NOV. 2: The Cardinals announced that they have indeed exercised their option on Garcia (Twitter link).
NOV. 1: The Cardinals have informed Jaime Garcia’s representatives that they will be picking up his $11.5MM option for 2016, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes.  Had the Cardinals declined his option, Garcia would have received a modest $500K buyout.
Garcia’s option wasn’t a given to be picked up, but comments from GM John Mozeliak back in October seemed to hint that the club was leaning in that direction.
“You think back to Garcia, and the impact that he made on our roster was extremely positive,” said Mozeliak. “If we were having this conversation in February, I don’t think any of us would have thought he was going to contribute, especially the way he did.”
Garcia, 29, pitched to a 2.43 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 across 20 big league starts this season.  Despite his rough outing in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, the left-hander gave the Cardinals solid pitching overall, no small feat considering that he began the year on the disabled list.  As Strauss notes, Garcia’s talent has never really been in question, but his durability has been.  Garcia has made more than 30 starts in a season only once (2011) and he took the hill only 16 times between 2013 and 2014.
Garcia’s deal is only guaranteed through 2016, though he could be brought back to St. Louis on a second option year in 2017. Â Next year, the Cardinals will have the option of retaining Garcia for $12MM or instead buying him out for $500K.
Not gonna get better off the FA market for $11m.
I am very curious now to see if the Cards resign Lackey. If they do, I would expect Lynn or Wacha to be trade bait. I think the Cards have to start putting more effort into getting Yadi’s future replacement in the pipeline. also the Cards are rather weak in SS prospects.
Lackey should be re-signed by the cards, he had one of his best seasons since 2007, But I agree Lynn or Wacha should be traded
Resign Lackey for what? 1 or 2 years? Trade Wacha who is controlled for what like 4 more years? Maybe they’ll deal Lynn but he’s been the most dependable pitcher we’ve had. Cardinals will make a qualifying offer assuming he will decline it. We’ll get a draft pick out of the deal but I bet Lackey gets signed by the Cubs.
I like him… he deserves 2-3 years but I don’t think he will get it with the Cards.
Agree on getting Yadi’s replacement in the pipeline… SS position seems to be decent but no one I’m excited about, that’s for sure.
I agree about Lackey to the cubs, he would be a solid 3 or 4 in that rotation, but I think the cubs get Price
Pretty scary to think about that rotation if they do.
Garcia came back strong for STL. Lackey was the bargain of the century but there is no reason to sign him to a multi year deal at age 37. If they can get him for a one year deal for $10 mil…maybe. Getting Yad’s replacement is near impossible. He’s the greatest receiver in Cards history. But he’s under contract for another three years. Peralta isn’t exciting but he gets the job done and has produced exactly what the Cards should have expected. He has two years left on his deal. As for trading Lynn and/or Wacha——why on earth would the Birds do that? Wacha simply tired in Sept during his first full season in MLB. Lynn isn’t going to win a Cy….but he’s dependable and under Cards control another two years.
I agree with everything said here… except I do think the Cards are going to make a qualifying offer. I think he can get a 2-3 year deal somewhere else, which is why I think he would decline a QO but perhaps he won’t.
There’s speculation that there us a “handshake” agreement that the Cardinals will not extend a QO to Lackey. It will be interesting to see, I hope they do.
If the cards don’t bring back Lackey , the cubs are a perfect fit for him
So, Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Wacha, and Martinez, if they all stay healthy probably already the best top to bottom 2016 starting rotation in the Majors no matter where the free agent chips fall. While that is a pretty big “if,” there’s also some good depth in Lyons, Cooney, and Gonzales behind them.
Some better health on offense and this team might win 100 games again next year, although it might also be tougher assuming the Cubs get better and the Pirates stay tough.