Joel Pineiro Agrees to $13 Million, 2-year Contract With Cardinal (1 Viewer)

[posty]

http://sports.iwon.com/news/10152007/v9793.html

ST. LOUIS (AP) -Joel Pineiro agreed to a $13 million, two-year contract with St. Louis on Monday after pitching well for the Cardinals down the stretch.

The right-hander went 6-4 in 11 starts with St. Louis after being acquired from the Red Sox on the trade deadline, and could have opted for free agency. The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $5 million in 2008 and $7.5 million in 2009.

"We felt very strongly at the time of the trade that Joel had the ability to improve our starting rotation once he had time to condition himself for that role," interim general manager John Mozeliak said. "We are extremely pleased to have re-signed Joel and project him to be a steady performer for us, much like he did down the stretch this past season."

Pineiro is the third pitcher retained since the end of the season, with the Cardinals also picking up an $8 million option on closer Jason Isringhausen and re-signing right-hander Russ Springer.

Pineiro was in Boston's bullpen before the trade, making 31 relief appearances. He had a 3.96 ERA the last two months with St. Louis, closing out his surge by helping to knock the New York Mets out of the postseason in a 3-0 victory on Sept. 27.

The 29-year-old worked into the sixth inning in seven of his starts, and the team was 7-4 when he pitched.

Pineiro is 65-60 with a 4.47 ERA in 227 games for his career, including 159 starts. He combined for 30 victories for the Mariners in 2002 and 2003.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Unreal how a mediocre pitcher can get 6.5 mils per year.

 

[Knightro]

So when did Dave Littlefield start handling Cardinal contracts? That's hawrrible

 

[RavenCRH]

This kinda money getting thrown around sub-par pitching is ridiculous...

 

[shadyridr]

 

[Capella]

what the ####?

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Mamas, teach your sons to grow up to be pitchers.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

The contract itself isn't the truly depressing part of this. That's reserved for the fact that this means they're counting on next season's rotation being Carpenter, Wainwright, Mulder, Looper, and Pineiro. And one of those guys ended the season not sure he'd be ready to go by the beginning of next season.

So, pretty much the same plan they had coming into this year, plus a guy who couldn't stick in the Red Sox bullpen. That's a winning formula if ever I've seen one.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Ugh.

 

[Knightro]

So a guy that was released 2x in the last 12 months gets a 2 yr 13 million dollar contract?

Cappy - more proof that the Rays are not the dumbest organization in the league.

 

[Capella]

So a guy that was released 2x in the last 12 months gets a 2 yr 13 million dollar contract?Cappy - more proof that the Rays are not the dumbest organization in the league.

"We're #29"

 

[MrPhoenix]

WTMF? I thought Piniero was ok down the stretch for the Cards, but this contract is Encarnacion (who's career may be over, BTW) bad.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

WTMF? I thought Piniero was ok down the stretch for the Cards, but this contract is Encarnacion (who's career may be over, BTW) bad.

Except the Encarnacion contract didn't look so bad in light of the contracts that were signed by some guys last season. Yes, Piniero was OK for the Cards down the stretch, and based on that, it isn't inconceivable that he could earn it. But who in the hell did the Cards think they were going to be competing with to have to pay him THAT kind of money?

 

[MrPhoenix]

WTMF? I thought Piniero was ok down the stretch for the Cards, but this contract is Encarnacion (who's career may be over, BTW) bad.

Except the Encarnacion contract didn't look so bad in light of the contracts that were signed by some guys last season. Yes, Piniero was OK for the Cards down the stretch, and based on that, it isn't inconceivable that he could earn it. But who in the hell did the Cards think they were going to be competing with to have to pay him THAT kind of money?

Granted, the Royals did pay Meche 55 mil over 5 years with little career performance before that. Come to think of it, Pineiro may have gotten fair market value considering the way GM's pay for pitching these days. Kip freaking Wells made $4 mil to suck ### and we're paying Pineiro $5 mil in 2008. I'd put Pineiro around the ability of a, say, Jason Marquis.Doesn't make it right, but in today's market, it's not as hideous as it is perceived to be.

 

[RnR]

Cappy - more proof that the Rays are not the dumbest organization in the league.

Howabout winning 71 games once or twice and then talk some smack, mmmmk? PS- I actually like the Rays.

 

[guru_007]

Could have been worse.

Could have signed a lifelong mediocre pitcher to a 12.5 million 2 year contract......a 40 YEAR OLD Pitcher Tim Prupora

Not that 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA Woody Williams isn't worth every penny of his contract last year and in 2008

 

[Keys Myaths]

Meh.

It's a bad signing, but we've seen worse.

Pineiro's WARP-1 for the past 4 years:

2.5

.7

2.1

3.2

So, if he stays about the same, you're paying $3 million for each win over a replacement player. Assuming a team of replacement players would win 42-43 games (I forget the exact number), extrapolating it out, you'd pay $141 million for a team that wins 90 games if you sign players like this.

Again, not good, but there's been much worse deals.

 

[RnR]

They overpaid, but Piniero did look like a guy that had found himself after arriving in St. Louis. He looked very comfortable getting the ball every five days and having some sense of what his role was on the team. He can probably contribute as a decent #4 starter over the next two seasons.

Numbers with StL down the stretch...

11 GS, 6-4, 66 IP, 40 K, 12 BB, 3.96 ERA, 1.27 WHIP.