[情報] Cards, Skip Schumaker reach 2-year, $4.7 million deal
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Second baseman Skip Schumaker and the Cardinals avoided a Feb. 19 showdown
Monday when they agreed on a two-year, $4.7 million contract.
Less than a year after beginning a highly scrutinized transformation from
center fielder to middle infielder, Schumaker will receive more than four
times his 2009 salary.
The Cardinals achieve much-desired cost certainty while avoiding a
potentially contentious arbitration hearing involving an important member of
the clubhouse.
"It's huge for me to go into spring training and have it done," Schumaker
said after a team physical in St. Louis. "I didn't want it to be a case where
I got there and everybody is talking about how I'm not signed, how nothing is
done and how we're headed to arbitration. Deep down, I wanted this to work
out. I'm glad it worked out."
The club confirmed the deal early Monday evening following results from
Schumaker's physical.
"We're trying to accomplish a few things with this deal," said general
manager John Mozeliak. "We want to reward him for all he accomplished last
year moving positions and give him the security he desires, and at the same
time give ourselves some cost certainty for the next few seasons."
Schumaker, 30, earned $430,000 in 2009 while batting .303 with 85 runs scored
as the Cardinals' primary leadoff hitter. He is due $2 million in the
upcoming season and $2.7 million in 2011 plus a possible $300,000 in
incentives. Schumaker's 2010 salary is a major increase for a career .301
hitter who shifted to second base last spring despite never playing the
position professionally.
Both sides had voiced optimism regarding a settlement; however, the gulf
between bids was the second-largest by percentage among this year's
arbitration class, as Schumaker had sought $2.75 million while the Cardinals
countered with $1.45 million.
Had the sides reached an impasse, an arbitrator would have chosen one of two
bids following a hearing. Because cases are largely based on comparisons with
players of similar service time and positions, Schumaker's role change was a
complication.
"We've been talking about it for the last month or so," Schumaker said.
"There was a lot of back and forth. It never got heated. We were looking for
a deal fair to both sides."
Schumaker's new salary is slightly below the bids' $2.1 million midpoint
while also receiving a guaranteed salary for 2011. The Cardinals
traditionally have held down costs at second base, and a productive season
might have enabled Schumaker to seek more than $4 million in a 2011 hearing.
"The security is something I've been looking to get for my family," said
Schumaker, a father of two. "Going into this, I told my agent that I wanted a
two-year deal because I wanted that kind of security."
The former fifth-round draft pick reached the National League in his fifth
season out of college but didn't receive more than 100 major-league at-bats
in a season until his seventh professional campaign. Schumaker hit .302 in
540 at-bats as Cardinals center fielder in 2008 before taking 532 at-bats
last season primarily as a second baseman.
The club perceives Schumaker as part of its core. His willingness to attempt
a difficult position switch while remaining available to teammates and media
has not gone unnoticed.
"It was important for me to stay here," Schumaker said. "... When you look at
it, there is a core in place with this team. It's something you want to be
part of."
The Cardinals settled last month with their only other arbitration-eligible
player, right fielder Ryan Ludwick, who agreed to a one-year, $5.45 million
deal.
The club came to terms with Schumaker as it plans to announce the return of
its former major-league hitting coach, Mitch Page, to a similar post with its
Class A Quad Cities affiliate. Page was a Cardinals coach from 2001-2004
before the club elected not to renew his contract after being swept by the
Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series. The club declined to state its
reason for dismissing Page; however, Page said his struggle with alcoholism
contributed to his ouster.
Page, 58, sought treatment and was hired by the Washington Nationals as a
roving minor-league instructor. He was promoted to the Nats' major-league
hitting coach in 2006.
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02/09 13:48, , 1F
02/09 13:48, 1F
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