Cardinals extend Chris Carpenter

[DravenX]

The Cardinals have extended Chris Carpenter through 2011 with a club option for 2012. The deal is worth about $65 million.
Carpenter had been signed at $7 million for 2007 with an $8 million option for 2008. The Cardinals will now pay him $9 million in 2008 as part of the new agreement and added three guaranteed years plus a club option for 2012. If the new option is exercised, the deal would be worth about $77 million.

Source: The Associated Press

Cardinals agreed to terms with RHP Chris Carpenter on a five-year, $65 million contract with a club option for 2012.
Even in this market, we don't like it. The Cardinals already had Carpenter under control for $15 million over the next two years, so they're essentially paying $50 million for the following three years. Now, if he keeps pitching like this, he's definitely worth that kind of cash. However, two years is an awful long time, especially for someone with a history of shoulder troubles. Giving him this kind of extension now is a terribly risky move.

Source: RotoWorld

[Dry1313]

Amazing. About 13 million for a better pitcher than the market pitcher, and for less money. Great ass move.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Of course it is a good move.

We know who made it.

A few bitter Yankees/Mets fans angry over not winning a World Series this past season probably write for rotoworld though and are whining about the Cards as a result.

[Dry1313]

Yeah, well these guys are ****ing ridiculous. He's shown no injury history, pitched extremely well the past 3 years, and is the ace of their staff. Plus they got him at less than market value for a 2nd starter, let alone an ace...

What's not to ****ing like?

[CincyRedsFan30]

I agree.

The "injury HISTORY" they speak of is more a "injury EVENT."

[Fishercat]

While I really like the move, let's be fair. Carp has an injury history. He missed two and a half seasons before emerging for St. Louis and had a partial season earlier. I like him a lot. But two+ years doesn't make it an incident, it's a history.

[Saber]

That event being a severe shoulder problem that few thought he could come back from at the time. That said, he's shown he's durable, and this contract doesn't take him past his mid-30s. Probably a bit early for this deal, though.

[Dry1313]

Well, I like the timing. They're right off of a WS, and they know he's worth it. Also, about his relative injuries, that doesn't stop someone like Carl Pavano, a pitcher of significantly less value, from getting around the same figures.

For once, I love a Cardinals move.

[CincyRedsFan30]

It's pratically ancient history in baseball terms, so at this point I call it an event.

An event in the past.

One that I see no signs of cropping up again.