Matt Holliday agrees to seven-year, $120 million contract with St. Louis Cardinals
Article By AP on 5th January, 2010
ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday is staying with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday to a $120 million, seven-year contract that is baseball's richest deal of the offseason.
The middle of the Cards' order is secure with Matt Holliday's return to St. Louis. The Cardinals announced Tuesday they had agreed with the power-hitting outfielder on a multiyear contract subject to a physical. The team said a formal announcement was likely by Thursday.
Holliday, who had been the biggest prize in free agency, confirmed he was returning in an interview on ESPN Radio.
Free-agent watch: See where the biggest names have signed
"I'm going back to the Cardinals," Holliday said. "I'm excited about it."
His agreement includes $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn't reveal the length of the contract or financial details.
St. Louis acquired Holliday from Oakland in July and he helped lead the Cardinals to their first NL Central title since 2006. They sent several top prospects to the Athletics and justified that expense by retaining a player who hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games for St. Louis.
A three-time All-Star, Holliday was a perfect fit batting cleanup behind star slugger Albert Pujols, though he was the goat in a first-round playoff sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers after dropping a sinking liner to left field that would have been the final out of Game 2.
Holliday, who turns 30 on Jan. 15, batted .313 overall with 24 homers and 109 RBIs, his fifth .300 season and third 100-RBI year.
"Obviously, with Albert Pujols on the team you have a great opportunity to have a great team," Holliday told ESPN. "Albert is the best player in...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
The middle of the Cards' order is secure with Matt Holliday's return to St. Louis. The Cardinals announced Tuesday they had agreed with the power-hitting outfielder on a multiyear contract subject to a physical. The team said a formal announcement was likely by Thursday.
Holliday, who had been the biggest prize in free agency, confirmed he was returning in an interview on ESPN Radio.
Free-agent watch: See where the biggest names have signed
"I'm going back to the Cardinals," Holliday said. "I'm excited about it."
His agreement includes $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn't reveal the length of the contract or financial details.
St. Louis acquired Holliday from Oakland in July and he helped lead the Cardinals to their first NL Central title since 2006. They sent several top prospects to the Athletics and justified that expense by retaining a player who hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games for St. Louis.
A three-time All-Star, Holliday was a perfect fit batting cleanup behind star slugger Albert Pujols, though he was the goat in a first-round playoff sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers after dropping a sinking liner to left field that would have been the final out of Game 2.
Holliday, who turns 30 on Jan. 15, batted .313 overall with 24 homers and 109 RBIs, his fifth .300 season and third 100-RBI year.
"Obviously, with Albert Pujols on the team you have a great opportunity to have a great team," Holliday told ESPN. "Albert is the best player in...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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