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On Monday morning news broke that the Cardinals and Paul DeJong agreed to a six-year, $26 million contract extension. It is the largest contract ever issued to a player with less than a year of service time. Our own John Fleming broke down the contract in a post Tuesday morning.
Naturally, the baseball world was pretty pumped - we finally had something to talk about!
@Cardinals fans, @RealPaulDeJong is going to be wearing Cardinal red for a long time.
— MLB (@MLB) March 6, 2018
RT and his @ToppsGallery numbered rookie card could be yours. #MLBCards pic.twitter.com/6d7IQHjQR7
His teammates were very happy for the young infielder.
So happy for my boy @RealPaulDeJong gonna be fun to spin it with you for years to come! #cardinalnation
— Kolten Wong (@KoltenWong) March 5, 2018
Congrats to the man @RealPaulDeJong! #himynamesPaul
— Carson Kelly (@carskelly) March 6, 2018
Of course, the Cardinals and DeJong were pretty enthusiastic as well...
.@RealPaulDeJong is excited about his future with the #STLCards! pic.twitter.com/YwWLdn2PWz
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 6, 2018
I’m extremely excited to sign a long term contract with the @cardinals. I am fully committed to… https://t.co/cftMsBC8J6
— Paul DeJong (@RealPaulDeJong) March 5, 2018
Perhaps the most interesting angle of this story, though, is the fact that it almost never happened. A lot had to go right for Paul DeJong for him to get to this point, not just on the baseball field, but in his life.
Paul DeJong went undrafted in high school, walked on at Illinois State and nearly went to med school instead of playing pro ball. He just got a $26M contract extension from the Cardinals. The lesson, as always: Never become a doctor.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) March 5, 2018
Luckily for the Cardinals organization, DeJong stuck it out with baseball. And if that does not work out, I suppose he could always give that doctor thing a shot.
what else is going on in baseball...
Eric Hosmer isn’t buying MLB’s free agency excuses | SBNation.com
Ichiro Is Back Home | FanGraphs Baseball
What We Can Actually Say About the Miguel Sano Situation | FanGraphs Baseball
So You Want to Have a Good Bullpen | FanGraphs Baseball
How GMs Talk Amongst Themselves | FanGraphs Baseball
What Are the Phillies Waiting For? | FanGraphs Baseball
Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. has 4 hits, 5 RBIs | MLB.com
Statcast shows MLB's top power-speed threats | MLB.com
Will Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson be traded? | MLB.com
Overreacting to first week of spring games | MLB.com
what the cardinals are up to...
There's Good and Not So Good from Cardinals Spring Training So Far | 101Sports.com
After A Parade of Shortstops, the Cards Have Their Guy in Paul DeJong | 101Sports.com
Ortiz: Steady Wacha seems primed for solid season | Jose de Jesus Ortiz | stltoday.com
DeJong and Wong aim to be a long-term tandem turning two | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
Ortiz: Cardinals aren't worried about Mikolas | Jose de Jesus Ortiz | stltoday.com
Ortiz: Martinez can be Cardinals' true ace — if he commits himself | Jose de Jesus Ortiz | stltoday.com
KNOW THINE ENEMY...
the nl central
An Interesting and Bad Suggestion for Billy Hamilton | FanGraphs Baseball
Cubs shave heads for Joe Maddon fundraiser | MLB.com
Scottie Pippen is more than happy to help Jon Lester figure out how to throw to first base | MLB.com
Jon Lester using new approach on throws to 1B | MLB.com
Stephen Vogt is babysitting Corey Knebel's daughter and it looks like an extremely fun time | MLB.com
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