Luis Edu
The St. Louis Cardinals have not stopped competing in recent years, and in this list we will mention the best contracts the team has signed heading into the 2022 Major League Baseball season.
Paul DeJong
Paul DeJong is coming off a disappointing performance with the bat, but his previous numbers earned him a 6-year, $26 million deal with the Cardinals. In 2022, he will have an annual salary of just over $6 million.
We are talking about a shortstop who provides defensive solvency and who has the ability to connect long hits, so he represents one of the crucial pieces in the lineup of a St. Louis team that will once again seek to win the National League Central Division pennant.
After five campaigns playing in the majors, DeJong has a .241 average and a .312 OBP, with 96 home runs and 281 runs batted in.
Steven Matz
After inconsistent performances wearing the Mets’ uniform, Matz shined with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, and that meant he came to St. Louis after agreeing to a 4-year and $44 million contract.
The left-handed starter has been constantly suffering from physical problems, but that seems to be in the past, as he comes from pitching 150.2 innings, where he attained an effectiveness of 3.82 and a WHIP of 1.33.
Matz will be a key part of the Reds’ rotation, with the help of one of the best catchers in history behind the plate, Yadier Molina.
Miles Mikolas
Miles Mikolas is another star player in the Cardinals’ starting staff, and he currently has a 4-year, $68 million deal with the team.
The right-handed starter did not have his best campaign in 2021, posting an ERA of 4.23 and a WHIP of 1.20, with a total of 31 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. Numbers that reflect how little he was able to pitch due to injuries.
Mikolas is not a star pitcher, but he has proven himself capable of dominating opposing hitters in the always competitive National League Central Division.
Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt is one of the best right-handed hitters in MLB, something that earned him a 5-year, $130 million contract with the Cardinals, resulting in an annual salary of $26 million.
After being the top star for the Arizona Rattlers, the first baseman’s numbers have dropped a bit, but he remains one of the stars in his position.
In 2021, Goldschmidt totaled 31 home runs, 99 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. These numbers confirm that we are talking about an extremely efficient player.
Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado has one of the most lucrative contracts in the Major Leagues after signing with the Cardinals for 9 years and $275 million, which translates to an annual base salary of $35 million.
The third baseman has been one of the most spectacular hitters in baseball in recent years, although in his first year in St. Louis his numbers dropped a bit. However, he is expected to be able to lead the team’s offense in 2022.
Arenado forms a great duo with Paul Goldschmidt, and the performance of this duo will be key in the St. Louis team overall performance, which has become a real headache for any team in the National League, especially when it comes to the postseason.
In 2021, Nolan Arenado recorded 34 home runs and 105 RBIs.
