Though the Cardinals may not have many further additions to make to their 2019 roster, that doesn’t mean the club’s offeason business is complete. In comments today, as MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch was among those to report, owner Bill DeWitt Jr. made clear that the organization has serious interest in keeping newly acquired first baseman Paul Goldschmidt beyond the coming campaign.
It’s certainly not a surprise to hear that the Cards have interest in a long-term arrangement, though it certainly could have been the case that the team would instead have taken more of a wait-and-see position. Foreseeable though it may have been, it is notable that the Cards are seemingly embarking upon an extension effort (or at least, are laying the groundwork for one) at this early juncture.
Negotiations, it seems, likely haven’t begun. But DeWitt and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak made clear that they fully intend to pursue contract talks, perhaps as soon as this spring.
“We’d love to have him here longer than one year,” said DeWitt, “and we’ll just see how that plays out.” He went on to hint at the Cardinals’ thinking on the initial decision to acquire Goldschmidt in a deal that cost young, controllable, MLB-level talent: “I think worst case is we get a top Draft choice, but that’s not our goal when we trade for a player like Paul Goldschmidt.”
Though Mozeliak wasn’t quite as forthcoming, he did cite the same idea of a one-year “gamble” that DeWitt did. Clearly, the organization pulled the trigger on the trade in part due to the potential for gaining an exclusive bargaining window and recruitment opportunity.
Of course, the timing of all this is less than clear. Mozeliak did say that the first step would be to allow Goldschmidt to settle in with the club in Spring Training. Then? “Ultimately, we’ll sort of, as we round the first turn, get a better idea of what the second turn looks like,” said Mozeliak. Whether that will mean late-spring talks, negotiations during the season, and/or an effort to bring him back via free agency is at this point anyone’s guess.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see how things progress. With just one year to go until free agency, Goldschmidt is tantalizingly close to picking his own team and likely commanding a massive new deal. He’s also already 31 years of age and plays a position that teams have increasingly hesitated to invest in. Of course, Goldschmidt is hardly a common first baseman, either.
StlSwifty
Do it
cardsfan006
yes
StlSwifty
5 yrs / 150 mil. Give him altuve money.
iverbure
Lol why? 1st base is the easiest position to fill. No way he gets that on open market. He probably wouldn’t get 20 mil.
imindless
154 ops+ for 6+ years hitting for average and power he will get that at the very least. If not cards someone will pay that for him.
123redsox
Paul Goldschmidt wouldn’t get 20 million? In what world? He is a hall of famer already at age 31! And is a top 5 first baseman of the past decade and a half as well as a top 2 or 3 first baseman in the majors right now and a top 10 position player in the majors too,
Brixton
dunno if 1182 hits is “HOF already”
Cam
Saying Goldie is a Hall of Famer already, is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen on here. And there’s been a few.
209 HRs and less than 1,200 hits from a non-premium position, does not get hall entry.
mrblue2
If there is one team and one front office who knows about Paul Goldschimdt better than anyone besides Arizona it’s the Dodgers. Paul Goldschimdt killed the Dodgers. As a Dodgers fan, I’m thrilled Goldy is out of the N.L. West. If Andrew Friedman doesn’t find his RH power bat this off-season, he’ll sure have his eye on Paul Goldschimdt next offseason if Goldy doesn’t sign an extension with St. Louis. Fans on the East coast might under value Paul Goldschimdt but the MLB fans out west know all about Goldy.
deweybelongsinthehall
He’s projecting to be discussed. Issue will be length given his age already. Great talent to front load. Only teams edging towards the tax threshold should worry today about frontloading.
Questionable_Source
So, that means he’s going to have a 154 OPS+ for the NEXT 6 years?
stymeedone
When they let Pujols go, it was the right decision. Now they want to become the Angels? Makes no sense.
MooseMichaels
5 and 150 is hardly Angels-esque. Sure is an AAV of 30 mil but that’s going to be the going rate for guys like him and here’s the thing…it SHOULD be. These teams are making money hand over fist. They SHOULD be expected to spend big on a guy like Goldschmidt. Do they pay him until 40? No. 36 to 37? Sure. That’s what they did to Holliday. Goldy isn’t your typical first baseman either. He comps in many ways to Votto who is still a superstar albeit an under the radar one in his mid 30s.
purplesteve6
Yeah, the Cardinals could make that offer, but Goldschmidt would turn it down. Then the players will complain later when he’s not getting $300-$400 million offers.
jleve618
Longoria will speak out for him.
Melchez
Someone needs to ask Jim Bowden what his opinion is… please, we all want to know how he feels about this. Jim Bowden knows all and says all.
Kraz Nadler
how much for the prototypical 80’s, no defense league avg power, first baseman? Goldman should be year to year 10 – 14 million per range. Don’t overpay for a stat accumulator.
kit83
Yes 5/150 definitely good for both sides
HardWorkingAmerican
In other news, water is wet.
STL27
Water is not wet.
Kraz Nadler
water is my mom
Payne Train
Through age 36
c1234
He deserves a massive payday
aussiegiants53
Where’s he from? He might want to explore free agency first. Surely someone will throw $150+ mill at him
johnrealtime
He’s from Texas but I think that hardly matters. In the MLB it is very rare for a player to go out of their way to play for the team they grew up rooting for. Buehrle spent his whole career saying he wanted to play for the Cardinals but never ended up doing it.. Agreed about the $150 million
kbarr888
….And He’ll Get $150 Million.
If the Cards want him, they’ll have to “Pony Up”. (but they won’t)
It’s bad that some of us have absolutely No Faith in the Front Office in St Louis.
They’ve shown their true colors for me…….cheap….conservative…..safe…..cheap.
iverbure
And he’ll get 150 mil? I doubt it.
kbarr888
Look at his stats. He’s a Stud.
He can MASH
He changes a lineup (at least the way a pitcher LOOKS at the lineup)
Someone will give him 5/150 or 6/160. Probably Not The Cardinals…….but someone will.
Questionable_Source
No one is paying for the past anymore. They’re paying for the future. Highly doubtful he’s going to be worth $30 million at age 36.
petrie000
They’re still paying for consistency, though.
EndinStealth
Yes the number 8 payroll in baseball is surely cheap.
aussiegiants53
Yeah I think it does matter where he’s from, his home town team might want to sign him and that could factor in. Don’t get me wrong tho, he will go where he wants too, 6 years at 25m pet could well be on the table
123redsox
A minimum of 25 million per year if Harper and Machado get 25 per year with their reputations. I get they are younger, but Goldschmidt is already a hall of famer without the baggage
Dan Rogers
How do you figure he’s already a hall or famer? Is he on his way, but if he gets injured and career ends this year, he’s coming up short.
troll
mattingly was a sure hof’er, where’ his hof plaque?
scurvyrickets
Dude, this is twice in this thread you’ve made this ridiculous claim that he is ALREADY a HOFer…please explain? 200 HR and 1100 hits
EndinStealth
I love Goldy but claiming he is already a HOF is ridiculous. If he ends his career today he is not a HOF.
moethacker
Yeah, not to pile on, but HOF-er ALREADY? First sackers have a lot of studly numbers to compete with to think about getting in. Gehrig set the bar (Career WAR at 112.4) and it’s no lower now – think Eddie Murray. Donny Baseball isn’t in. Mark Grace had a higher career WAR than Mattingly and no one thinks he’s a HOF first baseman (no power being the main culprit). Don’t get me wrong, Goldschmidt should make the Cardinals much more potent offensively this year – nice right side pop added to Carpenter from the left PLUS GG defense at first. BUT, dude is 31, so extend, sure. Maybe 3 years, but I can’t see going much past his age 35 season …..
dfinmozarks
Goldie is a likely HOF player but he won’t be there if the second half of his career is a flop. A lot of folks saw signs of that the way he started off last year. He was almost as bad as Carp. Then he caught fire for the rest of the season. I wish him well and respect him as a classy player. We need him badly to become a post season threat again. But I can respect the Cards FO motives in not wanting to be burned again.
RedRooster
“I think worst case is we get a top Draft choice, but that’s not our goal when we trade for a player like Paul Goldschmidt.”
If it’s not your goal then make the trade contingent on an extension, as Cincy did with Gray earlier. You think STL would have learned after what happened with Heyward.
fourth_dimension
You seem to forget they did this with McGwire, Edmonds, Rolen, and Holliday. Heyward was the exception.
RedRooster
Three guys over 15 years ago and one guy in Holliday who did make it to free agency and who only stayed in STL after they offered him the most money don’t make Heyward an exception. In fact, quite the opposite. Goldy has a very good chance of going to FA and if the Cards weren’t OK with that outcome they wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) have made the trade. Goldy has a better chance of pulling a Chapman than foregoing free agency.
moethacker
Good points, redrooster, and that’s without mentioning their in-house guy, Pujols, whom they let go at age 31 despite the historic career numbers he put up in St. Louis. One of the reasons the Cards franchise has been as successful as it has been is by no becoming too fann-ishly emotional in evaluating players and getting stuck with bad contracts.
twinkietime
I don’t know if I’d paint Heyward as a negative example of the one who got away.
RedRooster
You’re missing the point. The Cardinals and their fans were just as sure that they’d be able to extend Heyward 4 years ago as they are with Goldy today. Him walking being a blessing in disguise doesn’t change any of that.
teufelshunde4
Confident isnt sure.. Prior history retaining players was excellent. Goldy & Heyward are different people, at different points in their careers.
Be interesting to see how it works out.
Houston We Have A Solution
Cardinals finished 2nd after the Cubs swooped in with a reckless and severely overpriced offer. And it’s crippled them since.
Angels did the same thing with pujols. 2nd place angels swooped in with insane offer crippled franchise.
The fans were sure they would of resigned which finishing 2nd says that prediction wasn’t too far off. It only took franchise crippling contracts to convince them to sign elsewhere.
ncaachampillini
Not sure who you’re trying to diss here exactly. The Cubs reckless and severely overpriced offer was actually less than the Cardinals offer. Looks like he didn’t want to stick around St Louis either. Sorry Molina don’t have a temper tantrum.
Vedder80
The offer from the Cubs was less total dollars but a higher aav and with multiple opt outs. Heyward bet on himself and the Cubs lost that bet.
Houston We Have A Solution
Chose less money for two options outs.
Also included more years no trade clauses and partial trade clauses. That’s what I meant by super reckless.
Forget where I read it I’d have to find the link but cardinals went ,6 or 7 years at higher aav but didn’t include the option outs or ntc portion of the contract.
kbarr888
There’s a Pattern developing……….if you are willing to “look at it”.
FA’s aren’t signing here (except for Fowler……Yikes!!!…)
RedRooster
1. As mentioned before, the Cards offered him more money than the Cubs. He signed with the Cubs because they gave him two opt-outs.
2. The thought of someone offering him a franchise crippling contract is precisely why Heyward waited out free agency. Considering Goldy has never been paid what he’s worth in his career and is about to finally get that chance, why would he be any different?
Houston We Have A Solution
As mentioned above Cubs gave him a friendlier player contract.
canocorn
For all we know, Cards were secretly hoping cubs would sign Heyward.
CuddyFox
The players did not sign with the Cardinals because of a certain manager who is not with the team anymore. Matheny was not the best field manager that the Cardinals had, even that he win.
scurvyrickets
Franchise crippling? 2016 WS CHAMPS…2017 NLDS…2018 WC…how exactly is he crippling them?
moethacker
“Crippling” is a bit over the top. Frustrating efforts to sign other, more productive players since the brass ring was clutched., perhaps. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the “rain delay speech:” and all that – does not alter the fact that Heyward is unproductive and that contract is every bit as much as albatross Theo has to wear round his neck as the fat deal he gave Carl Crawford in Boston. I wonder whether Epstein and Hoyer see the names “Heyward, Darvish and Chatwood” in their nightmares. I will give some latitude on Darvish – he’s relatively young and may conquer his health problems. He has shown that he can pitch when healthy. Those are both expensive qualifiers – “MAY conquer” – “WHEN healthy.” As for Chatwood, I have no idea what they were thinking there.
Houston We Have A Solution
216 mill payroll unable to sign anyone in coming years potentially losing franchise corner stones in Bryant and Baez because of the Hayward and Dervish 2024 contracts yeah I’d call that franchise crippling. Oh yay they won 1 world series and cant sign anyone to repeat next 7 years and will lose people they shiuld keep. Yay.
live42day
You don’t think they tried to do that?
With the Free Agent market the way it is the past two seasons it would behoove Goldy to take a good offer from St. Louis and not test the market. If, the offer is a big payday. Everything is a risk. That’s life.
RedRooster
What I’m saying is if Goldy wouldn’t sign an extension and the thought of keeping him in STL was a must, they should have not made the trade.
Oh and they don’t have to trade for him to be able to overpay him.
cardsfan006
5 years/150 million
SouthsideCub
The NL central is loaded at 1st…best collection of 1st basemen in baseball
Houston We Have A Solution
Idk hoskins in Philly Freeman in Atlanta Zimmerman/Adams in Washington if Cano moves to 1st for the mets pretty strong group there.
Vedder80
Freeman is the only one in that list that even comes close to Rizzo, Goldschmidt and Votto and that isn’t even debatable.
ncaachampillini
Not to mention he actually used Cano as a plus to his argument.
Houston We Have A Solution
Oh ok 3 out of 5 vs 4 out of 5. Yeah votto Rizzo Goldy clearly better than Cano Freeman hoskins Zimmerman/Adams as a group. Didn’t know we were comparing individual names. Let’s check total war
3.5 2.7 5.4 vs. 1.3 6.1 3.2. with cano going to 1st potentially and hoskins moving to 1st their total eclipses the 3.
Houston We Have A Solution
36 year old 2B with Jeff mcneil, bright spot last year displaced. Yeah SUPER unlikely the mets move Cano to 1st to give mcneil playing time.
throwinched10
Freeman is better than Rizzo!
kjt404
As an Ms fan. I’ve seen Cano play first base. Not pretty.
rrddbb44
Freeman is clearly better than Rizzo
Ry.the.Stunner
Let’s not forget Aguilar either, who had a very solid year. His WAR was the same as Cano’s and higher than anybody else on your NL East list not named Freeman.
NL East 1B group isn’t even close to the NL Central’s.
Houston We Have A Solution
A healthy Ryan Zimmerman full year of hoskins at 1st easily puts them on par with NL Central. Year before Zimmerman puts up 3.3 and hoskins was playing LF last year and only played 100 innings at 1st. So that WAR is gonna go up since they moved him back where he belongs.
Ry.the.Stunner
Not even close to on par. Zimmerman is aging and about to be on the decline.
Just looking at 2018 by WAR, the rankings go:
Freeman
Goldschmidt
Votto
Aguilar
Rizzo
Zimmerman
Adams
Bell
O’Brien
Hoskins
4 of the Top 5 are in the NL Central and 4 of the Bottom 5 are in the NL East. Let’s not forget that the NL Central has three perennial Gold Glove contenders at 1B, while the NL East has one.
You can add arbitrary random WAR to Zimmerman assuming he’s going to “come back” at the age of 34, or pretend like Hoskins is just going to add 5 WAR just because he’s moving to 1B all you want. It’s not going to make up for the powerhouses at the top.
slugger7
Goldy i coming back to the Desert count on that
Senioreditor
Lol
bobtillman
Gotta love articles like this. Just once, I’d love to see these guys tell the truth:
“Well, to be honest with you , we know the guy’s gonna be busting his butt to get a big contract next year. We’ve got next to no interest in giving it to him. Sure, maybe something can be done, but we haven’t been loading up our checking account because we do dumb things. We hope Paul has a great year, gets us to World Series, then we kick him down the stairs and bid him a fond adios”.
And there’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. Fans in Boston loooooove Mookie….they loooooooooove winning a lot more.
Samuel
bob;
You should’ve been alert to how one can become cynical as one approaches 80 (and 90 will even be worse)…..and you’ve been watching how the Red Sox do business – post-Yawkey.
When Jim Edmonds was traded to the Cardinals, he was concerned. Had been raised in Anaheim and the Angels were the only organization he knew. Mark McGuire was raised in Orange county and knew Edmonds well. Upon hearing the news, McGuire called him; told him he would not believe Cardinals fans and the organization. Said it was like playing in baseball heaven.
Edmonds showed up with some with some trepidation. McGuire just laughed and told him “just you watch”. Within a few weeks Edmonds couldn’t believe the atmosphere. He loved his time with the Cardinals. His career went into overdrive. Now shows up at times on their broadcasts.
For years St. Louis was considered the best city to play in – especially by veterans that had played elsewhere. The fans understand the game, how it’s played, and stand by their players. The Cardinals organization is tops – although the Royals have established themselves under Dayton.
(I remember when Jim Fergosi was fired as Angels manager…..one of the worst managers I ever saw run a game. He turned down offers to stay in the majors, electing to manage AAA Louisville. Said he knew he had no clue, and wanted to learn the Cardinals system. After 3 years of winning he was a different manager when returning to the majors,…..managed 16 playoff games. Concluded as a part-time consultant for the Braves – John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox said he was invaluable in scouting, working with young players and all development people in their first-class organization).
Metheny messed up that organization badly. Ownership and the FO should not have remained loyal to him as long as they did. Mike Shildt was raised coaching in that system, and after he was hired the team again played Cardinals baseball on the field. Still some bumps, but Shildt is smoothing things away.
If the Cardinals offer a competitive salary, my guess Goldschmidt will stay.
bobtillman
I appreciate the “Cardinals Way”, though it’s taken a beating of late. I always used the Cards as the paradigm; they’d bring up a player, he always threw to the right cutoff guy, always took smart routes to fly balls, etc. Many orgs promote a guy and he looks like he’s never seen a baseball diamond before.
And there’s no question Goldy is their “kind of guy”. Torey Lovello (one of the really bright young guys, like that entire Arizona org) said “Don’t talk makeup about Goldy; he’s off the charts. I’m going to miss the man as much as the player”. Those are the kind of players the Cards have had, historically.
As fantastic a job as they’ve done with their mid-market revenues, staying consistently competitive, never “tanking”, etc., there are economic realities, and those realities are the primary movers in the kind of decisions they’ll have to make with Goldy. They’ve got an edge; I think it was Reynolds who said “Will he like playing in St. Louis? Who in their right mind DOESN’T like playing in St. Louis”. (well, Tommy Pham, but he’s another case).
I for one hopes it works out; a marriage made in heaven. But I’m confident that whatever decision the Cards make, it will likely be the right one.
moethacker
“I remember when Jim Fergosi was fired as Angels manager…..one of the worst managers I ever saw run a game. He turned down offers to stay in the majors, electing to manage AAA Louisville. Said he knew he had no clue, and wanted to learn the Cardinals system. After 3 years of winning he was a different manager when returning to the majors,…..managed 16 playoff games.”
I remember Jim Fregosi’s three year stint managing the White Sox, started 5 years after the Angels canned him. He won a division with the Angels. Finished 5th all three years with the White. Sox. Whatever he learned in AAA didn’t take in Chicago. He had a losing records in those 16 playoff games (7-9). Like most managers, he was as good as his players. I agree completely with your comments about his skills as scout and player development guy,
I also remember Fregosi as the main guy going the other way when the Angels got Nolan Ryan from the Mets. Not quite Brock for Broglio – the Angels had no real success while Ryan was there as the Cards did during Brock’s career and Fregosi hung around longer and was much more productive than Broglio – but it was not one of the Mets better moments. Ryan on a staff with Seaver, Koosman and Matlack through the mid-70’s would have been something to see. .
Samuel
I Stand by what I wrote…….
Fergosi had excellent players with the Angels. How he used them was painful to watch.
With the Sox he had garbage. He did what he could with them, and anyone that WATCHED saw a much better manager.
With the Phillies and Jays he was a consummate ML manager. He maximized those teams abilities.
Terry Francona is one of the best managers in MLB today (I think the best). According to your logic he hasn’t done well with the Indians. He lost in the World Series and got bounced out of the playoffs the next 2 years, leaving him with a record of 5-10 in the post-season with the Indians….so how good could he possibly be?
holecamels35
Sky is blue, water is wet.
troll
but is the earth flat?
brewcrewbernie
No way he signs a year from free agency.
PickleRiccck
Yes. Of course they are ” interested”. The Cubs are interested in signing Harper for the MLB minimum, I’m interested in free ice cream cones. It matters how interested and at what price?
SabermetricsForLife
Sign me up for the free ice cream cones!
Ejemp2006
Cone is free, ice $10.75!
T_Rexx2
What about the cream?
troll
make your own
walterfranciswhite
St. Louis is boring
live42day
Walterfranciswhite is boring.
Jk
cygnus2112
So is your mama…
SupremeZeus
I suspect the redbirds wanted to extend Goldy from the jump. It seems clear to me Goldy has no interest in extending right now. Ultimately he probably signs w/ STL. But, after playing on a bargain basement deal, he is going to extract every last cent for this k. Negotiating w/ one team isn’t the way to do that. I think he will go to FA, and end up w/ the redbirds.
xabial
Then to follow: “DeWitt announces Cardinals mystery team behind Machado.”
basebaIl1600
Humorous joke. Gave you an upvote. Have a nice day.
#Fantasygeekland
How many accounts did you use to give him an up vote?
Houston We Have A Solution
Free agency isn’t what it use to be. Teams aren’t spending as much and he will have draft compensation attached if he doesn’t sign a long term deal.
I mean Machado who’s younger is not getting nearly what he thought he’d get.
Goldschmidt gets 5 year 100-120 Mill offer I’d strongly consider taking it cause open market you never know, grandal had same issue this year.
petrie000
I think we all know now why you’re commenting here and not working as an agent…
dfinmozarks
Grandal went for a lot more than he should have gotten. The Dodgers didnt even make any offer to keep him there.
Payne Train
150 – 6 years … they would up his 13 mil this year to 25 … that would give him a 12 mil raise this year which would equal 25 mil a year for this year, plus another 5 years …. totally 6 years at 25 mil
ohyeadam
They didn’t want to keep Pujols but are gonna pay Goldschmidt in his decline years? That don’t make much sense. I know the Machine didn’t age well but come on.
teufelshunde4
They tried to keep King Angel, but Angels offered more money. Nvm Pujols has paid 8% more per year in state taxes.
Pujols equated money with respect. Pujols sold his legacy in STL.
Vedder80
They wanted to keep Pujols, just not at 10/$240mil.
dfinmozarks
They did offer Pujols a great contract just not as long as the deal/mistake that the Angels made. I’ve followed MLB almost 70 years and never seen a slugger with a big build like Pujols play productively very long past age 36. So why offer him a 10 year contract at age 32??? Makes no good sense.
CardsFan7
He’s worth what he wants. Give him minimum 5 years similar to Altuve
CardsFan7
Give him what Altuve got minimum. Would like at least 5 years we have the money
mkeyankee
Goldy will test free agency. Stl will have their chance but will be bidding on the open market.
Z-A 2
4/100M, 5th yr option 20M or 5M BO. Doubt gets more going in to FA at age 32.
kbarr888
He’s a little better than you’re giving him credit for……..but you’re not too far off….
4/115 might get it done…..but 5/140 or 6/160 definitely gets his attention.
But…..If he doesn’t like St Louis (not everyone does…..)…..5/200 doesn’t get it done.
Z-A 2
It’s not that he isn’t good. He’s going to be 32 when the deal is made. Votto is likely his comp, and they made him a ‘lifer’ contract. 4/100 w/a 5 M BO does give him the 2nd highest AVV contract. The immediate regret of Chris Davis and Eric Hosmer deals don’t work in his favor.
Trying to think who ST Louis is bidding against. Boston will need $ for Betts. Yankees may be spending big on Harper/Machado.
juicemane
Common Knowledge: Goldschmidt not interested in long-term deal with St. Louis
paulslc
^ with AZ
Everyone’s interested in a long term deal actually. It just needs to be the right $ and situation. Recent winters show that free agency is no longer the glitter & rainbow party it once was.
Payne Train
Common knowledge – your derrrrrrrrrr
redbirds22
156MM over 6 years.Front load it 1-4 30MM A year, Year 5 21MM, YEAR 6 15MM
kbarr888
Reasonable/Fair suggestion……He just might accept that!
dfinmozarks
Red bird that’s the most sensible offer I’ve heard from anyone commenting here. He’s a great player but we’re getting him in his decline. Pay him top money for his best years and wind it down as he slows down …which he will at around age 36. Even Aaron slowed way down after 38 and he had a thinner frame than Goldie and lasted about 4 – 6 years longer than most big build bombers like Mantle, Boog Powell, Ted Kluzuski, Frank Howard, Matt Holliday etc.
toastyroasty
The Cards missed a good chance to negotiate an extension prior to this deal similar to Cincinnati and Sonny Gray.
batty
Know why it’s rare to see the 72 hour extension window? Because most players that are considered elite at their position don’t need or want that. Gray was coming off a year where he was hammered at home and being traded for by a team that plays in a bandbox. Gray had incentive to extend. Goldy didn’t.
JayRyder
They’re Gonna Wanna See How He Plays First. Maybe thru June. All-Star break get some talks really going. Before the trade deadline approaches. . . I’d say the way contracts are going these days. There is no way they go long term. A high Annual average probably 25 mil… 3/75 maybe 80 if it gets that high. . . Teams are not wanting to pay as much as every free agent wants, anymore. . . The payrolls have skyrocketed. Every free agent guy wants 100 million!!! Crazy. No team can carry that many free agents. The Era of cheap controllable talent is here. . . . . .
goldenmisfit
Extension is baseball owners lingo for team friendly contract. If Paul’s agent is worth anything he will tell him to wait until free agency and if the Cardinals make the best offer then take it.
RedRooster
Exactly. He’s already set for life so why not get what he’s worth this time around?
CuddyFox
I think there is a good chance for Goldy to sign an extension with STL. If his agent is Boras, then no, but his agents are the Excel Sports Management, That makes the big difference.
RedRooster
If he wanted to sign an extension he never would have been traded
petrie000
Scott Boras isn’t the only agent that knows extensions aren’t good for the wallet, just FYI.
Goldy has one chance to really cash in in his career, it’s gonna take a lot of hard cash to convince him to skip free agency
Begamin
Everyone is talking about him getting $150M. I am not sure that would happen. 3-4 years ago, maybe. Teams are becoming more reluctant to hand out big contracts so, ironically, there is little competition to sign the top line players, driving down price.
DarrenDreifortsContract
Any relation to the late great Dodgers legend Blake DeWitt?
tbone0816
I personally know Blake DeWitt!!
troll
cardinal fans know how this will play out. front office tells paul they want to extend his contract about 10 days to 2 weeks before the season starts. goldschmidt counters with he won’t negotiate during the season. signs as free agent elsewhere. front office tells fans, we tried.
Dbird777
I just wanted to enjoy another move in the once-a-decade offseason splurge my Reds made today. But no. I had to be reminded that Goldy is a Cardinal again. Ugh, the heartburn.
JayRyder
Goldie HOF ? . . . I looked at Chipper Jones. Pretty close comparison. Regarding the early years… Goldie still has a Long….. Way to go. But conceivably could make it. With 7 more years at current production. Plus at least 2-4 good years ish, after that. . . Good Luck. And God Speed. . . . . . .
dfinmozarks
JayRyder. No way that can ever happen. Goldy may have 4 good productive years remaining. Not 7 or 11. That would put him at age 43 before he retired. Think about that number. I’ve only seen a few players in MLB play well after age 40. Guys with skinny frames like Ichiro and Aaron and even they slowed way down.
amandafafi
Cards are garbage
I’m not a cub fan
its_happening
Goldschmidt needs another 3 great years to be in the HOF conversation. Right now, no.
However, the last 6 years you could make a case he’s been a Top 5 hitter in baseball. Trout being number 1 and pick 3 others. Goldschmidt is a beast. Extend him 4 years and at least $100-mil. His plays has earned it.
StL Busker
Now here is a player that I think will get a $200+millon dollar contract. With probably a 7 year range, so see there are players that warrant the length, and top dollar. Goldschmidt is one of those rare cases where the $ and years add up and in the end, you feel very confident with that kind of contract.
batty
I like Goldy and i think it was a very good trade for the Cards, but you are advocating a 7 year extension for a player who will be 32 by season’s end. We’ve seen how free agency has been tepid, at best, even for those considered to be elite. He’s not going to reel in a 7 year contract from any team in this new atmosphere.
I’d be comfortable saying a 4 year extension, with a 5th year vesting option, is more likely. Somewhere in the $100-110 range for the 4 years.
daved
He is exactly why he will NOT get a 7 year contract. Have you paid attention lately? Nobody is giving players contracts that will take them into their mid to late 30s. Goldschmidt will be 32 when his next contract is signed. Not getting 7 years. He might get 5 if he’s lucky.
daved
I find it so funny when people start talking about HOF for players who are still playing and on the fringe as it is. First of all, he doesn’t even have the 10 year service time needed. Second, he doesn’t have any of the milestones or a MVP. Lastly, do you really think at age 31, and for the next 5 years, his numbers will get better? He’s moved out of a hitter friendly park in Arizona to a less friendly park of Busch Stadium. Pujols was a HOF after his 11 years in STL, regardless of what he did in Anaheim the rest of his career.
desertbull
4 years is not even going to come close
6 minimum
JD Martinez was 30 and got 5 years and he is mostly a DH, not a gold glove caliber defensive player. Yes, I know it’s 1st base.
Doug Dueck
And possibly Arenado to play 3rd as well
dfinmozarks
Dueck. That’s a dream I’ve had often. Talk about a pair of franchise players. The Cards would be is the WS for the next 5 years with those 2 playing healthy. Just think of what 5 more flags at Busch would look like and what an attraction that would be for drawing in more talent. Who wouldn’t want to play for a team that’s a guaranteed contender. I just wish the owner saw it that way.