Results tagged ‘ Holliday ’
Holliday Respects Edmonds’ Famous Number; DeRosa Gone
Now, we all know that Holliday re-signed with the Cardinals for a monstrous amount of money, or at least monstrous for the Cardinals. If the Yankees gave him this contract, he would not be respected in New York. However, every true Cardinal fan knows that Jim Edmonds, famous retired center fielder for the Cardinals, wore number 15. Holliday changed his number from 15 to 7 to show respect as a Cardinal. Some people even criticized Holliday for his number choice in 2009, so changing his uniform is good all-around. Of course, Holliday won’t now and never will wear number 5. “I offered Albert a watch. Apparently he has one already,” Holliday joked about this. “I know Jim Edmonds was a big deal here and he wore number 15. So I was kind of hoping to have my own number. Mickey Mantle wore number 7. He’s from Oklahoma (too). I like single digits,” announced Holliday.
Now this leads to our next topic. What about DeRosa? Wasn’t he wearing number 7? Yes, but not anymore. DeRosa signed a 2 year, $12 million contract with the Giants, probably to play third base. Oh well.
Holliday Given 119 Million Reasons to Stay a Cardinal
Matt Holliday announced today, Tuesday, January 5, 2009, that he will be staying in St. Louis for seven more years. Yes!! It took three and a half months and two contract bumps, but it finally payed off. Holliday’s contract was signed at $17 million a year for seven years, $119 million total. This is the biggest contract in club history; $19 million more than Albert Pujols’ $100 million seven year contract. Pujols is earning $14 million a year. Holliday’s contract also includes a $17 million vesting option for 2017, which will kick if he finishes in the top 10 in NL MVP voting in the 2016 season. Of course if Pujols decides to re-sign with the Cardinals before 2012, it will most likely be a bigger contract than Matt’s. Next year may be Albert’s last official year as a Cardinal not including the club option, but we will have Holliday to fill that number 3 spot if Pujols decides to go elsewhere.
First Comes Penny, Next Comes…
There are three months left until spring training in March, so the Cardinals have a lot of time to make a deal with someone to fill that hole in the depth chart in left field. Of course, the Cardinals are eagerly awaiting Holliday’s response to their offer. The Cards apparently upped that offer as of late. Will this increase Holliday’s chances to say? We all hope so. However, management is very aware of the fact that Jason Bay declined his offer to stay with the Red Sox. This puts a major hole in the Sox’s depth chart. If Holliday does decline the offer, that leaves Bay left. Bay is probably the team’s second priority. The Red Sox have not shown interest in Holliday, which is good, because they can bid higher. There has been talk, however, about the Yankees. The Yankees recently added Curtis Granderson to their outfield, but will they add Holliday? Possibly. I am sure the Yanks will jump after Matt if he happens to decline. Next year, though, the Red Sox and Cardinals may end up simply switching their left fielders, and if that does happen, we will still have a silver slugger in left field. Bays average is a problem, however, batting .267 in 2009. I prefer Holliday, and if you agree, please comment. If you don’t, go ahead and comment also. I would like to see your argument.
Penny’s in the Bag, No Holliday Break For Cards
The Cardinals may not have signed their major priority, and you and I both know who that is, but they did add a really good starter to their rotation. Brad Penny signed a 1-year deal worth 7.5 million dollars. Penny is a starting pitcher that including the Cardinals has played for five different major league teams in his ten year career: the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and now the Cards. The contract was signed on December 7, 2009. Penny’s career win-loss is 105-84. He has a 4.14 career ERA and 1,141 strikeouts.
The Cardinals have also been making a lot of noise about Matt Holliday, who apparently wants to stay in St. Louis. Holliday’s agent Scott Boras has been talking with GM John Mozeliak about the situation. The Cardinals will not get a Holliday break during the holidays. (no pun intended) Management will continue to get Holliday behind Pujols again, although Mark DeRosa is second priority if this deal does not come through. Let’s hope it does!
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