Specifics here.

The next major step in the process is coming this week. Details here:

"Cardinals, arbitration-eligible five prepare to exchange salary amounts"

Think there is any thought of trying to get Motte on a 3 yr deal to buyout the rest of his arbitration years and a year or two of FA? If so what kind of contract you think?

Quick question, Teuf. Was ex-Met infielder, Tim Teufel your favorite player back in the day?

Teufelshunde4 wrote: Think there is any thought of trying to get Motte on a 3 yr deal to buyout the rest of his arbitration years and a year or two of FA? If so what kind of contract you think?

Since I provided my initial thought in the article, I will let others weigh in.

I will say there is a variety of opinions on the matter. In a recent discussion on another thread, not only would some not extend Motte into his free agent years, they would look into trading him before then. The reasons were his growing salary and other closing options being available.

Of course, unless he was given no-trade protection, the two would not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, I could see Motte having more value as a trade chip if he was locked in with a reasonable salary for several years ahead. I do not endorse this or expect it to happen. Just thinking out loud.

As a point of clarification, a three-year deal now would cover only Motte's first year of free agency eligibility, 2015.

No its German for "Devil Dog"  I know who Tim Teufel was and is.....   He gets into bar fights in Houston and get arrested lol..

A guy who saved 42 games just got $14M a year. Motte, also with 42 saves, would be stupid to sell himself short either of his last two arb years or his first FA year. I can't imagine the Cards paying what it would take to keep Motte beyond this year since there seem to be cheaper alternatives on the horizon.

Motte would have to be wary of anything without no-trade protection. If he opts for the security of a 3yr contract, he would have to figure on the liklihood of a trade. Perhaps both sides would gain something from going that route. He'd get financial security and would probably only risk playing somewhere he might not want to be for a couple years. A fair trade off. The Cards would gain his trade value. Win-win?

We should wait until after this season, and if Motte pitches as well as he did last year, we should definitely extend him for at least three years of his free agency. He would probably settle for 8-10M a year because that would give him security for the rest of his life, and he wouldn't have to risk an injury in his last year before free agency. That's what most,not all, players do. Then they go for the really big contract after that. One thing is for sure. I don't want to get caught without a closer and have to go through a period like we did with Ryan Franklin during the last few months before he retired.

blingboy wrote: A guy who saved 42 games just got $14M a year. Motte, also with 42 saves, would be stupid to sell himself short either of his last two arb years or his first FA year. I can't imagine the Cards paying what it would take to keep Motte beyond this year since there seem to be cheaper alternatives on the horizon.

Motte would have to be wary of anything without no-trade protection. If he opts for the security of a 3yr contract, he would have to figure on the liklihood of a trade. Perhaps both sides would gain something from going that route. He'd get financial security and would probably only risk playing somewhere he might not want to be for a couple years. A fair trade off. The Cards would gain his trade value. Win-win?

That position seems too strong. What Soriano received as a free agent does not greatly impact what Motte might earn in 2014 via arbitration. A relevant population would be other closers with around five years of service.

They could retain flexibility by not giving a no trade clause to Motte.. Or at least only give limited trade protection.. From a scouting perspective I wonder how Motte is viewed? Has he reached is prime? or can he still develop more? In my untrained eyes last season it seemed like he went from pure thrower to a pitcher who still had the power to blow hitters away with velocity. Motte's cut fastball really seemed like it ate hitters up with a ton of late movement..

Domeboys wrote:
A relevant population would be other closers with around five years of service.

Any idea how much that is?

blingboy wrote:

Domeboys wrote:
A relevant population would be other closers with around five years of service.

Any idea how much that is?

Not without research that I don't have time for right now, but it is going to be a lot closer to $4 million than $14.

Domeboys wrote:

blingboy wrote:

Domeboys wrote:
A relevant population would be other closers with around five years of service.

Any idea how much that is?

Not without research that I don't have time for right now, but it is going to be a lot closer to $4 million than $14.

MLBTR projects $7.2M arb salary for Chris Perez this year.  That seems like a reasonable figure to go with for conversation purposes for Motte in 2014. 

I'll be pretty surprised if the Cards have any need for a $7.2M closer in 2014.

blingboy wrote: MLBTR projects $7.2M arb salary for Chris Perez this year.  That seems like a reasonable figure to go with for conversation purposes for Motte in 2014. 

I'll be pretty surprised if the Cards have any need for a $7.2M closer in 2014.

Why? In days of lower team payrolls, the Cards paid Izzy more than that for five years.

Domeboys wrote:

blingboy wrote: MLBTR projects $7.2M arb salary for Chris Perez this year.  That seems like a reasonable figure to go with for conversation purposes for Motte in 2014. 

I'll be pretty surprised if the Cards have any need for a $7.2M closer in 2014.

Why? In days of lower team payrolls, the Cards paid Izzy more than that for five years.

Good point.  There will be almost certainly be cheaper alternatives, though, one or two of which will probably be auditioning in the pen this year.  We'll have to see if anybody makes a compelling case.  I'd suggest to Jason that he not get hurt for any length of time.

blingboy wrote:

Domeboys wrote:

blingboy wrote: MLBTR projects $7.2M arb salary for Chris Perez this year.  That seems like a reasonable figure to go with for conversation purposes for Motte in 2014. 

I'll be pretty surprised if the Cards have any need for a $7.2M closer in 2014.

Why? In days of lower team payrolls, the Cards paid Izzy more than that for five years.

Good point.  There will be almost certainly be cheaper alternatives, though, one or two of which will probably be auditioning in the pen this year.  We'll have to see if anybody makes a compelling case.  I'd suggest to Jason that he not get hurt for any length of time.

Motte has been very durable so far in his career..  Wouldnt the best case be that Rosenthal and Martinez both make it in rotation instead of going to the pen? Thats where Cards would get the greatest value out of their those two

Teufelshunde4 wrote:
Wouldnt the best case be that Rosenthal and Martinez both make it in rotation instead of going to the pen? Thats where Cards would get the greatest value out of their those two

There are only 5 spots in the rotation.  If Rosey and Martinez are starting, other very good pitchers will be in the pen, even with an injury or two.  I like Motte just fine, don't get me wrong.  Its just all about how will the Cards get value out of the bounty of cheap pitchers.  Replacing expensive ones is an obvious possibility.

I've also been thinking about the fact that Motte really only has one out pitch, the heater.  These other guys not only have that, but good secondary stuff as well.  I get that there is also a mental factor in closing and I admit that is an issue.

True enough..   Good thing is there is still plenty of time to work it self out..  Motte is still good and they can let the kids develop at their own pace. 

Personally I dont care how a pitchers gets outs as long as he gets them.. LOL

Teufelshunde4 wrote: 

Motte has been very durable so far in his career..  Wouldnt the best case be that Rosenthal and Martinez both make it in rotation instead of going to the pen? Thats where Cards would get the greatest value out of their those two

I don't want the young guys rushed into the rotation unless the team somehow limits their innings.  I don't want any of them to end up like Mark Prior and Kerry Woods (and many others) who's arms couldn't keep up with their work load.

I am not opposed to some creative means to get them meaningful innings and some starts... such as tandem for the #5 spot.  I also have no problem with having them do time in the bullpen for a year or two.

"Cardinals Boggs and Mujica avoid arbitration" (free article)