Update

Preston re-upped with the Cards this week for $1,000,000 + incentives.  Good price, but he will take at-bats from J-Rod.  This cannot be a good thing as long as Juan Encarnacion is still on the team.  The team is set, barring a trade – which I believe may happen during spring training once Walt realizes how shaky his rotation actually is.  The projected starting 5 are decent, but if one of them pulls a Ponson of goes down to injury, then who can step in?  Not much talent that is actually ready down at Memphis.

 On a sad note, Mike Matheny announced his retirement.  Am I the only one who wouldn’t mind if TLR called him up and asked him to help out at Spring Training?  Of course, he is technically still under contract for this year to the Giants, so that may not be kosher.  Yadi and the other young catchers could sure benefit though.

Couple of arbitration signings

Cards came to terms this week with So Taguchi and Randy Flores:

Taguchi will get $925,000 for this year with an option for ‘08 and a $100K buyout.  The option is for $1.1 million and can increase based on plate appearances in 2007.  Too much in my opinion, especially when you can probably bring back Preston for the same money and he has more pop.

Flores gets a 2-year deal for $1.8 million.  Not a good deal IMHO.  He would never have gotten that much if he actually went to arbitration.  Sigh.

All of the Cardinals should be under contract now for 2007.  Bring on Spring Training.

All it takes…

…to get some action on the signing front is for me to post about nothing happening, and then we get all this:

Mark Mulder – back for ‘07-’08 and possibly ‘09.  Details from Rotoworld: Mulder gets $5 million this year and $6.5 million in 2008, and the Cardinals have an $11 million option for 2009 with a $1.5 million buyout. Should he meet all the incentives in the contract, he could receive $45 million through 2009. He can earn $6,525,000 in bonuses this year based on starts, getting the full amount with 35, and any of those bonuses earned would be added to his 2008 salary. He can earn $3.75 million in performance bonuses in 2008, and his 2009 option could increase to an amount matching his 2008 salary.  My take:  If Mulder pitches at a league average level or better, it’s probably a break-even deal.  He is left-handed (a commodity sorely lacking in the STL rotation), so that helps increase his value.  Duncan will need to work his magic again.  This is a chance to perhaps see what Matt Morris would have done had he returned instead of bolting to SF.

“We’re disappointed, but we certainly understand his decision,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. “That continuity was important to him. It wasn’t about the money.”

A decent deal – apparently with a little hometown discount thrown in, but it’s made better by the next signing.

Ryan Franklin- 1 year/1 million (possible $2,000,000 if he makes 29 starts).  Here’s your Mulder insurance and Wainwright/Looper/Thompson staying in the pen insurance.  Franklin isn’t bad, but he hasn’t started since ‘05 with Seattle when he went 8-15.  He eats innings though and is cheap.  This could keep Hawksworth at Memphis all year, which is not a bad thing.  The price was right, although Walt said that they haven’t necessarily decide on him for a rotation spot yet.

Jolbert Cabrera- was courted for a while by the Mets.  Played the last two years in Japan.  A league average hitter with no power and a little speed.  He’s played every position but catcher for Seattle, LA, and Cleveland over a six-year career.  He hit .260 with a .713 OPS in Japan last year(in only 90 games), so he looks to be Memphis-bound.

Rick Ankiel – he’ll still be around after all, at either Springfield or Memphis.  Maybe by 2010 he’ll make it back to the Show… as a coach.

UPDATE:  More on Franklin.  This is the Ryan Franklin who was suspended for 10 days in 2005 for testing positive for steroids (thanks for reminding me, Jason).  He signed with Philly in 2006 for 2.6 million, but was bumped to the bullpen for the first time in his career by Gavin Floyd’s strong spring.  He never adjusted to a bullpen role there and was designated for assignment on July 30.  The Reds picked him up for a PTBNL and cash.  He faced the Cards the same day, coming in after the Cards led 7-0 in the 2nd and pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs (including a Rolen HR).  He is susceptible to the longball, and really should not be an option for the pen.  This is your 5th starter folks.

2007 Rotation: Carpenter, Reyes, Wainwright/Mulder, Wells, Franklin.

You know it’s a slow off-season when…

The most note-worthy news coming out of the Lou since Christmas (besides Big Mac not getting into the Hall) is this:

Jim Edmonds underwent surgery Tuesday to correct a “hammer toe” condition of the second toe on his left foot.

Mark Mulder needs to sign somewhere already. Maybe the upcoming Winter Warm-up will generate some relevant Cardinals news.

Mulder down to two teams?

According to the Star-Telegram in Dallas:

Indications are that Mulder is deciding between the Rangers and his previous team, the St. Louis Cardinals, on a two-year deal.

I like this.  Walt & Company can patch together a rotation until Mulder gets back and then could have their #2 at a nice discount.  Probably something like $5 million + incentives for ‘07 and something similar for ‘08 with a higher base salary.  I’d be happy to get a Mulder for Christmas.

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Speaking of Christmas, I’m out of here until next year and won’t be posting again until the 2nd of January.  Enjoy the holidays and hopefully we’ll get some nice things from the Cardinals while I’m away.

Walt is still doing something

From the Dallas Morning News:

[Mark Mulder's agent Greg] Clifton said the Indians and Cardinals have stepped up their interest lately, with back-and-forth proposals and plenty of dialogue. Clifton has also sent Arizona a counterproposal and as of Wednesday was waiting to hear back from them. Mulder, 29, is on his honeymoon, but he checks in with Clifton a few times a day to see how things are going.

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On another note, some former Cardinals have been finding contracts or getting interest lately:

Sidney Ponson – in talks with the Twins
Einar Diaz – signs minor league deal with the Pirates
Alberto Castillo, Joe McEwing, & Kerry Robinson – signed minor-league deals with invites to Spring Training with Boston
Sterling Hitchcock – considering a comeback
Jason Marquis – 3 years/21 million with the Cubs…. ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ray King & Jason Simontacchi – signed minor-league contracts with the Nationals and received invites to ST

From the hitting close to home department…

 The Denver Post says:

The Cardinals, Rangers and Brewers have explored deals for Barmes, with Milwaukee offering center fielder Brady Clark.

Even with top prospect Troy Tulowitzki expected to start at shortstop, Colorado isn’t motivated to move Barmes. The Rockies have interest in Clark, but his salary is problematic – they would like the Brewers to eat $2 million of his $3.8 million contract – and they are not sure he could outperform Barmes if they try him in center field.

“Teams just want us to give Clint away. We think he can still help us,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “He’s not the first player to go through a sophomore slump.”

No idea why the Cards want Barmes, unless it’s for Memphis… especially with today’s forthcoming announcement of Aaron Miles’ contract signing for ‘07.  Barmes graduated from my high school alma mater.

 Another relevant tidbit from the Denver Post article:

Potential non-tenders on the Rockies’ radar include pitchers Jorge Sosa, Mark Hendrickson and Chris Reitsma.

I’m tempted to write something like “You can have him,” but Sosa may have to stick around to fill a rotation hole. He’d be a better option than Looper IMHO.

Another one bites the dust

Batista is apparently going to be a Mariner, so now what’s left for the Cardinals?  Tomo Ohka.

Not very convincing as a #2, is he?  That’s who the Cards are talking to now.  Other alternatives:

• Suppan – still probably too pricey.  The Pirates (gasp!) may outbid everyone for him.
• Weaver – reportedly wants four years, Cards haven’t talked to Boras about him.
• Trachsel – will we stoop this low?
• Sele – another not very appetizing option.
• Zito – we can dream

At least we signed Russ Springer for the ‘pen, so that Looper can join the rotation.  Why aren’t you laughing?  It’s a joke, isn’t it?

Cards’ Rule 5 Draft

The Cardinals did not select the next Hector Luna in the Rule 5 draft this morning, but they did more two selections in the minor-league portion of the draft.

AAA Phase

They selected Catcher Omar Falcon from Pittsburgh.  He hit .264 in 58 games with 7 HRs and 28 RBIs.  He was a third round pick by San Diego in 2000 and was selected by Seattle in the 2003 Rule 5 draft.  He has some decent power and may be signed to back-up at Memphis with the departure of Mike Rose.

They also selected SS Jose Contreras from Washington.  He was less spectacular at .201/0/15.  I’m not sure what the motivation was with this pick, since his slugging percentage is actually 80 points lower than his OBP for an ugly OPS of .591 for his minor-league career.  He’s only 21 and has been with the Expos/Nats since signing as an undrafted free agent 4 years ago.  Who knows.

Here’s your laugh for today…

According to a story on the San Jose Mercury News’ Web site, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa approached Bonds’ agent on Wednesday night and requested a meeting with the currently unemployed outfielder and owner of 734 career home runs.”I want to talk to your guy,” La Russa reportedly told Jeff Borris outside a steakhouse at the Walt Disney World resort where the meetings are being held. “Where is he? I want to talk to him.” – from ESPN.com

There is no way that the Cardinals sign Bonds. I’d bet my salary on it. On to other things…

It looks like it is Miguel Batista or bust for the rotation hole. Look for the deal to happen in the next two days.

Luis Gonzalez got 7.5 million from the Dodgers. Thanks for bidding him up, Walt. We didn’t need him at that price.

If Batista isn’t signed by the Cards, possibilities via trade are Brad Penny and Jon Lieber, but probably not Mark Buehrle, since the Sox have already traded away Freddy Garcia. Walt will probably find someone nobody have even thought of yet.