Spring Training, The Pujols Deal, and Contracts

These days, winter conditions can just make for a miserable mood in general. During this time of year, it becomes quite tempting to use any extra money that may be filed away for a later vacation now on a winter getaway. But once the decision is made to take a trip, then comes the obvious question: where to?

Do you hit the Bahamas? Take the kids to Disney? Although these options certainly offer guaranteed fun, there is one

 vacation that stands out among the rest and solidifies your status as a die-hard fan (not to mention its probably somewhat cheaper than the previous two options). That’s right folks, I’m talking about a trip down to Jupiter, Florida to watch the Cardinals play their spring training games. And your first step to make this trip a reality? Spring training tickets are on sale now.

Although we tend to view Spring training as a positive time of year during which optimistic feelings about the season ahead are experienced (as we should), this year spring training means something else for the Redbirds. This year, not everything is quite set in place. This year for the Cardinals, spring training is a deadline, a due date. That’s right folks, I am referring to the hot discussion surrounding King Albert during this last bit of the off-season.  Albert has said that he wishes to have a deal done before reporting to Spring Training.

In order to completely understand this situation, we must take into account the myriad of variables that are involved in what Cards fans hope will be a big new contract for the three-time NL Most Valuable Player.

The main aspect which I believe to be the chief cause for the big delay in an agreement being reached between these two parties is the money issue. The Cardinals have been recently increasing their payroll steadily, perhaps without thinking twice. Berkman and Theriot will together cost the team $11.3 million this year, and their contracts will be up at the end of the season. This fact means that the club will have to do some spending next year regardless of whether it wishes to lock these guys down for another few years or if it will be in the market for another outfielder and shortstop.

Similarly, next year the Cardinals will have to deal with the questions of whether to pick up Carpenter and Wainwright’s options for 2012. These two aces will certainly not be cheap in 2012, costing the franchise $15 million and $9 million, respectively.

Ryan Franklin’s contract will also be up after this season. The closer for the Cards has said that if he feels good about his 2011 season, he will undoubtedly return for at least another season in the Bigs. Whether this will be with the Redbirds or not, one thing is clear: the Cards will have to spend money on a closer for 2012 also, unless someone within the current bullpen shows that they are up to the task.

One final piece of the Cardinals puzzle for 2012 will also have to be figured out. Tony La Russa, long time manager of the Cardinals, will have his (you guessed it) contract up after this season. The Cardinals will also have to spend money in this area of expertise for 2012.

So what does it all mean? Does anyone else see a potential underlying message here that DeWitt and Mozeliak have placed directly in front of our faces, but that we have been too busy to realize? When the off-season moves this year (most notably one-year deals for Berkman and Theriot) are compared alongside the current contract scenario (lots of contracts up after 2011), we begin to see a certain trend which causes us to question: could the front office possibly be setting up a one-shot year in 2011? If the Cardinals fail miserably in 2011, couldn’t the front office easily just decide to switch over into rebuilding mode for the next few seasons to come?

While we should never rule anything out too early, I don’t think this will happen. I think that in 2011, the Cardinals will lose in the division or championship series of the playoffs, and that the front office will be eager to resign everyone (or pick up everyone’s options) for another go in 2012.

But this brings us back to Pujols. If this does happen, and the front office is willing to keep the team together for

another year, they will need some money to do so. Whether or not they have this money is completely indicative of the Pujols contract. With this big deal coming up, Albert will have to make a decision: whether he wants to be the highest paid player in baseball (as he deserves) or whether he wants to have a chance for another ring in the years to come. Hopefully we will know which path Pujols chooses before spring trainging begins. If a contract is not agreed upon by spring training, the Cardinals will have to work something out with him at the end of the season, or worse, let him test the free agent market.