The Cardinals took their first gamble of 2008 on Thursday by signing free-agent pitcher Matt Clement to an incentive-laden, one-year deal that closes a hole in their rotation and creates the possibility of a payoff for 2009 as well.
The first team willing to guarantee Clement a contract more than five weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Cardinals acquired Clement for $1.5 million in base pay and $5.25 million in appearance incentives. The deal also includes a club option for $8.75 million next season. A series of escalators based on innings pitched could jack up the option's value to $10 million if the 33-year-old righthander works 200 innings.
A couple of things here:
1) I hope Clement does well. I remember him from his pre-injury days and I certainly would have liked to see THAT pitcher in a Cards uniform.
2) Why do the Cards do this? They don't seem to go out and sign pitchers as much as they buy a stack of lottery tickets and hope for the best. Alright, it paid off in Carpenter, but how often is that gonna happen?
3) What happened to all the money the new stadium was supposed to generate? The Cardinals fans have been holding up their end of the bargain. Has Cards management?
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