Adding to your list, after spending less than one season with the Cards during which he played for a huge discount, Troy Percival signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cards got a sandwich pick that turned into starting pitcher Lance Lynn. This guy could rocket through the Cards minor league system in 2009.

If Looper signs with another team this winter, we get another supp pick. And I wonder what Xmas present that turns into. In deciding to resign Looper, the team must consider the opportunity cost of foregoing the sandwich pick in order to make the signing. It significantly drives up the cost for Looper.