Looks like he's about to get a Soriano-esque bad contract. MLBTR is reporting 8 years 140 million guaranteed. That's a lot of paper for someone who will be 30 by the start of the year. Who else is even going after him right now?

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Team Cutler.

ESPN is only saying "in excess of 100 million" with 18 per year...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4780391

I like them spending money...but they sure as hell better make sure they got enough left over for Pujols next year...

There are so many different reports it's hard to believe what's true. I can see him getting the $18M per but for 5-6 years. 8 years is crazy.

I rather have Hoffpauer!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Above comment is WITH ALL THINGS CONSIDERED! If I was a GM,one golden rule: Never give anyone longer then 4 years & never more then 14 or 15 mil a year. Maybe you lose out on a Matt Holiday but you can take that unspent cash and invest in scouting and upgrading your farm system,hire good coaches,better facilities,etc.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

So you wouldn't offer more than 60million/4yrs to Arod or Pujols?

No,because those guys will ask for the moon. If the Cards let Albert walk,they could take that unspent money and probably sign 4 or 5 decent players. Soriano's contract is insane. It has become a 10,000 lb. weight on the Cubs backs. In time,Albert will start to fade & the Cards will be stuck with a declining star making 20 mil a year for the next 3-5 years.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

He can ask for the moon for all I care...he's proven to be not only one of the best hitters ever, but he's been rediculously consistent while doing so...no 4 or 5 "decent players" wil be able to give you what he does. The next time he gives me a reason to think he's going to fade anytime soon will be the first...if I were the Cards, I'd be willing to give him whatever the hell he wants to make sure he spends his entire career in St. Louis.

I'm pretty sure that Albert has been at least consulted about this deal, he is very active with charities and businesses in St Louis and has expressed a desire to finish his career there. I can only assume that he may be willing to take less than ARod money to help the team retain a player the calibre of Holliday.

Even $18mm is the going rate for a slugging outfielder, if Bay is getting 16+. Holliday is much better than Bay. Before we make the Coors' Field argument, Holliday hit .353 with an OPS over 1.000 in his half year in St. Louis.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Official 7 Years/120 Million.

I don't think they necessarily overspent per market value, but definitely overspent per their means unless they want to bump their payroll up another 30-40 million in the next few years once it's time for Albert to get paid. I can't see them wanting to have probably 40 million tied up in just Pujols and Holliday if they keep their cap around 90 mil.

This does make them the clear cut favorite in the central right now though.

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Team Cutler.

7 years is way too long IMO for a 30 yr old OFer. As I posted in another thread I think this may end up being a Soriano sized mistake by the Cards.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He's no Mark Teahen!!!!!!

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

I love this signing for the Cardinals. Personally I have thought that Holliday was overrated due to his inflated Colorado numbers. He had a bit of a resurgence when he got to St. Louis but certainly no way near this albatross of a contract. In 2 years time the Cardinals fans will be bitching about being saddled by this contract and unable to make any other big moves. Stay classy St. Louis -

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

Telling fans to "stay classy" over something they haven't done yet...

It's just a line from a movie dude!

Take it easy - you could be a Cubs fan!

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

A Cubs fan might assume that every other fan base will react in the same fashion. I got the Ron Burgundy reference, but let's just leave it at that.

I can't say I have any reaction to the move now, it's a little over the top in terms of the years... you are correct in assesing if this in any way affects re-signing Pujols, there will be a hellstorm of criticism of this deal.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

The question is....would he have gotten 7 years elsewhere?

Maybe. I thought it would be a 5 year deal

last year was bad. his prior 2 seasons were not bad at all by his standards. it was exactly what the cubs thought they were getting when they signed him. which is why they shouldnt have signed him in the first place.