holliday signing with the St. Louis Cardinals should raise performance expectations. The Cardinals would have a solid starting line up, above average starting pitching and promising young players in the pipeline. Signing Matt Holliday makes me more likely to attend a game or two in person this season. Last season, i did not.
The Cardinals dropped off Troy Glaus and his $12 million dollar annual salary. They also trimmed Khalil Greene and his six million dollar contract. Allowing Glaus to sign with Atlanta for two million may have been a mistake. Especially if third baseman David Freese cannot control his apparent alcohol consumption. Other veteran players were let go, saving more salary.
There should be a few bucks left over for productive veterans such as John Smoltz and Felipe Lopez. Hopefully a few of the Card's young players will step up as they did last year. If Mitchell Boggs can throw 98 mph as some in the organization reportedly claim, I am in favor of giving him the opportunity. There were two right handed relievers on the Memphis Redbird roster that reportedly hit the gun at 98 mph. Hopefully these hurlers can hit all star catcher Yadier Molina's mitt at the proper place and time.
Signing players to $100 million plus contracts is risky. So is everything else in life. Chris Carpenter, Albert Pujols and Matt Hollliday will earn $14 million or more in 2010. The Cardinals are well set for the upcoming season. It should be fun to watch.
That being said, advising an athlete to turn down an $18 million dollar a year contract offer would be questionable at best. St. Louis Post Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklatz has penned a column around that subject. The December 31, 2009 stltoday.com column is one of the best sports columns I have read in quite some time.
Most of us just want to see our teams win. The Cardinals should be improved with at least four position players and two pitchers all star caliber. Losing Mark DeRosa to the San Francisco Giants is a blow. DeRosa signed a two year pact for $12 million. He is four years older than Matt Holliday. Injury risk is typically lower with younger players.
Ticket prices will likely rise, as they have for years. Transportation costs and time limitations make it impractical for most in our area to attend more than a handful of major league baseball games in any given season. There is a legitimate concern regarding what it will take to sign Albert Pujols to a lifetime contract.
Matt Holliday signing with the St. Louis Cardinals should raise performance expectations. The Cardinals would have a solid starting line up, above average starting pitching and promising young players in the pipeline. Signing Matt Holliday makes me more likely to attend a game or two in person this season. Last season, i did not.
The Cardinals dropped off Troy Glaus and his $12 million dollar annual salary. They also trimmed Khalil Greene and his six million dollar contract. Allowing Glaus to sign with Atlanta for two million may have been a mistake. Especially if third baseman David Freese cannot control his apparent alcohol consumption. Other veteran players were let go, saving more salary.
There should be a few bucks left over for productive veterans such as John Smoltz and Felipe Lopez. Hopefully a few of the Card's young players will step up as they did last year. If Mitchell Boggs can throw 98 mph as some in the organization reportedly claim, I am in favor of giving him the opportunity. There were two right handed relievers on the Memphis Redbird roster that reportedly hit the gun at 98 mph. Hopefully these hurlers can hit all star catcher Yadier Molina's mitt at the proper place and time.
Signing players to $100 million plus contracts is risky. So is everything else in life. Chris Carpenter, Albert Pujols and Matt Hollliday will earn $14 million or more in 2010. The Cardinals are well set for the upcoming season. It should be fun to watch.