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View Full Version : Carpenter Signs Extension

doublee
12-05-2006, 12:21 AM
The Cards signed Chris Carpenter to a five-year extension worth $65 million:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2686240

Good move by the Cards in locking Carpenter up and not chancing losing him to free agency after next season.
boston_aloha
12-05-2006, 12:48 AM
Excellent move by the Cards to keep their #1
catman
12-05-2006, 12:53 AM
I agree. The Cardinals needed to keep Carpenter to have any sort of chance of repeating next season. They have seen other teams in their division improve their talent. They have not been sitting on their hands this off-season, but this was a necessary move.
bama4256
12-05-2006, 06:15 PM
This was a very smart move by the Cardinals. The Red Sox sure could use him though.
doublee
12-05-2006, 06:31 PM
I agree. The Cardinals needed to keep Carpenter to have any sort of chance of repeating next season. They have seen other teams in their division improve their talent. They have not been sitting on their hands this off-season, but this was a necessary move.

Well, for the record, they already had him signed through next year and as part of this deal they picked up the '08 option on him and signed him to the extension with 4 years guranteed and an option for a 5th.

But, given what Zito and Schmidt are rumored to be looking for on the market this is a steal given that neither has been close to the pitcher Carpenter has the past two seasons.
catman
12-05-2006, 06:40 PM
Exactly. Johan Santana is under contract with the Twins until 2008, so I expect to see them try to sign him to an extension soon. I think this sort of contract would be a good starting point for the negotiations.
Zito and Schmidt will likely get $14M/year for 3-5 years, with options for additional seasons. For Zito, this sort of deal makes more sense than for Schmidt. Schmidt hasn't been as good recently as before.
doublee
12-05-2006, 07:10 PM
To be honest I don't know that I would give either that kind of a deal. I might consider it for Zito, but he really has only been mediocre to good since 2002. But, given that Zito is only 28 and what he has shown he can do in the past I would be more inclined to lock him up long term than Schmidt.

If were going after Schmidt I don't think I would give him more than 2-3 years guaranteed. He is 33 and will be 34 by the start of the season and is showing signs that his better days are behind him.