For the ongoing services of outfielder Matt Holliday, the St. Louis Cardinals and agent Scott Boras carried out an intricate dance for months.
Making a quick playoff exit was not what the St. Louis Cardinals had in mind when giving up three top prospects for the final two and a half months of Matt Holliday’s expiring contract. Making matters even worse was the reality that the outfielder’s agent, Scott Boras, was plotting the course, a man with a well-deserved reputation for finding top dollar for his clients via free agency.
The situation would remain front and center on the minds of the Cardinal Nation from July through the end of 2009. In fact, it remained topical right up until January 5, when Holliday came to terms on a new, seven-year, $120 million deal with an eighth-year option to remain with St. Louis.
It was a long and painful journey to get there.
From his very first meeting with the press as a Cardinal, a session I attended on July 24, Holliday was asked, then later asked and re-asked about his future plans. The now-30-year-old made it clear from the start that he was in no hurry to discuss a long-term contract.
As the Cardinals season moved toward its close, it was unclear whether or not Boras and the club had yet spoken regarding the matter. On September 24, Boras laid down the law by telling the media he was looking for a Mark Teixeira-like, eight-year, $180 million deal for the man he labeled a “blue-collar superstar”.
Holliday Cardinals futures took a severe beating in fan markets as a result. Into the off-season, Boras hoped to interest the deepest-pocketed teams in New York, Boston and Los Angeles in the bidding.
By early November, when Holliday officially filed for free agency, the Cardinals had seemingly lost whatever small advantage they previously may have enjoyed. Holliday was rumored to have said he would not be giving the club preferential treatment. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. acknowledged his Cardinals would not be the high bidder even as the Angels, Giants and Braves stated they were not interested.
The Cardinals offered Holliday arbitration at the start of December, which was rejected as expected. Boras toughened his stance, pulling the St. Louis future of Albert Pujols into the fray. By mid-month, the Cards made their first reported formal offer, rumored to be five years at about $16 million per year, but apparently received no reply.
As the Jason Bay talks with the Red Sox stumbled, that club expressed interest in Holliday. In fact, it later came out that Boston made him a five-year, $82.5 million offer before giving the same deal to pitcher John Lackey, who accepted. Their AL East competitors from New York never got into the mix, though the Mets at least tried to leverage Holliday in their own Bay negotiations before finally landing their initial target.
As December came to a close, a rumor surfaced that Baltimore offered Holliday eight-years, $130 million guaranteed. A number of other sources, including the Orioles team president, shot down the report. In hindsight, a number of industry-watchers felt the Cardinals gave the outfielder too many years, therefore spending too much in total. Perhaps the Baltimore rumor hastened that.
After a meeting between Cardinals executives and Boras in Austin, Texas the first weekend of January, it took only a few more days to lock down the deal, thus ending one of the most up-and-down free agent sagas the Cardinal Nation has ever had to endure – until Pujols nears free agency, that is…
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[...] 7. Penny for Pineiro 6. The successful odd couple – Mo and TLR 5. The failed finish 4. Holliday’s free agent romp 3. 2. [...]
Only three top stories left, the tension is building. There’s not much left besides Carp and Wainy, and (ahem) Timmy and friends. The projected 2009 stories was pretty much on target.
I will know for this coming December to start the countdown earlier. I got distracted by the news of the day and it has taken too long to roll this out.
If next winter is like last winter you will have plenty of time.
It has all the makings of a quiet winter on the free agent front at least.
The Holliday saga was unusual, in several respects. Despite DeWitt’s prediction about not being the high bidder, he turned out to be. Why? The worst economic conditions since the Great Depression of the 1930s kept a lid on bidding. Most teams are too scared to take on long term contracts.
Consider a team like the Cubs. They have a salary burden around $140MM, thanks to big deals in the past with Soriano. They had to let Kerry Wood and DeRosa both go elsewhere, for the cost savings. The Cardinals however had a starting burden of about $70MM, so could better afford to add talent like Holliday and Penny.
Even though Boras would have sent Holliday elsewhere, the Cards paid the piper and won for once, despite an open market. They are betting Holliday is an elite hitter, worth a premium price.
If we have $2 million to spend next year we will be lucky.
While injuries can sidetrack any team, the Cards have a terrific roster going into 2010.
Depth looks to be the only major question.
Or maybe we will have an extra $16M, who knows.
Something fun……
For the 2009 playoffs, Glaus was on the roster, Freese not. Troy got one or two at bats and was useless.
Now as we head into 2010, the Cards are content to entrust 3B to David Freese, despite his off-field misadventures. Freese went from kept of the roster by dysfunctional Glaus to a starting job. About the only change in the interim for Freese was a DUI arrest.
The explanation is money. Freese’s minimum wage gives him appeal.
I don`t see a reason for all the hand-wringing about Holliday`s deal.You want a top player=you have to pay.Did Boras get Texiera money as he wanted? No.Who won the deal.Cards did IMO.Holliday has proven to be a excellent player who answers the bell every day.Asolid bat behind Albert.A player who is in his prime and should continue to stay at that level for years.
As for 2011 Franklin will be off the books.Penny also.Reyes,Larue all off the books.Thats 13 million right there.Some of that will be eaten up by raises and arbitration.This is why some of the kids must come through this season.Young=cheaper players.
Bw52, just one slight correction. Franklin is under contract for both 2010 and 2011.
Thanks Brian.I had forgotten about the new updated deal.Brainfart i guess.
Carpenter .5
Lohse 3.0
wainwright 2.0 ~
Franklin 1.0
Ludwick 2.5 (est)
Schu 1.5 (est)
Ryan 1.0 (est) (more if he repeats last years stats)
Molina 1.0
McClellen .5 (more if he is the 5th starter)
Raises = $13 million
Reyes 1.5
Larue .5
Penny 7.0
FA losses (assumes difference of being replaced by near minimum wage player) = $9 million
Net = $4 million negative! but if we still have $6 or $7 million this year we could be looking at $2 – $3 million next year. Of course it means a minimum wage lefty in the pen and in 2 of the starter spots.
possible cheap (young) starters for 2011
Lance Lynn
Adam Ottavino
Boggs
Jukich (if can be kept this year-due to the need for LHPs in system…a trade could be made if he doesn`t stick this spring)
MCClellan
Bw52 – I’m crying the blues. I think we have some good, young, near major league ready talent. What we won’t be able to recover from is an injury or somebody tanking.
That sould be I’m “not” crying the blues.
We will just have to hope the kids can compete at the major league level.I think that is the trend nowsdays for almost every team.
Cards have several achillies heals if injury hits
1.Starting pitching-Garcia,McClellan or Boggs will have to comr thru.the losers for the #5 spot will have to be ready if case of need in the rest of the rotation.
2.3B- if Freese flops-then do you try Tyler Greene again or go to Ruben Gotay or go to a minor league FA with Some big league time (I would like to see a Travis Metcalf brought in for depth
C-If Molina goes down-you have LaRue and Matt Pagnozzi-decent defense.no bats.
LH relief-I would like to see Jukich stick-he has starting experience-could fill a long man role(Brad Thompson)..