:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58969383/488654534.jpg.0.jpg)
The way the current Major League Baseball salary structure is designed, players are under team control for six years, the first three for guaranteed a minimum salary, something around $508,000, and the last three of arbitration, where the player and team propose salaries and an arbitrator settles any disagreements. There are special circumstances that change this - Super Two status, for instance - and a team and player could reach a contract agreement, much like what the Cardinals and Paul DeJong did.
Due mostly to injury, Tommy Pham is only in his third year of pre-arbitration, meaning he is slated to earn the league minimum. On Monday, the Cardinals issues contracts to their pre-arb players, They all signed,
Except Pham.
The Cardinals then issued a renewal of Pham’s contract to impose the salary on him, and Pham has been at training camp and intends to play baseball, so this does not change much. So then why did he do it? According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
“If you look at what I did last year, I didn’t think there was a great amount of appreciation,” Pham said. “So I took the renewal.”
The Cardinals approached Pham with a two-year deal, a deal that Pham felt accepting would be selling himself short. Per Goold again:
In another discussion with a small group of media members that included Post-Dispatch columnist Jesus Ortiz, Pham also said this about the potential two-year offer from the team: “The numbers didn’t add up to me and my agency and the union. Nothing made sense. I didn’t think. It’s business first and foremost. I didn’t like it. The numbers didn’t seem right. I wouldn’t sell myself short like that.”
Tommy Pham always gives maximum effort on the field. It would makes sense that this would translate to other aspects of his life. Clearly, he has thought this through and he intends to prove that offer was an underpay through his performance on the field. As a Cardinals fan, I really want to see him do it.
what else is going on in baseball...
Tony Clark now says ‘upwards of one-third’ of teams aren’t trying their hardest to win | SBNation.com
Mike Moustakas Signs for an Amount Close to Free | FanGraphs Baseball
Justin Upton Isn’t Trying to Hit Fly Balls | FanGraphs Baseball
You’ll Never Guess What’s Happening in Spring Training | FanGraphs Baseball
Ichiro and the Hall of Famers Who Returned Home | FanGraphs Baseball
Make-A-Wish brings young pitcher to Mets camp | MLB.com
White Sox prospect Luis Robert hits grand slam | MLB.com
Angels' Shohei Ohtani faces Clayton Kershaw | MLB.com
what the cardinals are up to...
As DeJong and Cards commit to each other, Pham chooses to bet on himself | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
Goold: A fielder's footprints can be revealing, because dirt doesn't lie | Derrick Goold: Bird Land | stltoday.com
Gregerson's injury adds uncertainty to Cards' closer role | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
As Scherzer watches, Wainwright mixes in a few tricks with his 'game-changer' curve | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
KNOW THINE ENEMY...
the nl central
Ivan Nova to start Opening Day for Pirates | Bucs Dugout
Identifying the best pitch among the Brewers relievers | Brew Crew Ball
viva el stuff...
VEB Podcast #116: Let’s talk about ‘spects, baby | Viva El Birdos
VEB Podcast #115: The Paul DeJong extension and the Dinger Draft | Viva El Birdos
VEB 2018 Community Projections: Paul DeJong | Viva El Birdos
FANPOSTS:
Comparing Cards and Cubs drafts over the years | Viva El Birdos
other things...
Chris Long on the Michael Bennett trade, bringing a dog mask up Mount Kilimanjaro, and his next career as a big drone guy | SBNation.com
A Seahawks fan says goodbye to the Legion of Boom | SBNation.com
Blues Vs. Sharks Recap: Not Even Worth a Title. | St. Louis Game Time
Tweet or e-mail me links @lil_scooter93 or at lil_scooter93 AT msn DOT com!